skip to content

“Helmets & Riding Gear Equipped With Electronics A Big Opportunity”

- Advertisement -

Helmets and riding gears equipped with features such as Bluetooth and temperature control electronics are not a new thing in countries like Europe! But these are yet to strike a chord in India, and the same might be a massive opportunity for the ESDM sector!

Steelbird International is working on introducing a range of riding gear equipped with electronics in India. Rajeev Kapur, MD, Steelbird Hi-Tech India Limited, & President of Helmet manufacturing association,  in an exclusive conversation with ElectronicsB2B, shared that apart from helmets with Bluetooth technology, the company is also working on temperature-controlled riding gear, including gloves and riding jackets for the Indian market.

He said, “We were the first ones to launch an aux cable-powered call voice-friendly helmet in India back in 2,000. Though the same sold like hotcakes here, we stopped working on that technology because of two reasons. One, because we felt the same was outdated, and two, because Covid 19 struck, and sales of any kind of protective riding gears simply stopped for a brief period in the country.”

- Advertisement -

Currently, most of the two-wheeler riders rely upon external Bluetooth fitments in order to listen to music or make calls while riding. The prices of ‘good quality’ Bluetooth devices for helmets start at around Rs 2,600 in India.

Amendment In Laws Will Drive the Market

Co-Chair of ASSOCHAM and also a member of the technical committee of BIS, Kapur is of the view that recent amendments proposed around the incorporation of electronics in Helmets will prove to be a turning point for the market here.

“We had to convince the authorities via our research that things are changing worldwide, and electronics equipped in helmets and other riding gear can make the journey safer for the riders,” he said. He added that the approval for getting helmets equipped with electronics homologated with the ISA mark had been given only a few months back.

Steelbird, owing to the recent amendments, is now gearing up to launch five helmet models equipped with Bluetooth capabilities. Kapoor confirmed that the launch will take place in March this year. A lot of these will also feature blinkers to aid riders during the night.

“The average selling price of the helmets will go up by at least Rs 1,500, but for equipping a helmet with a decent Bluetooth capability, that is something we and the end consumer will have to pay together,” he explained.

The research and development cost involved in developing a new helmet model is approximately Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2.5 crore. The addition of electronics in riding gear, as Kapoor shared, will also require a company to set up a better after-sales service.

“Unlike Europe and many other parts of the world where people ride two-wheelers out of passion, riders in India ride because of the necessity. It is critical for us to make sure that we deliver price- and value-sensitive products, and at the same time, also make sure that these are commercially viable for the company,” Kapur explained.

Electronics As The Common Thread

Apart from the riding gear equipped with electronics, the company has also started working on the electronics toys front. The MD highlighted a baby walker equipped with a Bluetooth speaker as one of the firsts in the industry.

“We saw baby walkers equipped with preloaded songs and thought, why not equip these with Bluetooth speakers, and then we did it,” he said.

Incorporating electronics to enable smart features across verticals, Steelbird Hi-Tech is present and is the common thread the company is working on at the moment. However, it does not have the capability to manufacture the required electronics.

“We are in the process of collaborating with companies in India that can help us with this technology. Our focus is on finding Indian partners, but we have received interest from companies located outside India as well. Though we have not finalised a partner, we hope to do the same soon, and we might not limit ourselves to just one partner,” Kapur highlighted.

Whether the company will foray into manufacturing the electronics required for riding gears is also a decision that Steelbird Hi-Tech has not thought about as of yet.

“Scale, market, and margins will play a big role in deciding whether we manufacture the electronics on our own or not, as the same will require setting up a new unit and a lot of other business dynamics,” he said.

Kapur added, “I think the market for smart helmets will be around two to three million pieces annually four to five years from now. It could be more, but our research shows that. I do not think the market for smart helmets will ever be over 5% of the overall market in India.”

In comparison, the market for normal helmets will grow from 40 million to over 70 million pieces annually. Temperature-controlled helmets, helmets with photo chromatic visors, and more such innovations are what Steelbird Hi-Tech is working to bring to India.

Last year, the company announced that it was in the process of scouting land for setting up a helmet manufacturing unit in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Kapur had hinted that an investment of Rs 250 crore will be made in setting up this facility.

