What are the key products showcased by HD Construction Equipment at bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2026?

We have displayed 12 machines across three major categories – excavators, wheel loaders and forklifts. Of these, three are new launches. The new products include the HX33 mini excavator, the R145 14-tonne excavator designed for quarry applications, and the 655V wheel loader. Alongside these launches, we are showcasing products across different operating capacities and applications to address a wider range of customer requirements. 

What level of localisation have you achieved across the product range?

The level of localisation varies from product to product. We manufacture equipment at our Pune facility and are continuously working to increase localisation across the portfolio.

For some of our excavator models, including machines in the 3.3-tonne and 14-tonne categories, localisation is around 50 per cent. In the case of the wheel loader, part of the manufacturing currently takes place in China, while assembly is carried out at our Pune plant.

Increasing localisation and manufacturing more products in India are important parts of our strategy going forward. 

How do you assess the outlook for India’s construction equipment market?

We expect the Indian construction equipment market to continue growing, supported by ongoing infrastructure development and increasing activity in sectors such as mining.

We address infrastructure, agriculture and mining applications, and all three segments offer opportunities for our product portfolio. We remain positive about the market and expect growth to strengthen further in 2027. 

How is HD Construction Equipment preparing for the transition towards cleaner technologies and electrification?

Electrification is an area that the industry is closely watching. At this stage, it is still difficult to determine how quickly the EV market for construction equipment will develop in India, but we believe it could become increasingly important.

Our electric product range in India is currently limited, but we are preparing for the transition as the market and supporting ecosystem evolve. 

Availability of skilled operators remains a challenge. What training initiatives are you undertaking?

We work with skill-development initiatives and also conduct operator training through our dealer network. We currently have around 30 dealerships, and our dealers regularly organise training programmes where operators are trained and certified to operate the machines.

At present, we train at least 200-300 operators annually through these initiatives. We intend to continue strengthening these programmes as machines become more sophisticated and the requirement for skilled operators increases. 

How extensively are telematics and other digital technologies being adopted in your machines?

Telematics is already available across our machines. It enables customers and operators to access machine-related information and supports more effective equipment monitoring.

AI adoption is still at an early stage for us in India. However, our machines already use advanced computerised control systems, and our headquarters in Korea is working on further technology developments that could eventually be introduced into different markets. 

What are your priorities for HD Construction Equipment India over the next five years?

India will be an important market for us, and from next year onwards we plan to increase investment in the country, particularly to enhance manufacturing and production capacity.

The investment being discussed is approximately Rs 5 billion, with production capacity expansion forming an important part of the plan. 

Growth, however, cannot depend only on products. We also need a strong channel strategy and sufficient manufacturing capability to support higher volumes.

Our objective is therefore to strengthen the product portfolio, distribution network, production capabilities and, importantly, our people. Building organisational capabilities will be just as important as increasing machine volumes.