Tata Motors has announced that it will begin assembling Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles at its Panapakkam facility near Chennai on February 9, 2026. The confirmation from the brand marks a significant step in expanding Tata Motors' luxury vehicle manufacturing presence in India.
The move also signals the operational launch of the company's Panapakkam plant, which represents an investment of around Rs 9,000 crore. Announced in 2024, the facility has been designed with an annual production capacity of up to 2.5 lakh vehicles and is expected to employ more than 5,000 people once it reaches full operations. Although this capacity exceeds current demand for premium vehicles in the domestic market, it allows flexibility for future expansion and potential export opportunities.
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While Tata Motors has not yet disclosed which Jaguar Land Rover models will be assembled at the new facility, reports indicate that the Range Rover Evoque could be among the first. The company, however, has refrained from confirming any specific models or timelines for additional production lines.
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While the Evoque is anticipated to take the lead, it won't be the sole JLR model produced in Tamil Nadu. Additional models are set to follow and will be assembled at the Panapakkam facility. Moreover, the plant's adaptable manufacturing lines are designed to accommodate electric vehicles, suggesting that JLR's forthcoming electric lineup may also be manufactured in India soon.
Currently, Tata Motors assembles Jaguar Land Rover vehicles at its Pune facility through the completely knocked down (CKD) route. When asked whether production would shift entirely from Pune to Chennai, Chandra said further details would be shared later, clarifying that only the commencement of JLR assembly in Chennai has been finalized so far.
The launch of production at Panapakkam underscores Tata Motors' strategy to expand domestic capacity while retaining flexibility for future localisation and export opportunities in the luxury segment.