Till about seven years ago, Spark Minda was a dominant player in mechanical lock systems, supplying die-cast key-based locks fitted into steering wheels. As technological shifts gathered pace, the company’s leadership recognised that clinging to legacy products alone would jeopardise future growth. In a pivotal strategy meeting, the executive committee charted a bold course: upgrade existing products and venture into new technology domains to protect and expand their portfolio.
Thus began Spark Minda’s transformation from key-based locking to advanced vehicle access solutions, Suresh D, Group CTO, Spark Minda Technical Centre of Minda Corporation Ltd, told Mobility Outlook. The first phase, Key 1.0, moved users from inserting mechanical keys to keyless entry, while Key 2.0 aimed for full passive vehicle access. The challenge was twofold: adapt global passive entry-passive start (PEPS) systems for the Indian market and make them affordable.
Spark Minda targeted the two-wheeler segment first, leveraging its leadership in two-wheeler lock sets, supplying over 8 million units annually. Collaborating with several brands, it introduced cost-effective keyless systems where users simply carry a fob to unlock and start their vehicle securely, backed by encryption standards like AES. Today, the company stands as a global leader in keyless vehicle technology, showcasing its remarkable evolution from mechanical locks to smart mobility solutions.
Scaling From Keyless Entry To Complete Vehicle Access
Building on its first transformation, Spark Minda embarked on its next phase—expanding from keyless ignition to complete vehicle access. The vision was ambitious: to own every access point, from door and boot to frunk and sunroof openings. This strategic leap aimed to raise the kit value per vehicle from around INR 1,000 to nearly INR 75,000, he said.
However, scaling the offering brought its own challenges. The company had to evolve from mechanical expertise to mechatronics, from mechatronics to electronics, and finally from electronics to embedded software. To drive this shift, Spark Minda established a strong R&D foundation, growing to over 1,000 engineers, including more than 250 software specialists, and building a robust intellectual property portfolio with over 300 patents—over half of which have been granted.
Understanding the critical need to avoid IP infringements, the company invested in comprehensive prior art searches, ensuring that its innovations were genuinely unique. This proactive approach fortified the company’s competitive edge while protecting future growth.
Launched in 2020 after three years of focused R&D starting in 2017, Spark Minda’s keyless entry system is now deployed across over two million vehicles in more than 65 countries. Despite the pandemic temporarily slowing market ramp-up, the momentum has since accelerated, positioning it as a standout Indian Tier-1 supplier in the global smart mobility landscape.
Unlocking New Horizons
Extending its innovation journey, Spark Minda has turned its focus to reimagining the conventional sunroof system. Traditionally, sunroofs consist of a glass panel framed in aluminium, powered by a motor and managed through a basic electronic control unit (ECU) featuring a standard microcontroller. While current market systems primarily operate via manual switches, the company developed advanced solutions capable of recognising voice commands and gestures.
Though commercial supplies are yet to begin, the company has built full in-house capabilities. A new manufacturing facility for the entire sunroof control systems and ECUs is under installation in Pune, reflecting its readiness to deliver complete units to OEMs. One of the first projects in development integrates voice commands via the vehicle’s infotainment system, transmitting signals through CAN networks to trigger the sunroof mechanism, he mentioned.
With a clear roadmap and a strong product portfolio, the company is now engaged with multiple OEMs across key applications. Several launches are scheduled to begin by the end of this year, and over the next three to four years, Spark Minda expects to firmly establish its presence across these segments, steadily moving closer to achieving the INR 75,000 kit value target per vehicle, he added.
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Spark Minda Surpasses 1 Million Smart Keyless Systems Milestone