The cat is out of the bag and we now know that JSW Group is working to establish its name in the Indian auto industry. The company already has a working JV with MG Motor which offers India’s best-selling EV, the MG Windsor. This JV will continue as JSW explores options to establish itself as an independent automaker in India.
The company has pledged an investment of around Rs 14,000 Crores for the development and evolution of their first ever car production facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Speaking to CNBC-TV18 India, Managing Director Parth Jindal has revealed a lot of developments regarding their 1st and 2nd vehicles for India. Let’s take a closer look.
JSW Plug-In Hybrid SUV
Mr Jindal confirmed that the first JSW vehicle will be launched in India before Diwali of 2026 for the festive season boost. While he didn’t reveal which brand and model it will be based on, he did confirm that it will be a premium offering at a price point between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 30 lakh (Ex-sh). It will be a highly localised product for the Indian market for an attractive price point.
He confirmed that they have currently achieved around 80% localization for their first vehicle. Localized components for this upcoming PHEV include battery pack, steel for BIW parts, motor, seats, rubber, glass, tyres and others. Only the cells and associated technology will be brought in from China. JSW is yet to confirm whether it will be a 4WD PHEV or 2WD.
2nd Car confirmed for Rs 15-20 Lakh Price Point
The plan is on track, as confirmed by Mr Jindal. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility is still under construction. General assembly line is expected to be ready by June and paint line by October. Initially the vehicle will only be assembled here with parts imported from China. October onwards, the facility is looking for 80% localization.
Production (assembly operations) is set to begin in August and JSW Motor’s first car for India will be available in September of 2026. The more localized product will start production around October. Mr Jindal even confirmed their 2nd vehicle which will be available in January 2027 for a price point of around Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
What to expect?
JSW Motor’s first offering for India will be based on Jetour T2 SUV, especially the i-DM plug-in Hybrid variant. In Mr Jindal’s words, it is a “big muscle car” and these words do suit Jetour T2. Globally T2 is available in 5-seater (4,785 mm length) and a 7-seater (5,034 mm length) versions. JSW has not confirmed which version they’re bringing to India.
For India-spec version, there might be a few dedicated exterior design elements and interior features too. Jetour T2 is a boxy monocoque SUV with a lot of muscle and a dominating road presence. It is expected to offer a feature-packed experience. The i-DM plug-in hybrid system will be the first of its kind under Rs 30 lakh.
