Ranipet

Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran on Monday lauded Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, describing the occasion as a “golden day” for Tata Motors and its wider workforce, as the first Land Rover Evoque rolled off the assembly line at the company’s newly commissioned manufacturing facility in the state.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony, Chandrasekaran recalled that the foundation stone for the plant had been laid just 16 months earlier, in September 2024, by Chief Minister Stalin, who had then assured the company of complete support from the state government.

He said the Chief Minister had encouraged Tata Motors to commence manufacturing within a 16-month timeframe, promising swift approvals and necessary facilities. “He told us that whatever clearances or support were required would be extended, and asked us to begin operations within 16 months,” Chandrasekaran noted.

"Whatever facilities you want...": Tata Chairman's high praise for Stalin

Read @ANI Story |https://t.co/Q55OE95wKL#Tatamotors #NatarajanChandrasekaran #MKStalin pic.twitter.com/3qkBgjrXSw

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) February 9, 2026

That assurance materialised on Monday with the rollout of the first Land Rover Evoque from the facility. In a symbolic gesture marking the start of production, Chief Minister Stalin drove the vehicle out of the plant.

Chandrasekaran termed the facility a major landmark for both Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), stating that it would operate with advanced technology and significantly strengthen the group’s manufacturing presence in India.

He thanked the Chief Minister, Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, and state officials for their cooperation, crediting their support for the project’s completion within the promised timeline.

Emphasising the Tata Group’s growing footprint in Tamil Nadu, Chandrasekaran said the state has become an important centre for the conglomerate’s operations. He pointed to the expansion of Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Taj Hotels, Tata Electronics, and other group entities in the state over the past four years.

Looking ahead, he said the Tata Motors–JLR facility would operate at an advanced level as production is scaled up in the coming years. The plant, he added, was designed to manufacture both Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover models.

Built with an annual capacity of up to three lakh vehicles, the facility is expected to mark the beginning of the group’s plans to produce more high-end vehicles in India, Chandrasekaran said.

READ MORE: Why reviving Ganga-Jamuni culture is the need of the hour

The new manufacturing unit is expected to generate employment, strengthen Tamil Nadu’s automotive ecosystem, and further cement the state’s position as a leading destination for large-scale manufacturing investments.