Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the luxury vehicle brand owned by Tata Motors, is considering the potential of manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) in India. This move, if approved, will establish the largest JLR manufacturing facility outside of the UK.
The discussions, which are at an advanced stage, are taking place amid the ongoing negotiations of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement. The proposed investment is likely to be made in Sanand, Gujarat, but the company is also exploring other alternatives, including Pune, its original home base.
Jaguar Land Rover India EV Manufacturing Plans
JLR is exploring the possibilities of utilizing the EMA architecture, which will be localized by Tata Motors for its Avinya range of cars. The original Avinya platform was revealed in 2022 as the company’s Gen 3 or pure EV platform.
This project could entail a multi-billion-pound investment to develop at least four models each from Tata Motors and JLR over the coming decade. The projected volume is envisaged at around 300,000 units, with one-third planned for Tata Motors and about two-thirds for JLR.
Future Prospects
The majority of the production is expected to supply export markets, with a very small share of the domestic market in India. This ambitious project has gathered momentum as the proposed India-UK FTA negotiations reach an advanced stage.
The Tata Group had earlier announced an investment of $1.3 billion in Agratas, a cell manufacturing company that will set up its base in Gujarat. This aligns with JLR’s plans to launch eight battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in India by 2030.
The first Gen 3 architecture-based EV is now expected in 2026-27, which is likely to be a luxury SUV that sits above the Harrier and Safari in the company’s model range.
As the world moves towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, this move by JLR and Tata Motors marks a significant step in the right direction.