 

- Advertisement -

Most Popular Articles

Mukul Yudhveer Singh
Mukul Yudhveer Singh
Mukul Yudhveer Singh is an Editor at EFY. He’s an experienced business journalist who is both an enthusiast and a cynic of technology. Believes in data, as well as hunch-based journalism. He defines journalism as- reporting facts which help the audience take their own decisions, not ones that influence them!

Is Foxconn Navigating Partnerships Amid Honda-Nissan Merger Breakdown?

0
Amidst Honda-Nissan merger talks stalling, Foxconn reportedly pursues potential partnerships with Nissan and Renault, eyeing a major shift in the global EV automotive landscape. Recently,...

Rupee Slump Sparks Price Hikes In Electronics, EVs

0
As the Indian rupee plunges against the dollar, electronics and EV sectors raise prices to offset import costs, highlighting the urgent need for greater...

New DRDO-Adani Counter-Drone System Debuts At Aero India

0
With advanced defence tech to counter evolving aerial threats, DRDO and Adani Defence unveiled a cutting-edge counter-drone system at Aero India 2025. On Tuesday,...

Enfabrica Launches New AI R&D Centre In Hyderabad

0
A new R&D facility in Hyderabad? To boost AI networking innovation, targeting Generative AI and scaling GPU clusters, with plans for workforce expansion, US'...

Eastman, Urja Mobility To Power Electric Three-Wheelers

0
Integrating IoT and software solutions for enhanced mobility, Eastman Auto partners with Urja Mobility to supply batteries for electric three-wheelers in India. On Tuesday,...
Anshuman Divyanshu, CEO, Exicom

“Our Chargers Are Fully Interoperable and Compatible with All Vehicles” – Anshuman Divyanshu, Exicom

0
Battery safety and longevity, the effects of charging and discharging, and various safeguards and features are among the most critical considerations for a battery...
Khushal Panchal,  chief operating officer (COO), PCB Power

“We Differentiate Ourselves By Producing Radio Frequency PCBs For Wireless Communication Devices” – Khushal...

0
With technology and policy support, Indian PCB manufacturing is at a turning point. Can innovation and scale match global giants? PCB Power leads the...
Jayesh Ranjan IAS, Special Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce and ITE&C, Government Of Telangana

“To Compensate For Telangana’s Lack Of A Wet Port,Our Incentives Help ESDM And Semiconductor...

0
Despite logistics challenges, how is Telangana securing billion-dollar investments in electronics? Will the state unveil a new semiconductor policy soon? Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, from...
Shrinivas Kulkarni CFO, Cyient DLM

“Acquisitions That Help Address Gaps In Our Design Capabilities….. Interest Us” – Shrinivas Kulkarni,...

0
Over the past five years, Cyient DLM (formerly Rangsons Electronics), a subsidiary of Cyient Limited, has rapidly expanded its footprint in the design-led manufacturing...
Akshay-Kashyap-of-Greenfuel-Energy

“Many Companies Avoid Pack Testing And Validation Because It Is Time-Consuming” – Akshay Kashyap,...

0
Battery pack reliability goes beyond cell quality—it relies on precise engineering, thorough testing, and tailored thermal management. In a conversation with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey,...

Meridian Joins Altair’s Startup Programme To Boost UAV Tech

0
Eyeing to drive innovation in UAVs and hybrid power tech with simulation tools and expert support, Altair teams up with Meridian Flight Systems in...

Mitsubishi Electric Acquires Stake In Itanta Analytics Startup

0
Aiming to boost manufacturing digitalisation and efficiency with simplified automation solutions, Mitsubishi Electric India invests in Itanta Analytics to develop no-code data analysis tools....

Union Budget 2025-26: What It Has For The Electronics Sector?

0
With reduced and exempted duties, tax relief for manufacturing, and increased support for startups, this Budget addresses a broader range of issues within the...

IndiaAI Mission Expands To 18,693 GPUs For R&D

0
Aiming to support R&D and ethical AI, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the expansion of IndiaAI’s GPU infrastructure to 18,693 to benefit startups and...
Sambit Parida, CTO and Co-Founder of IG Drones

Innovative Drone Technologies from IG Drones Driving Efficiency Across Sectors

0
Haryana-based IG Drones develops advanced surveillance, agriculture, and defence technologies, focusing on improving adaptability and operational precision. Founded in 2018 by Om Prakash and Bodhisattwa...

Industry's Buzz

Learn From Leaders

Startups