To further meet growing demand for its new generation passenger vehicles, Tata Motors today announced its ramp up plans for the Sanand plant. Operating at 100% capacity utilization today, the plant has so far rolled out over 4,50,000 units, since inception and is among fastest expanding plants of Tata Motors. The Company is currently mapping out its modular architecture plans and will distribute its Passenger Vehicle manufacturing between Pune and Sanand to meet its product expansion plans.
Speaking at the Sanand plant, Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “We, at Tata Motors, have been working aggressively towards our core strategy of Turnaround 2.0, aiming to ‘Win sustainably in PVs’. A lean manufacturing process plays a key role in our growth strategy enabling the Sanand plant to contribute around 60% of the overall PV production. The plant has evolved to become a modern, state-of-the-art facility and is playing a vital role meeting aspirations of Tiago and Tigor customers. The plant has already achieved WCQ 3 level in quality standards and we are extremely proud of this achievement”
Spread over 1100 acres of land, the Tata Motors’ Sanand plant has played an important role in the development of the automobile industry in the state of Gujarat. From a single model plant in 2010, the plant today has emerged as a multi-model facility, becoming one of the most technologically advanced plants. With a flexible assembly line, the plant today manufactures Nano, Tiago & Tigor models spread across 21 variants with 150 vehicle combinations. It is also producing engines – Revotron 1.2L – Petrol (Manual & Auto Transmission), Revotorq 1.05L – Diesel, 624 CC, MPFI – Petrol (Manual & Auto Transmission) and 1.2 NGTC – Petrol (Manual & Auto Transmission).
Keeping up with the Government of India’s vision to bring Electric Vehicles in India, the Sanand plant produced the first electric passenger vehicle for commercial use in the form of Tigor EV and continues to support deliveries of the EESL order. Additionally, the plant is gearing up for more in the future.
Being the youngest plant of Tata Motors, this facility leverages technology with over 190 robots, with high levels of automation to increase productivity across processes. In last two years, the number of employees has increased by 80% at 4,500. As of today, the plant has employed, close to 100% blue collar from Gujarat against the mandated requirement of 85%.
The Sanand plant has been awarded CII’s GreenCo Platinum Certification in June 2018. It is a zero discharge plant and has a systematic hazardous waste disposal process. The plant is using 30-35% of renewable energy from total power consumption. The plant has commissioned 2MW of roof top solar panels and off-site wind power mills with capacity of 9MW. The plant has 180 acres of green belt created and nurtured out of waste water. Several initiatives have been taken with an aim to reduce carbon footprint. With a focus on climate change, Sanand plant achieved 1,300-tCO2e (Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) reduction in Carbon Emission on an average per month in FY18.
In the last few years, Tata Motors has witnessed strong growth in the market owing to its turnaround strategy. This has been largely possible because of the many initiatives that have been taken with respect to optimizing all business functions in the most effective manner possible. With the revamped structure in effect at the range of plants owned by Company, the Sanand facility is being used to the fullest of its capacity, thereby vastly helping the Company to bring products faster to the market.
With the team committed to achieving par excellence performance, the Sanand plant is well on its way to transforming itself into a Center of Manufacturing Excellence and establishing the brand – Tiago / Tigor!