To start with, the BPO unit will offer information technology support on development of SAP and Lotus Notes, human resource related services (pay roll ,etc,) and global operations monitoring to Tenneco Automotive''s US and European operations.

Subsequently, the unit is expected to offer financial services and engineering design for Tenneco Automotive, a global major in emission and ride control systems.

Says TIESS managing director Abhaya Shankar, "The parent group has a target to reduce its selling and general administration costs by 30 per cent. And the Indian subsidiary is an effort towards that." Falling under the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) scheme, TIESS has secured income tax exemption till 2010 and can source products free of excise duties.

"Our IT budget is around $42 million and we have 280 software employees world wide," says Bill Haser, vice president and chief information officer, Tenneco Automotive-USA.

India is not new to the American auto component company. The company has four plants in India — ride control product plants in Gurgaon, Hosur and Pondicherry and an emission control products plant in Pune. The plants rolls out brands like Monroe (shock absorbers and struts) and Walker (exhaust management products like mufflers and catalytic converters).