Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh, inaugurated Ashok Leyland’s new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant on Friday. During the event, the dignitaries inspected the facility and planted vermilion and Rudraksha saplings on the premises.
Congratulating the Hinduja family on their investment, CM Yogi highlighted the project’s strategic importance for the state. “Uttar Pradesh has transformed significantly since 2017, emerging as a land of unlimited potential for investors,” he said, recalling the challenges of lawlessness and investor withdrawal prior to his tenure.
The plant currently has an annual capacity of 2,500 units, set to scale up to 5,000 units in phases. CM Yogi emphasized that the facility aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of industrial growth coupled with environmental protection, generating direct and indirect employment for thousands of youth in the state.
Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructural improvements, the Chief Minister noted that 55 percent of India’s expressways, two dedicated freight corridors, and the country’s first rapid rail and inland waterways pass through the state. Metro services operate in multiple cities, and the state boasts the largest rail network in the country.
“Uttar Pradesh is no longer a ‘BIMARU’ state; it has established itself as revenue-surplus with a clear growth trajectory,” CM Yogi said, underlining the state’s focus on decisive governance, ease of doing business, and investor confidence. He further noted that 34 sector-specific policies facilitate investment across industries.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s Vision 2047, CM Yogi said the Ashok Leyland plant advances the goals of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, making Uttar Pradesh a preferred destination for domestic and global investors. He added that the state has received investment proposals worth ₹45 lakh crore over the past 8–9 years, with ₹15 lakh crore already under implementation.
Uttar Pradesh currently contributes 9.5 percent to India’s GDP, with a projected Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of ₹36 lakh crore by the end of the current financial year. The state aims to become a $1 trillion economy by 2029–30, complementing India’s target of a $5 trillion economy by 2027.
The Chief Minister highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s leadership in electronics and IT manufacturing, accounting for 55 percent of mobile phone production and 60 percent of electronic goods in India. He cited rapid advancements across sectors including MSMEs, AI, semiconductors, EVs, agritech, fintech, deeptech, healthtech, defence manufacturing, and tourism. The state is also home to over 18,000 startups, supported by incubators, Centres of Excellence, and eight unicorns.
Ashok Leyland’s EV plant, established under the state’s FDI and Fortune 500 policy, was executed within 18 months—demonstrating the efficiency of the state’s governance framework. Investor facilitation platforms such as Nivesh Mitra, Nivesh Sarathi, and Udyami Mitra have ensured seamless approvals and handholding, supporting rapid growth in the auto components and EV ecosystem.
CM Yogi added that Uttar Pradesh accounted for 19 percent of India’s total EV market in 2024, with 700 electric buses already operational under the FAME I and II schemes. The new plant will produce 17–18 seater electric buses priced around ₹15 lakh for school transport and inter-city travel. The Hinduja Group will also provide skill development training to 10,000 youth annually at the facility.
“EV manufacturing is critical for emerging technologies and future-ready employment. With India’s largest workforce, Uttar Pradesh is poised to redefine itself as a state of trust and transformation,” CM Yogi concluded.
Ashok Leyland Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja welcomed the dignitaries, while MD and CEO Shenu Agarwal expressed gratitude. Other attendees included Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Cabinet Ministers Suresh Khanna and Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, and MLA Rajeshwar Singh.
