JSW MG Motor India will increase its annual manufacturing capacity by a third to 160,000 units by March next year as it prepares to launch new vehicles, expand localisation and introduce multiple new-energy vehicle technologies based on a new modular platform, according to Managing Director Anurag Mehrotra.
The company is investing about Rs 1,400 crore this year, with spending focused on three areas - localisation, new products and expanding its manufacturing plant.
"We are on the verge of completing our phase one expansion which should be ready by March 2027. That will take us from capacity of 120,000 units to 160,000 units," Mehrotra said.
He added that work on the next phase of expansion at the Halol plant, which will take capacity to about 300,000 units, will begin next year.
According to Mehrotra, the company is currently operating at near-full capacity, with both general assembly lines running three shifts after increasing plant headcount by 40% to meet rising demand.
The expansion comes as JSW MG Motor prepares to broaden its portfolio. After launching three products last year, the company plans to introduce four vehicles this year.
"The first one was the Majestor. It is off to a flying start. Our plant can't produce enough which is a good problem to have," Mehrotra said.
The automaker is also stepping up localisation. Mehrotra said localisation of the Windsor has already tripled and is on track to reach about 70% next year. The company aims to achieve a similar localisation level for all new products.
Alongside its product expansion, JSW MG Motor unveiled the ADAPT platform, which it described as India's first multi-new energy vehicle platform. The architecture will support battery electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles on a single platform.
He said multiple technologies would be needed to increase adoption of cleaner vehicles in India. "It is not going to be one technology that will get us there. We will have to look at multiple technologies that can be brought together."
The new platform will underpin two vehicles to be launched during the current financial year. The first model will be a battery electric vehicle, followed by a plug-in hybrid.
The company said the common platform would allow it to support multiple powertrains and body styles while reducing development costs.
"The reason we have done a single platform and multiple powertrains... By bringing one platform with all the 4 technologies in it you have actually reduced your CAPEX need by at least half," Mehrotra said. Ends