- Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran is optimistic about India's new trade agreements
- Agreements with the EU, UK, UAE, and US will transform Indian industry and markets
- The Ranipet plant will produce advanced Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover models
Tata & Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has expressed strong optimism about India's expanding trade landscape, saying recent free trade agreements with major global economies open up unprecedented opportunities for both Indian companies and overseas markets.
Speaking to NDTV's Sam Daniel on the sidelines of the Jaguar Land Rover project in Tamil Nadu's Ranipet district, Mr Chandrasekaran said trade agreements with the European Union, the UK, the UAE and the United States would be transformational for Indian industry. “I am extremely positive about the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said, adding that these agreements “open up the world market and open up the Indian market too.”
Highlighting the strategic thinking behind the Ranipet manufacturing facility, Mr Chandrasekaran said the plant was conceived to produce the latest Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover models, with a strong focus on advanced technology. The facility has a production capacity of up to three lakh vehicles a year and will begin operations by rolling out high-end products, particularly premium JLR models equipped with the latest automotive technologies.
“This is a new plant, so we are bringing in all the learnings from our existing facilities and building it to be very advanced,” he said. Mr Chandrasekaran added that over the next five years, Tata Motors and JLR plan to introduce additional models and new technologies from the Ranipet facility, scaling up both capability and product range.
The Tata Group Chairman also underlined the speed at which the project was executed, crediting close coordination between Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover and the Tamil Nadu government. “Teamwork made it possible to bring this plant up in just 16 months,” he said, calling it an example of effective industry–government collaboration.
The Ranipet project, backed by a Rs 9,000-crore investment, is expected to have a capacity of around 2.5 lakh to three lakh vehicles annually and generate employment for nearly 5,000 people. The facility is also a key part of Tamil Nadu's distributed development strategy, extending the state's automobile manufacturing ecosystem beyond Chennai into tier-two industrial hubs.
Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the plant and flagged off the first vehicle produced here. Applauding the Tata Group for its trust in Tamil Nadu, he said the plant showcases "Tamil NADU'S potential to make global automotive products" and that "Tata JLR is also a project important for India".
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