A global center for Artificial Intelligence has been opened by the Munich-based manufacturer of commercial vehicle and rail brake systems, Knorr-Bremse, in India. The aim is to fully exploit the potential of data-driven solutions based on the AI system for the group. The branch in southeastern Chennai, known as a technology hub, offers the ideal breeding ground for this with its highly qualified staff, according to the press release. The focus is on accelerating processes at multiple levels to achieve a "global increase in efficiency": for example, in the areas of automated accounting, administration, and software development.
"This step is an important building block in the implementation of the company’s global digital strategy,"
it is stated. After the setup phase, which is scheduled to begin in August 2025, around 70 AI experts will work on new solutions there. The first area of focus to increase implementation speed through AI agents is the company's accounting and software development. From there, further areas are to be accelerated step by step: supply chain management, process optimization, project management.
New Level, New Thinking
The project is part of the Boost strategy program to improve Knorr-Bremse's profitability on a global scale, as Chief Executive Officer Marc Llistosella explains. Core goal: "Increase the efficiency and performance
of our organization." The company intends to revamp its entire global processes and thereby raise them to "a new level."
"Our new AI center in Chennai is a targeted investment in Artificial Intelligence, whose application to operational processes will make an important contribution to the digital transformation of Knorr-Bremse."
The globally active company with a high reputation, according to Llistosella, aims to advance as a pioneer in industrial AI usage and wants to "improve, accelerate and completely rethink" its extensive processes and working methods using this method.
Faster, Better
In an environment where technology is rapidly permeating all areas of a company, emphasizes Sathees Navaratnam, Chief Digital Officer at Knorr-Bremse, the presence in the technology hub of Chennai offers crucial advantages for the future:
"Specifically, the highly qualified specialists on site can train AI models with our company data and quickly and flexibly adapt so-called AI agents to our needs,"
the expert describes the benefit of the new AI center. As a result, all areas of the group benefit from synergies that manifest in the optimization and acceleration of processes and in improved "data-driven decision-making."
AI Agents with Analytical Support
Knorr-Bremse is convinced that both the company and its customers benefit from AI applications to stay competitive: AI agents, for
example, could break down larger tasks into smaller ones and execute them independently as software programs. Suitable fields of application for this, as mentioned, are primarily seen in software development and automated invoice verification.
"Soon, AI agents could also be used in progress measurement, cost control, virtual product testing, and supply chain management," it is further explained. In doing so, the AI agents receive supportive assistance in certain tasks from a "specially developed Analytic Engine," described as the "nerve center of the AI"—this could "generate software codes faster and more accurately than human developers" even today.
Furthermore, the AI center offers customers additional value by not only improving its processes and efficiencies: the ultra-modern data-driven system also supports the company in developing its system solutions for rail and commercial vehicles, where significantly optimized workflows are expected in the "multi-stage engineering and innovation processes." The report argues for the adaptation capability to customer needs with the use of AI technology:
"Among other things, AI agents are expected to assist in the development of electronic and software components - for example, for brake systems - to make R&D processes faster, more adaptive, and flexible, and to integrate increasingly differentiated customer needs more strongly into product development."
Knorr-Bremse, headquartered in Munich, is present
worldwide with more than 32,000 employees at 100 locations in 30 countries. In India, there are currently four branches—three of which are located not far from Mumbai on the other side of the country. Two of these, located in Pune, are also technology centers. Other current work areas for the 120-year-old company, a manufacturer of commercial vehicle components, include Electrification as well as Digitization in the competence areas of the commercial vehicle industry. In further collaborations, for example, Workshops are supported in their services and digital applications are advanced.
Half-Year Results 2025
As of today's date, July 31, 2025, the "world market leader for braking systems" reports that, with the announcement of the half-year results, it maintains a stable position "in turbulent times." According to Marc Llistosella, CEO of Knorr-Bremse AG, market weaknesses have been absorbed with strategic measures. The order intake in the rail vehicle division has increased; however, on the other hand, declining figures have had to be accepted in the commercial vehicle division due to market and currency effects, among other reasons. Revenue expectations for the entire 2025 fiscal year have been adjusted from 8.1 billion euros to 7.8 billion euros "due to exchange rate effects." In 2024, the group generated global revenues of around 7.9 billion
