Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. (TMPV) and its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover Automotive (JLR) have commenced operations at their new manufacturing facility at Panapakkam in Tamil Nadu’s Ranipet district.The facility represents the first phase of a greenfield plant that will manufacture next-generation vehicles, including electric vehicles, for both TMPV and JLR brands. The first vehicle to roll out of the plant is the locally manufactured Range Rover Evoque.The facility was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Tata Sons and TMPV Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, in the presence of state ministers, officials, and senior leadership from Tata Motors and JLR.TMPV plans to invest around ₹9,000 crore in the Panapakkam facility as part of its long-term manufacturing expansion. Vehicle production will be scaled up in phases, with the plant expected to reach its full annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles over the next five to seven years. The output will cater to both domestic and international markets.The plant is expected to generate more than 5,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and support the growth of an ancillary supplier ecosystem in the region.The Panapakkam facility is operated by shopfloor technicians drawn from across Tamil Nadu. These employees are part of Tata Motors’ Lakshya programme, an earn-while-you-learn initiative aimed at skill development and career progression. Participants were selected through a state-wide assessment of polytechnic graduates and underwent five months of training at JLR facilities. The programme includes the opportunity to pursue a company-sponsored B.Tech degree while continuing employment.The facility has been designed to operate entirely on renewable energy and is planned to be water positive. It incorporates manufacturing processes aimed at reducing emissions and meeting global environmental standards.
