Stellantis has bought out CK Birla’s stake, taking full control of its Thiruvallur plant, and has announced a 43,000‑unit target for 2028.
The plant currently churns out four Citroën nameplates – the compact C3, its all‑electric e‑C3, the SUV‑styled C3 Aircross, and the Basalt sedans. The e‑C3 comes with a 35‑kWh pack that nips 172 km on a single charge, 78 hp from a 58‑kW motor, and a 380‑litre boot. It’s priced at ₹17.25 lakh ex‑showroom.
How does that stack up? Tata’s Nexon EV, the most‑sold EV in India, sits at ₹13.99 lakh and offers 312 km of range, while MG’s ZS EV pulls 419 km for ₹17.99 lakh. So while Citroën’s flagship is still behind on range, the brand’s smaller lineup is priced aggressively and can fill the gap for city‑driven buyers.
India’s EV push is on full throttle – the government has cut import duties on EVs to 5 % and is pushing for 30 % of all new car sales to be electric by 2030. Stellantis’ ₹11,000 crore investment in the Tamil Nadu plant feeds directly into that mandate, giving buyers a taste of local‑made, duty‑shaved EVs with potentially lower running costs.
The plant’s workforce will more than double from 610 to about 1,200 hands, and output will climb from 16,000 units in 2026 to 43,000 by 2028. That means a steady stream of Citroën models and a cushion against supply bottlenecks. Keep an eye on 2025 for the first batch of locally produced e‑C3s hitting the showroom floor.