Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland has begun construction of a greenfield battery pack manufacturing facility at Pillaipakkam near Chennai, marking a significant push toward strengthening its electric vehicle ecosystem and localising key components for EV production.

Strengthening EV supply chain

The company said the project will involve an investment of around ₹400–500 crore and forms part of the broader investments planned by the Hinduja Group under a memorandum of understanding signed with the government of Tamil Nadu in September 2025.

The facility is expected to support localisation of EV battery packs and strengthen the domestic supply chain for electric commercial vehicles. It also aligns with the state’s Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy 2023 and the Union government’s National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, aimed at accelerating EV adoption and domestic manufacturing.

Groundbreaking in presence of state leadership

The foundation plaque for the facility was unveiled by M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Industries Minister T. R. B. Rajaa and senior state officials, along with the company’s leadership.

The upcoming plant is expected to produce battery packs for electric commercial vehicles and contribute to building local engineering and manufacturing capabilities in advanced battery technologies.

Company bets on battery technology

“Our journey has been closely linked with the growth of Tamil Nadu for more than seven decades,” said Dheeraj Hinduja, executive chairman of Ashok Leyland. “The new battery pack facility marks an important step in our electric mobility plans and strengthens our commitment to building a domestic EV ecosystem.”

According to Shenu Agarwal, managing director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, battery technology will play a critical role in the next phase of electric mobility.

“Battery pack technology is central to the future of electric mobility and energy storage,” Agarwal said. “The facility will help develop advanced battery pack solutions while supporting localisation of the battery supply chain.”

Deep manufacturing roots in Tamil Nadu

The company already sells electric buses and light commercial vehicles through its EV arm Switch Mobility and has been expanding its presence in the electric commercial vehicle segment.

Ashok Leyland has had a long manufacturing presence in Tamil Nadu since setting up its first plant in Ennore in 1948. Over the decades, the company has expanded to nine manufacturing facilities in the state and invested over ₹9,000 crore, generating more than 37,000 jobs.

The new battery pack plant adds to the state’s growing EV manufacturing ecosystem and is expected to support the transition toward electric commercial mobility