Chennai: Tata Motors is all set to break ground for its new automobile plant, with an investment of INR 9,000 crore, in Tamil Nadu on September 28. CM Stalin will be the chief guest at the ground breaking ceremony that would herald Tata group’s foray into Tamil Nadu for automobile manufacturing.
The plant, with a two lakh vehicle per annum capacity, will largely be dedicated to make electric vehiclesboth for Jaguar Land Rover models as well as that of other Tata passenger car EV models. Top officials from Tata group as well as TN govt will be present, besides state Industries minister T R B Rajaa.
“Tamil Nadu is already a leader in EV manufacturing. The entry of Tata Motors and its focus on EVs will make the state a dominant player in that segment in the country,” a top TN official told TOI.
The plant will come up over an extent of 400 acres of land at state-owned Sipcot’s Panapakkam industrial estate in Ranipet district. It is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 5,000 people.
Out of its two lakh vehicles per annum initial capacity, Tata Motors is likely to set aside one-third for Jaguar Land Rover EVs. It has an internal focus to make all its Jaguar Land Rover vehicles as EVs by 2026 and this Ranipet plant is expected to help achieve that in a big way.
Tata Motors is the latest to foray into Tamil Nadu from the Tata group. A group company TCS already has its largest IT base in TN and its Siruseri IT park near Chennai employs close to one lakh IT professionals. Tata Electronics has established its base in Krishnagiri district for making apple products and has been on the look out for expansion.