Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) and its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have begun operations at a new manufacturing facility in Panapakkam, Ranipet district. The plant is a greenfield development designed to produce internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) for both brands.

The first vehicle produced at the site is the locally manufactured Range Rover Evoque. The project represents an investment of INR 90 billion and is expected to create 5,000 direct jobs.

The facility covers 470 acres and marks the first phase of a larger manufacturing hub. It is designed to reach an annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles over the next five to seven years. The site is intended to serve both domestic and international markets, utilising its proximity to Tamil Nadu's ports for exports.

Key Plant Features:

• Sustainability: Guided by carbon-neutral principles, the plant intends to operate on 100 percent renewable energy.
• Manufacturing Scope: Includes assembly for next-generation passenger cars and luxury SUVs.
• Workforce: Focuses on local recruitment and aims for a high share of women employees across levels.

The opening of the Panapakkam plant signals a shift for JLR's Indian operations. The company intends to migrate Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly for several models from its Pune facility to this new hub in southern India. This move is designed to enhance operational efficiency and capture increasing demand in the luxury vehicle segment.

M K Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, said, “Tata Group has long played a pivotal role in nation building and shares a deep, historic partnership with Tamil Nadu. With the commencement of operations at this new manufacturing facility and the rollout of the first Range Rover Evoque in Panapakkam, Ranipet, the state is proud to witness the expansion of world-class automotive manufacturing. Tamil Nadu welcomes this significant milestone and remains committed to supporting industries that create jobs, drive innovation, and reinforce our position as India’s leading hub for manufacturing and mobility.”

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and TMPV, added, “The inauguration of our Panapakkam facility marks a significant milestone in the Tata Group’s journey to accelerate India’s leadership in sustainable and future-ready manufacturing. We are also proud to deepen our long-standing partnership with Tamil Nadu, a state that continues to drive industrial excellence, innovation, and inclusive growth. With this facility, we look forward to producing vehicles of exceptional quality, craftsmanship, and technology for customers in India and around the world.”

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JSW MG Motor India has started production of the MG Majestor, its D+ segment sport utility vehicle (SUV), at its manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat.

The SUV features a four-wheel-drive (4WD) system and triple differential locks to manage traction and control across terrain conditions. It is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine paired with an electronic drivetrain and includes advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for vehicle safety and control.

Pre-reservations for the vehicle have opened at a price of INR 41,000 on the company's website, with early customers receiving priority delivery timelines and vehicle previews.

The Halol assembly plant utilises automated manufacturing processes and quality control systems to handle the assembly of the vehicle's chassis, body panel alignment and mechanical components.

To support the vehicle rollout, the carmaker is introducing its ownership programme, which includes a 5-year unlimited-kilometre warranty package, 5-year roadside assistance service contract and 5 labour-free scheduled maintenance services.

Biju Balendran, Deputy MD, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The commencement of production of the MG Majestor marks a significant step for us as we move closer to introducing a new benchmark in the premium SUV space. With the Majestor, we are bringing together strong engineering, advanced capability and a commanding presence, aligned to the evolving expectations of customers. Built at our Halol facility with advanced processes and stringent quality systems, the Majestor is engineered to deliver high standards of durability, performance and reliability. We are confident it will resonate strongly with customers looking for both capability and refinement in their next SUV.”

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Yamaha Motor Co, has established the Robotics Business Support Division as a dedicated sales and service facility for its robotics operations in Gurugram, Haryana.

The facility operates within Yamaha Motor India Sales (YMIS), the entity responsible for the company's motorcycle and automotive product sales in the country.

The division was created to reinforce sales and service operations for Yamaha-branded robot products, streamline internal business processes and support further investment. The facility will initially focus on surface mount technology (SMT) assembly systems and industrial robots. Over the longer term, the company plans to build the necessary technical structures to handle semiconductor back-end processing equipment.

The Gurugram facility features a dedicated showroom designed to display Yamaha Motor’s robotics technologies. This space allows clients to view products and technical solutions firsthand, helping them assess application methods for their respective production sites. Through this initiative, the company aims to increase its brand recognition and capture a larger share of the expanding Indian manufacturing and robotics automation markets.

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German automation and technology company Durr has launched Qflex, a system designed to decouple automotive drying ovens from specific heat sources. This development allows manufacturers to change energy sources, such as natural gas, electricity, or hydrogen, without requiring structural modifications to oven systems.

Durr plans to equip its oven range with centralised heating technology, focusing on two systems: EcoInCure and EcoSmartCure. The variable heating circuit enables operators to switch energy sources based on availability or cost.

The system uses a heating module that supplies heat to zones through a circuit. Operators can modify the heating module to change energy sources or integrate high-temperature storage units.

Dr. Heiko Dieter, Product Manager at Durr, said, “It is impossible for anyone to predict today what source of energy will be available in plentiful supply and at a reasonable cost tomorrow. If, for example, the gas supply is interrupted at short notice, there is a risk of costs increasing and even production being interrupted. Energy-flexible ovens guarantee an alternative supply in this case. If a source of energy is no longer economical, operators can switch to another source with minimal effort – without having to interfere with the oven’s structural fabric. Choosing a hybrid system also makes it possible to automatically switch to the cheapest energy source depending on the time of day.”

The EcoInCure oven uses a transverse design. The EcoSmartCure uses a longitudinal mode of operation with a stop-and-go principle. This allows for temperature control by heating bodies in phases, which reduces thermal stress on parts. Both systems are single-level designs intended for integration into new builds or existing plants.

The EcoSmartCure is undergoing tests for industrial use.

“The strong customer interest and two projects already underway confirm to us that we have hit the mark with this new development. Energy flexibility is no longer a distant vision. The Qflex technology in our ovens now offers a solution for responding flexibly to volatile energy markets and changing conditions in automotive production,” concluded Dr. Dieter.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commenced production at its second manufacturing plant at Kharkhoda.

With this, the company has expanded its production capacity to 2.65 million units per annum across Gurugram, Manesar and Kharkhoda in Haryana and Hansalpur in Gujarat.

The new facility can manufacture 250,000 units, which takes the total production at Kharkhoda to 500,000 units per annum combined. It will produce the company’s popular Brezza and Victoris SUVs.

The expansion is part of Maruti Suzuki India’s expansion strategy to meet customer needs, and once fully operational the Kharkhoda facility will produce a million units per annum, making it the biggest four-wheeler manufacturing location for Suzuki globally.

For FY2027, Maruti Suzuki India aims to add 500,000 units capacity.

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