Tata Motors has commenced construction of a new automotive manufacturing facility in Panapakkam, Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone as the first company to produce Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) models in India.
The greenfield plant will focus on building next-generation Tata and JLR cars, including electric vehicles (EVs).
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran stated, “We are pleased to make Panapakkam as the home of our next generation of cars and SUVs, including electric and luxury vehicles.” The project represents a significant investment of approximately 90,000 million rupees (around €968 million), with the goal of reaching an annual production capacity of over 250,000 vehicles within five to seven years.
Production is expected to begin between late 2025 and early 2026. JLR, owned by Tata Motors, will use the plant to develop models on its Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, a dedicated EV platform.
While JLR had initially planned to launch six electric models, it has adjusted its strategy to focus more on plug-in hybrids, with four battery electric vehicles (BEVs) still set to debut by 2026.
Most of the plant’s capacity will likely be dedicated to JLR models, which will be exported, according to Autocar India. This development is seen as a key moment for JLR’s presence in India, where its luxury cars currently trail behind competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
