Paccar said Wednesday it is teaming up with an Indian technology consulting firm to open a technical center that marks the truckmaker's first physical presence in that fast-growing country.

The center's engineers, information-technology consultants and other workers will help Bellevue-based Paccar design trucks and components, develop onboard technologies and telecommunications systems, and find Indian sources for truck components and aftermarket parts, treasurer Robin Easton said.

Paccar's partner is KPIT Cummins Infosystems, which specializes in serving heavy-industry clients such as automotive companies, utilities, industrial-equipment manufacturers and semiconductor makers. The new facility is in Pune, a major city about 100 miles southeast of Mumbai.

The 100 or so workers at the center are now employees of KPIT Cummins, Easton said, but over time will move onto Paccar's payroll. The center eventually will employ about 200 people.

Paccar sells most of its trucks in North America and Europe. It currently exports a small number of trucks to India and does no manufacturing there, Easton said.

Easton said that, while "India is certainly a large truck market in which Paccar has a great deal of interest," the company has no immediate plans to expand its business there.

Drew DeSilver: 206-464-3145 or ddesilver@seattletimes.com