Pilkington Automotive India Private Limited signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a manufacturing facility for glass and glazing products near Visakhapatnam on 15 February 2007. Pilkington proposes to invest about Rs.675 crore over a period of five years. The MoU was signed by Stephan Rosebroch, director, Pilkington Automotive India and Sutirtha Bhattacharya, commissioner of Industries, Andhra Pradesh government, in the presence of chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

The company intends to establish a laminated windscreen facility with an investment of Rs.75 crore in first phase, which is expected to commence operations by May 2008. The company has already incorporated its Indian subsidiary after having obtained approval for 100 per cent foreign direct investment from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. The state government will extend the incentives to the proposed project as per the Industrial Investment Policy 2005-10.

The UK-based Pilkington is one of the world's largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for building and automotive markets.