Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group and one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has broken ground on a greenfield battery pack manufacturing facility at Pillaipakkam near Chennai, marking a major step in strengthening the country’s electric mobility ecosystem.
The project will involve an investment of approximately ₹400–500 crore and forms part of the broader investments planned by the Hinduja Group under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Tamil Nadu government in September 2025.
The foundation plaque for the facility was unveiled by Mr. M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Mr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce. The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), along with Mr. Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, and other industry representatives.
The new facility is expected to play a critical role in localising EV battery pack production, strengthening India’s electric mobility supply chain and creating opportunities for employment and advanced skill development in the region. The project aligns with Tamil Nadu’s Electric Vehicle Policy 2023, the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, and India’s broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman of Ashok Leyland, said the company’s growth has been closely linked with Tamil Nadu’s industrial development for more than seven decades.
“Ashok Leyland, along with its subsidiary Switch Mobility, has already developed a wide range of electric commercial vehicles and established a leading position in the EV market. The groundbreaking of this new battery pack manufacturing facility marks an important step in our electric mobility journey and reinforces our commitment to building a strong domestic EV ecosystem,” he said.
Mr. Agarwal, MD and CEO of Ashok Leyland, emphasised the strategic importance of battery pack technology for the future of electric mobility and energy storage.
“This facility will enable us to develop advanced battery pack solutions with greater efficiency, safety and reliability while supporting localisation of the battery supply chain. It will also contribute to developing specialised talent and creating new opportunities in high-technology manufacturing in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Ashok Leyland has had a long-standing presence in Tamil Nadu’s industrial landscape. Since establishing its first manufacturing facility in Ennore in 1948, the company has expanded its footprint in the state to nine facilities spread across more than 800 acres. Over the years, it has invested over ₹9,000 crore in Tamil Nadu and created more than 37,000 jobs.
