Stellantis purchased the balance of shares owned by Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation in Stellantis Automobiles India, resulting in complete ownership of the Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu. The deal was financed via foreign direct investment, granting Stellantis sole authority over vehicle assembly at the facility.
At present, the Thiruvallur facility produces four Citroën models – the C3, e-C3, C3 Aircross and Basalt. Assembly operations began in 2021, which is four years after the 2017 manufacturing alliance between Stellantis and the CK Birla Group.
Output at the Thiruvallur site is projected to climb sharply during the coming two years. Stellantis intends to lift yearly production from roughly 16,000 cars in 2026 to in excess of 43,000 units by 2028, representing a growth of over 160%. The plant presently employs 610 staff members, a number that is expected to more than double as throughput rises.
Export activity already forms a significant element of the plant’s function. Cars produced in Thiruvallur are dispatched to eight destinations spanning four continents, while localisation at the site exceeds 95%. Stellantis attributes this performance to the surrounding supplier and logistics ecosystem in Tamil Nadu, a state that ranks among India’s leading automotive manufacturing hubs.
The company reports that total investment in India surpasses €1 billion, covering areas such as manufacturing, product development, localisation and capability building. Shailesh Hazela, who serves as CEO and Managing Director of Stellantis India, has put the amount at roughly Rs 11,000 crore.
Complete control also alters the decision-making process at SAIPL. Stellantis argues that a streamlined ownership model will enable quicker decisions, tighter operational integration and increased flexibility. It has highlighted priorities such as investment in new products, expanded manufacturing capacity, boosted exports and enhanced localisation.
