Chennai, India-based tyre manufacturer Ceat Tyres (Ceat) has inaugurated production at its newest car/motorcycle tyre plant in Kanchipuram, marking Ceat’s first unit in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and its sixth in India. The “smart factory” will operate at zero-emissions levels on a 163-acre site built according to green building standards, apparently with annual capacities of 28,500 passenger and 2,500 motorcycle tyres a day.
Ceat expects to invest a total of US$570 million in the facility over a 10-year period and create more than 1,000 job opportunities “in the next few years,” including employment for women – it is claimed to be one of the first tyre factories in India to employ women on the shop floor.
At the opening ceremony, Shri Edappadi Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, said the factory was “a jewel in the crown of Tamil Nadu” while Ceat Managing Director Anant Goenka said Tamil Nadu will offer the company access to many automotive manufacturers, proximity to port and a “favourable” labor environment.
He noted that nearly 40% of India’s vehicle production is based in the state.