The Automotive Division of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., a part of the $16.5 billion Mahindra Group, has announced inauguration of its extended automotive manufacturing facility at Zaheerabad, Telangana. Inaugurated by the Telangana Chief Minister, Mr. K. Chandrashekar Rao, the facility will be used to manufacture Mahindra’s new small commercial vehicle code-named P601, which is scheduled to be launched in the first half of the current fiscal.
The dignitaries present on this occasion included Mr. T. Harish Rao, State Minister for Irrigation, Mining & Geology, Marketing & Legislative Affairs, Mr. Jupally Krishna Rao, Minister for Major Industries, Handloom & Sugar Departments, Ms. Padma Devender Reddy, Deputy Speaker of the Telangana Assembly, Dr. J. Geeta Reddy, MLA, Zaheerabad Constituency. Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, and Mr. Pravin Shah, President & Chief Executive, Automotive, Mahindra & Mahindra.
The extended manufacturing facility for the automotive plant has been set up at an investment of approximately Rs. 250 crores has an installed capacity of 92,000 vehicles per annum, which can be scaled up further to meet growing demand. This is in addition to the production capacity of 75,000 vehicles per annum from the already existing automotive manufacturing plant at Zaheerabad.
The Zaheerabad plant will manufacture sub-one tone commercial vehicles, which include 4-wheel load and passenger vehicles, in addition to UVs, LCVs and 3-wheelers, which are being currently manufactured. The expansion will provide additional direct and indirect employment, taking the total employment to 3,500 workers spread across the automotive and tractor plants.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said: “Our Zaheerabad plant incorporates a flexible and agile approach to manufacturing which will ensure that it is able to respond rapidly to evolving customer needs. With our investment of over Rs. 1,100 crores till date and employment generation of over 3,500 between both our tractor and auto plants, we are significantly invested in Telangana. While thanking the State Government for its encouragement and support, we look to accelerate development and put Telangana high on the industrial map of India”.
Said Mr. Pravin Shah, President & Chief Executive, Automotive, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.: “It is a moment of pride for us as we inaugurate the extended auto manufacturing facility, which will manufacture our soon to be launched small commercial vehicle code named P601. We will work towards manufacturing some of the best commercial vehicles from our Zaheerabad plant and help generate employment in and around the plant either directly or indirectly through our suppliers and other business partners. In fact, six of our suppliers are currently setting up plants in the nearby supplier park, with investments of over Rs. 100 crores. This will further maximize industrial activities and operational effectiveness, leading to just-in-time delivery for optimizing cost”.
Mahindra had earlier inaugurated its tractor plant at Zaheerabad in 2013. This plant has already reached a production volume of 3,500 tractors per month. Other than Zaheerabad, Mahindra has five more automotive manufacturing plants, in Mumbai, Chakan, Nasik, Igatpuri and Haridwar, and a full-fledged research and development centre, Mahindra Research Valley, for the design and development of both automotive & farm equipment products.
Along with technology features, the new automotive plant boasts of energy-efficient features which demonstrate the increasing focus of the company towards a reduced carbon footprint. The plant supports sustainability with energy-efficient buildings and turbo ventilators, LED lamps and other energy conserving materials which have been used during its construction.