MC EXCLUSIVE JSW Motors to launch its first car in June — a plug-in hybrid SUV for Rs 45 lakh

JSW to have cars sold under its own

• JSW to enter car business through the high-end segment
• Product to be made at the upcoming plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
• JSW Motor top focus on green mobility - EV, hybrids

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Billionaire Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Motors will enter the Indian passenger vehicle market through a plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) SUV,  which is slated for a June launch.

The vehicle is likely to be priced at around Rs 45 lakh, sources said, putting the homegrown brand in the premium segment and in direct competition with global names such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. So far, only luxury carmakers have offered PHEVs to Indian consumers.

The SUV's production will commence from the upcoming factory in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) in Maharashtra, the company confirmed.

Responding to a Moneycontrol queries, JSW Motors CEO Ranjan Nayak said on January 13, “JSW Motors will make its debut in the passenger vehicle segment with a hybrid model later in the year 2026. Our planned facility in Chhattrapati Sambhajinagar will be at the forefront of this endeavour."

Though JSW has been in talks with some international automotive companies for a tie-up, a deal is in the final lap and could be inked in the coming weeks, sources said. The partnership will explore the under tapped segments of clean energy fuels such as electric and partially green solutions like hybrids and range extended electric vehicles (REEV).

"We are evaluating technology partnerships with multiple potential global partners and are progressing as planned on our retail and distribution strategy, with the first dealership expected to come up closer to the product launch," Nayak said in his emailed response.

"Given the evolving nature of our plans, it would be too early to comment on specific details around partnerships, investments, or product specifications at this stage. We will share more information as our plans progress and reach appropriate milestones,” Nayak added.

The last time India saw the entry of a new automotive holding brand was in 2022 when Hero MotoCorp launched the Vida brand of electric scooters. A year earlier, Ashok Leyland introduced the Switch brand for electric buses.

EV push

The $24-billion JSW group, which has interests in steel, energy, infrastructure, ports and paints, entered the automotive space in late 2023 after buying equity in MG Motor India from its Chinese parent SAIC Motor. JSW and Everstone Capital hold a 51 percent stake in MG Motor India. JSW wants to further increased its stake by acquiring shares held by SAIC.

The company, renamed JSW MG Motor India, makes electric (EV) and non-electric passenger vehicles (PV). While it is the seventh largest car brand in India, it is the second largest EV maker in the country behind Tata Motors. In 2025, the MG Windsor became the largest selling passenger electric vehicle in the country.

In CY25, JSW MG Motor India saw its electric vehicle volumes jump by 136 percent year on year to 51,387 units, accounting for 30 percent of the domestic EV market, registration data shared by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) shows. The electric PV market grew by 77 percent during the same year to 176,817 units.

Legacy players, including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, are set to ramp up their presence in the EV segment over the next 12-18 months. This will help push the industry EV penetration level closer to 10 percent in the next two years from 4 percent in 2025.