ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India on April 30 inaugurated a new Pickling Line and Tandem Cold Mill (PLTCM) at its Hazira facility in Gujarat, adding 2 million tonnes per annum of capacity to its automotive steel operations.

The unit was inaugurated by Keiichi Ono and will produce cold-rolled base steel for automotive applications, including Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), galvanised (GI), galvannealed (GA), and press hardened steel (PHS).

The company said the line will support domestic production of high-grade automotive steel and reduce reliance on imports. The facility is designed to manufacture steel with strength levels of up to 1180 MPa, aligned with safety and lightweighting requirements under Bharat NCAP norms.

The commissioning is part of AMNS India’s ₹60,000-crore expansion programme at Hazira, which includes upstream and downstream capacity additions.

Dilip Oommen, CEO of AMNS India, said the new line strengthens the company’s ability to supply automotive-grade steel locally and supports supply chain resilience and vehicle safety requirements.

Ono said the project reflects collaboration between Japan and India in manufacturing and technology, and supports the “Make in India” initiative.

India’s demand for flat automotive steel is currently estimated at 7.8 million tonnes per annum and is expected to grow at 6–7% annually, driven by increasing vehicle production and demand for higher-grade materials.