Mahindra & Mahindra on Saturday inaugurated its Rs. 5,000-crore future-ready manufacturing plant in the industrial hub of Chakan in Maharashtra that will help the auto major to manufacture full range of products under one roof. With an initial annual installed capacity of three-lakh units, M&M will manufacture products ranging from the 0.75-tonne Maxximo to the 49-tonne Mahindra Navistar truck and its sports utility vehicle (SUV) range it plans to launch in the U.S.
“The Chakan story is characterised by the zeal, passion and commitment to create a factory of the future, a facility which will set new benchmarks in manufacturing excellence. This is clearly evident in its sheer scale and innovative manufacturing processes which is in line with Mahindra's vision to emerge as a leading full range player with the ability to compete against the best on the global automotive stage”, Mahindra Group Vice-Chairman & Managing Director Anand Mahindra said in a statement.
M&M plans to launch nine new vehicles in the next fiscal. In the initial stages, it will make the full range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles from the joint venture with Navistar ranging from 25-49 tonne tippers and trucks. It will also accommodate production of other models if required by the future market demand.
Towards its initiatives of creating an eco-friendly environment, M&M's Chakan plant boasts several eco-friendly initiatives which not only mitigate environmental degradation (ED) but also reduce waste. Solar energy and waste heat from the oven exhaust are used to reduce the consumption of LPG and electricity in the paint shop, leading to reduction of 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually at full volume.
