Range Rover Evoque becomes first locally manufactured model at Tata's new Tamil Nadu plant

The first locally manufactured Range Rover Evoque rolls out from Tata' new plant in Panapakkam, Ranipet, Tamil Nadu.

• Tata Motors starts production at new Panapakkam facility in Tamil Nadu.
• First locally made Range Rover Evoque rolls out; plant to hit 2.5 lakh capacity.
• Facility to produce Tata and JLR vehicles, including EVs, using renewable energy.

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has commenced operations at its new manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu with the local production of the Range Rover Evoque, marking the first vehicle to roll out of the plant.

The Panapakkam facility, located in Ranipet district, represents the first phase of a greenfield manufacturing project being developed by Tata and its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

The locally manufactured Range Rover Evoque becomes the starting point for JLR vehicle production at the site, which is planned to support both domestic and export markets.

The facility was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.

"With the commencement of operations at this new manufacturing facility and the rollout of the first Range Rover Evoque in Panapakkam, Ranipet, the state is proud to witness the expansion of world-class automotive manufacturing," said Stalin.

Chandrasekaran described the start of production as a milestone in Tata Group's manufacturing roadmap. "With this facility, we look forward to producing vehicles of exceptional quality, craftsmanship and technology for customers in India and around the world," he said.

According to the company, production at Panapakkam will scale up in phases, with the plant designed to reach an annual capacity of 2.5 lakh vehicles over the next five to seven years. The site is expected to serve requirements for both Tata and JLR brands, including next-generation models and electric vehicles (EVs).

The Panapakkam plant employs shopfloor technicians drawn from across Tamil Nadu, trained under Tata's Lakshya programme. These employees underwent five months of hands-on training at JLR facilities and are eligible for company-sponsored engineering degrees while in employment.

Tata plans to invest around Rs 9,000 crore in the facility over time. The project has the potential to generate more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and support the development of a local supplier ecosystem.

The company said the Panapakkam plant has been designed to operate entirely on renewable energy, be water positive and meet global environmental benchmarks, aligning with Tata's sustainability strategy.