Stellantis Takes Full Ownership of Thiruvallur Plant, Targets 160% Production Ramp-Up by 2027

Stellantis Buys Out Its Indian Joint Venture Partner

Stellantis India has taken complete ownership of Stellantis Automobiles India Private Limited, the entity that runs its Thiruvallur manufacturing operation in Tamil Nadu, after acquiring the remaining stake from Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation, a CK Birla Group company. The transaction was funded through foreign direct investment and ends a partnership structure the two sides had shared since 2017. Vehicle assembly at the plant began in 2021.

The company says full ownership will allow faster decision-making, tighter operational integration and more flexibility to respond to the Indian market. The Thiruvallur plant currently builds the Citroen C3, e-C3, C3 Aircross and Basalt, with over 95 percent localisation, and serves eight export markets across four continents.

The Numbers Behind the Push

Why a Slow-Selling Brand Is Doubling Down

Citroen's India volumes have been modest, which makes a 160 percent ramp-up look counterintuitive at first glance. The logic is threefold. First, the plant's export commitments give it a floor beyond domestic demand. Second, full control lets Stellantis schedule production around global needs rather than JV approvals. Third, the company has flagged new product investments for India, and a wholly owned factory is a precondition for committing to them at speed. Shailesh Hazela, chief executive and managing director of Stellantis India, said India remains a key pillar of the group's growth strategy, with close to Rs 11,000 crore already invested in the country.

What This Means for You

For current and prospective Citroen owners, the clearest benefit is reassurance: a manufacturer that has just consolidated its own manufacturing footprint in India is not preparing to exit. Higher volumes also mean better spare-parts availability and a stronger service network over time, historically the biggest worry for buyers of niche brands in India. Follow Stellantis and other manufacturer moves on the AUTOINDIA newsroom, and compare Citroen models against their rivals on the AUTOINDIA compare page.

(Sources: economictimes.indiatimes.com, PTI, automotiveworld.com, fortuneindia.com; images: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)