Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover begin production at new Tamil Nadu plant; check details

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd (TMPV) and its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have officially commenced production at their new manufacturing facility in Panapakkam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the Tata Group’s automotive manufacturing footprint in India. The facility’s first product to roll out is the locally manufactured Range Rover Evoque, underscoring a deepening move towards domestic luxury vehicle production.

The plant, which was formally inaugurated on February 9, 2026, was flagged off by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin alongside Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, in the presence of senior government officials and company leadership. Stalin symbolically drove the first Range Rover Evoque off the assembly line, symbolising the start of operations at the greenfield facility.

Built with an investment of around Rs 9,000 crore, the Panapakkam plant represents the first phase of a larger development plan designed to produce both Tata Motors and JLR vehicles in India. The facility is expected to gradually increase production over the next several years, with an annual capacity projected to reach up to 2.5–3 lakh vehicles once fully operational, catering to both domestic and international markets.

“This facility marks a significant milestone in the Tata Group’s journey to accelerate India’s leadership in sustainable and future-ready manufacturing,” Chandrasekaran said at the inauguration, noting that the new plant will produce vehicles of exceptional quality for customers in India and around the world.

Officials and industry analysts have highlighted that the new plant places India on the global industrial map for Jaguar Land Rover, alongside other key manufacturing hubs in the UK, China and Brazil. Local production is expected to help JLR respond more effectively to rising demand in the Indian luxury vehicle market and reduce dependency on imports, while also potentially enhancing export competitiveness.

The Panapakkam facility has been designed with a focus on sustainability and advanced manufacturing practices. Tata Motors has incorporated renewable energy usage and water-positive processes into plant operations, aligning with broader environmental and efficiency goals. The facility also forms part of Tata Motors’ larger “Lakshya” initiative — an earn-while-you-learn programme that trains and upskills local workers, enabling them to pursue engineering and management qualifications while employed at the site.

State government officials, including Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, said the new plant is expected to generate around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and spur economic activity in the region by attracting ancillary units and supplier ecosystems.

The successful rollout of the first locally manufactured Range Rover Evoque at the Panapakkam facility marks a key step in Tata Motors and JLR’s long-term strategy to deepen localisation, expand India’s role in global auto production, and meet growing demand for premium vehicles.