Tata Motors to Establish Jaguar Land Rover Plant in Tamil Nadu
Tata Motors is set to commence the construction of a new Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) factory in Tamil Nadu by September, according to Business Standard. This initiative marks the first occasion a premium car will be fully manufactured in India, with the plant scheduled to be fully operational by late 2025 or early 2026.
Strategic Location and Focus on Electric Vehicles
The company has acquired over 400 acres near Panapakkam in the Ranipet district, strategically located close to Chennai and Ennore ports. The JLR plant will concentrate on manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs), while Tata Motors will also produce various vehicles, including hybrids, in Tamil Nadu. Tata Motors plans to source components from suppliers associated with Hyundai Motor India and Renault Nissan Automotive India, in addition to its own network of suppliers. The Tamil Nadu government is expected to support the supply chain infrastructure.
Major Investment and Economic Impact
This greenfield project, part of the ₹18,000 crore Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, will take an estimated 12-18 months to complete. The foundation stone will be laid by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. Enhanced connectivity will be provided by the Bengaluru-Chennai expressway and the Dedicated Freight Corridor. In March, Tata Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government for a ₹9,000 crore investment over five years, which is anticipated to generate up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.
JLR’s Existing Presence and Future Expansion
Currently, JLR’s Pune unit assembles models such as the Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Sport, Evoque, Jaguar F-PACE, and Land Rover Discovery Sport from completely knocked-down (CKD) units. The new plant in Tamil Nadu signifies a significant expansion of JLR’s manufacturing footprint in India and aligns with Tata Motors’ vision for future growth in the automotive sector.
