In a major step that will shape the future of Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), both companies have finalized plans to jointly produce upcoming vehicles. This collaboration will position India as a key manufacturing hub for JLR, showcasing India’s growing expertise in automotive production. By adding cost-effective production to JLR’s existing facilities in the UK, China, and Eastern Europe, this move is set to significantly enhance efficiency.
Common Platform for Tata Motors and JLR
The new vehicles from the Tata-JLR partnership will be based on JLR’s Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform. There is also speculation about a shared platform for Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, particularly given the lower market penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. A common ICE platform could be beneficial for both brands, and rumors suggest a JLR model based on Tata’s platform could be launched as early as next year.
For the Indian market, it is likely that one model each for Tata Motors and JLR will be developed from the EMA platform. These new JLR vehicles, which may include cars and SUVs, are expected to be exported to multiple international markets. However, specific details about the models under development are still under wraps.
N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group, emphasized the benefits of a common platform for both companies. For Tata Motors, independently developing a new flagship platform would require a significant financial commitment. Similarly, JLR may not have sufficient production volumes to justify such investments on its own. By collaborating, the two companies can create financial synergies that make large-scale platform development more feasible.
Tata-JLR Production in Sanand
Tata Motors has reportedly chosen Sanand as the manufacturing site for the new Tata-JLR EVs. This location is strategically important, with Tata’s battery production facility, Tata Agratas, being built in Gujarat, and the proximity to Mundra Port offering reduced transportation costs.
Tata Motors is also considering multiple production centers for JLR and Tata vehicles as part of its Business Continuity Planning (BCP). Speculation points to the possibility of a new facility in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the JLR brand, with an estimated investment of around ₹9,000 crores over five years.
Massive Investments in EV Development
With an ambitious eye on the growing EV market, Tata Motors and JLR have outlined significant investments for the coming years. Through Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), Tata Motors plans to invest several billion dollars over the next six years. JLR, on the other hand, has announced an even larger investment of over £15 billion (approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore) over the next five years.
Earlier, TPEM and JLR collaborated on the development of the Tata Avinya EV, which marked the debut of a new model and platform set to underpin multiple premium electric vehicles. TPEM will pay a royalty fee to JLR for licensing its EMA platform, with agreements in place to share electrical architecture, battery packs, electric drive units, and manufacturing expertise.
First introduced as a concept in 2022, the Avinya provides a glimpse of Tata Motors’ EV future. This vehicle promises advanced safety features, including ADAS, cutting-edge connectivity, and a premium in-cabin experience. Leveraging JLR’s EMA platform, Tata can fast-track innovations like L2+ autonomous driving, over-the-air updates (OTA), ultra-fast charging, and top-tier safety features (5-Star Euro NCAP Rating).
By producing future Jaguar and Land Rover models on a common platform in India, Tata Motors aims to achieve cost efficiency, enhancing profitability while competing with rival luxury ICE vehicles.