đźš— Jaguar Land Rover to Begin CKD Assembly at Tamil Nadu Plant by Early 2026
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), under Tata Motors, is set to initiate Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kit assembly at its new Ranipet, Tamil Nadu plant by early 2026. This facility will initially focus on the Range Rover Evoque and Velar, gradually building capacity to 30,000 units per year, with operations starting at around 500 cars monthly and targeted scale-up to 3,000 units/month.
🏗️ Two-Phase Production Strategy
- Phase 1: CKD assembly of Evoque and Velar.
- Phase 2: Full-scale manufacturing planned post-2026 elections, aiming for a peak capacity of 250,000 vehicles per year. This phase will incorporate EV production for both Tata and JLR brands.
🌍 Strategic Importance of the Ranipet Site
- Built on approximately 470 acres in Ranipet, with 70 acres dedicated to the initial CKD assembly line.
- Benefits from proximity to Chennai and Ennore ports, boosting export logistics.
- Supports India‑UK trade under the new Free Trade Agreement, enabling early testing and easier importability of future models.
đź’ˇ Why This Expansion Matters
- Local production reduces costs, improves logistics, and shortens delivery timelines for luxury JLR models.
- Flexible capacity lets Tata Motors adjust production based on market needs—SUVs, ICE vehicles, EVs.
- EV readiness: While EV assembly is planned for later, CKD integration now sets up the infrastructure for future electric lineup .
⚙️ Timeline Snapshot
| Milestone | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| CKD Line Operational | January 2026 |
| CKD Production Start | Early 2026 |
| Monthly Scale-Up | 500 → ~3,000 units |
| Full Manufacturing Phase 2 | Post-2026 elections, targeting 250,000 units/year |
🔍 In Summary
JLR’s new plant in Ranipet marks a pivotal shift: moving from importing CKD kits to manufacturing locally, bolstering production flexibility across standard and electric models. This positions Tata-JLR to meet domestic luxury demand and leverage export opportunities.
