In 1950, PAE (then known as Premier Auto Electric) made a small beginning with a sales office in Mumbai for auto electrical components. Over a short period of time, it developed in to a full-fledged service station for auto electrical equipment, and then as a distributor and service agent for world leaders such as General Electric, Carter, Prestolite, Autolite, and Magneti Marelli in the metro cities of India.

In 1990, PAE became a public-listed company on the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd and raised additional capital in 1997 via a rights issue.

In 2003, the company entered in to non-automotive businesses such as industrial batteries and power solutions and changed its name to PAE Ltd.