Tata Motors, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, held the groundbreaking ceremony of its new production facility to manufacture cars and SUVs, at Panapakkam in Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu.

The facility will produce next-gen vehicles for Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover for both India and international markets.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin and N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons & Tata Motors.

Tata Motors Group intends to invest about INR 90 billion in this greenfield manufacturing facility, which has been designed for an annual production capacity of over 250,000 vehicles. Production will begin in a phased manner and progressively increase to reach this capacity over the next five to seven years.

M.K. Stalin said, “Tata Group is renowned for its contribution to nation building. It has a deep, historic relationship with Tamil Nadu with many of its manufacturing plants successfully operating in our state for the past several years. We welcome Tata Motors, an auto manufacturer of global scale, for setting up its newest manufacturing facility in Panapakkam, Ranipet.”

The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has the potential to create over 5,000 employment opportunities (direct and indirect). In addition, the plant will be guided by principles of sustainability and use 100 percent renewable energy for running operations.

N Chandrasekaran added, “We are pleased to make Panapakkam as the home of our next generation of cars and SUVs, including electric and luxury vehicles. Tamil Nadu is a leading industrial state with progressive policies and an established automotive hub with qualified and talented workforce. Several Tata Group companies have been successfully operating from here. We now intend to build our advanced vehicle manufacturing plant here using cutting-edge manufacturing technology and world-class sustainability practices. Our endeavour will be to have a high share of women employees across levels, in line with our focus towards greater empowerment of women.”

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Tata Motors-owned British marquee luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is trialling drone technology at its Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre (EPMC) in Wolverhampton, successfully reducing machinery and site inspection time by up to 95 percent. The pilot is an important step forward in operational efficiency and employee safety, aligning with JLR's vision for its factories of the future.

The Elios 3 drone by Flyability reaches high and confined spaces, allowing maintenance teams to inspect equipment safely from the factory floor, eliminating the need for elevated platforms and reducing risk. Operated via tablet, the drone delivers a live 3D map to identify and troubleshoot issues. This helps JLR prevent costly maintenance downtime while freeing up employees’ time for business tasks.

The drone uses Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors to create detailed 3D maps of the surrounding environment. Additionally, it features a thermal camera to help pinpoint overheating components or insulation failures, helping optimise energy use by detecting inefficiencies early and supporting JLR’s efforts to reduce its overall operational emissions.

Nigel Blenkinsop, Executive Director of Industrial Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “As we transform our facilities, we’re rethinking every part of our factories, including how we maintain and operate them. Trials like this one with advanced drone technology are helping us improve employee safety, reduce maintenance downtime and operate more efficiently. Just as importantly, they’re helping upskill our people in the latest digital technologies, ensuring our teams are part of our factories of the future.”

Shantnu Mehta, Project Engineer, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “I never imagined I’d be learning to fly drones as part of my role. It’s been exciting to learn how to use this technology and the skills I’ve developed will stay with me throughout my career. Being part of such an innovative project and contributing to how we’re transforming our factories for the future is something I’m genuinely proud of.”

Following successful trials at EPMC, the next phase will take place at JLR’s Logistics Operations Centre (LOC) in Solihull – a vast warehouse space equivalent to thirteen football pitches (approx. 91,800 square metre). Here, the drone will be equipped with barcode scanners to automate inventory checks, replacing manual processes and enabling faster, accurate stock updates. This will help improve safety, reduce errors, and support smarter decisions on space, stock levels and supply flow.

The initiative is part of JLR’s GBP 3.8 billion annual investment into industrial transformation, new products and technology, and is being explored through its Open Innovation programme. It also supports JLR’s Future Skills programme, which aims to train 29,000 employees in electrification and digital skills.

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Himadri Speciality Chemical (HSCL), a leading supplier of speciality chemicals and advanced carbon materials, has announced the successful execution of its first liquid coal tar pitch export shipment to the Middle East from its terminal at the New Mangalore Port.

The consignment, totalling 3,600 tonnes of liquid coal tar pitch, was shipped from Himadri’s terminal, confirming the company’s operational capabilities and supply chain resilience in executing high-volume exports to international markets.

This shipment from the western coastline opens a second export corridor for Himadri, alongside its established terminal at Haldia on India’s eastern coast. This development further strengthens the company’s ability to cater to industrial demand across key global regions, particularly the Middle East and the Americas.

