Ashok Leyland has announced the beginning of construction of its new Rs 170 crore bus plant in Andhra Pradesh. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of work on a greenfield factory which will be the first Ashok Leyland plant in Andhra Pradesh.

Situated in Model Industrial Park, Mallavalli Village in Krishna District, the ceremony was performed in the presence of the Nara Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Vinod K Dasari, managing director and CEO of Ashok Leyland.

Part of the fast upcoming manufacturing hub in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh and located 40km from Vijayawada, this Ashok Leyland plant will be spread over 75 acres and will employ the latest bus manufacturing technologies.

The plant once fully completed would be able to produce 4,800 buses per annum, and would also have a state-of- the-art learning center and an advanced service training center. The plant will likely employ over 5,000 employees.

While it will have the capability to make the entire range of Ashok Leyland buses, the facility will also include an electric vehicle development centre comprising of a futuristic conveyor line, pilot assembly line and prototype development.

The new facility will be a complete green facility, with rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, battery operated vehicles for in-plant movement, positive water balance and zero discharge.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nara Chandrababu Naidu said, “Today is a landmark day for us. We are excited to have such an established company like Ashok Leyland setting up a factory in Andhra Pradesh. It is a key addition to our fast expanding manufacturing hub here.
This factory will not only provide jobs to our youth but also help improve the skill level of our people in the state and overall economy of the region.”

Dheeraj G Hinduja, chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “The Hinduja Group is proud that its flagship Ashok Leyland has chosen the vibrant state of Andhra Pradesh for its latest plant. Ashok Leyland has been at the forefront of mass mobility in the country. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future.”

Sharing his views on the upcoming plant, Vinod K Dasari, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, “This facility will help us be ahead of the curve by ensuring our readiness towards implementation of the bus body code and to meet the rising demand for ready-to- use, fully-built trucks as well. We will also produce electric vehicles at this plant. The new plant is also strategically located to meet the demands of Central, Eastern and Southern India markets.”

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