Liquid coal tar pitch is a raw material used in aluminium smelting, graphite electrode manufacturing and other high-temperature industrial applications where performance, purity and stability are crucial. The completion of this shipment highlights Himadri’s technical expertise and manufacturing capability to meet the requirements of global heavy industries.

Anurag Choudhary, Chairman & Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Himadri Speciality Chemical, said, "This first-ever coal tar pitch shipment from New Mangalore Port to the Middle East is a defining milestone for Himadri and underscores India’s growing presence in the global carbon materials ecosystem. It reflects our capability to deliver large-scale, high-quality exports while reaffirming our steadfast commitment to reliability, consistency and operational excellence. This reflects the confidence global markets have in our products and capabilities. As we continue to expand our international footprint, we remain firmly focused on reinforcing India’s position as a trusted and dependable supplier of advanced carbon materials."

Building on this, Himadri has articulated an expansion strategy, with the objective of becoming a leading player in the global coal tar pitch market. The company will focus its international expansion in the Middle East and the Americas, where demand for carbon materials continues to rise, driven by growth in aluminium production, infrastructure development and energy-intensive industries.

Enhanced capacity planning, strengthened export corridors, diversified port utilisation and a targeted market outreach programme will support this strategy across these regions. Himadri aims to establish itself as a long-term supplier by leveraging its integrated manufacturing capabilities, technical know-how and sustainable production practices. The company said it continues to invest in quality systems, infrastructure optimisation and supply-chain resilience to ensure consistent delivery and scalability.

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The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the body representing India’s forging sector, organised a Session on ‘Emerging Technology in Forging’ in Bengaluru. The session brought together industry leaders, technology experts and forging professionals to discuss how innovation, automation and digital transformation are reshaping the future of the forging ecosystem. The event aimed to spotlight opportunities that new-age technologies offer for enhancing operational efficiency, productivity, and sustainability within the sector.

The session began with remarks by Vivek Bansal, Director, Bansal Precision Forge. This was followed by a presentation by Senthil Kumar R, Nasscom Centre of Excellence – IoT & AI, on how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and automation are reshaping the forging industry. He highlighted use cases and the relevance of connected manufacturing.

This was followed by a session on ‘Driving Digital Transformation in the Forging Sector’ by Dr. Amit Goyal and Dr. Manju Gupta from BizSol Technologies. Their presentation showed how ERP systems, digital integration and data intelligence are enabling forging companies to transition into the Industry 4.0 era with agility and efficiency.

Ajit Gaikwad, Yeskolube India, spoke on the ‘Importance of Forging Die Lubricant’ and its role in productivity and die life. The presentation by Ramakrishna D, Orb Energy, focused on ‘Powering Indian Enterprise with Solar,’ highlighting how renewable energy adoption is becoming an advantage.

Yash Munot, President of The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), said, “At AIFI, our priority has always been to empower the forging industry with knowledge, capability, and a clear roadmap for the future. As the sector enters a new phase driven by digital and technological advancement, it is essential that our members understand and adopt these innovations at the right pace. This session reinforces AIFI’s commitment to enabling industry-wide transformation through meaningful collaborations, continuous engagement with technology leaders, and creating platforms that help our members stay globally competitive. We remain focused on strengthening India’s forging ecosystem and ensuring it continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s industrial and economic progress”.

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Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has announced the expansion of its lithium-ion battery powered electric forklift fleet to comprise 142 units. This expansion, which more than doubles the previous total, supports the company’s commitment to green logistics.

The transition to electric forklifts aligns with Vedanta’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the goal of decarbonising its Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) fleet by 2030.

The 142 electric forklifts have been deployed across the company's operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. At its Jharsuguda smelter alone, where 116 forklifts operate, the initiative is expected to eliminate approximately 4,450 tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually and reduce diesel consumption by 1.63 million litres each year. The transition also enhances workplace safety and boosts operational efficiency through faster charging and lower maintenance requirements.

Rajiv Kumar, CEO - Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we view sustainability as more than a commitment, it is a catalyst for transformation. Our expanded electric forklift fleet is a testament to what becomes possible when we invest in technologies that benefit both our operations and our planet. This milestone has not only strengthened our environmental efforts but has also created new pathways for greater inclusion in industry roles that were once considered inaccessible to women.”

The initiative has created new opportunities for inclusive growth, with several forklifts operated by women and transgender professionals, reinforcing the company's commitment to equality. This includes the deployment of India's first 10-tonne capacity electric forklifts at the Jharsuguda smelter operations.

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