Published Mar 19, 2025 | 11:00 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 19, 2025 | 11:00 PM
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh at the inaguration. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for IT and Industries, Nara Lokesh, inaugurated Ashok Leyland’s new 75-acre bus manufacturing plant near Vijayawada. The facility is expected to generate employment, enhance skill development, and contribute to the region’s economic growth.
Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications, Nara Lokesh, inaugurated a new bus manufacturing plant near Vijayawada on Wednesday, 19 March.
The 75-acre facility, set up by Ashok Leyland, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer owned by the Hinduja Group, is located in Mallavalli, about 40 km from Vijayawada.
Speaking at the event, Lokesh described the inauguration as a “prestigious occasion” for Andhra Pradesh.
“We are delighted to welcome Ashok Leyland to our growing industrial ecosystem. This plant strengthens our reputation as an emerging manufacturing hub and will play a crucial role in providing employment, enhancing skill development, and boosting the overall economy of the state,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh Accelerates Towards Industrial Growth!
Proud to inaugurate Ashok Leyland’s state-of-the-art bus manufacturing plant near Vijayawada. A game-changer for AP’s industrial landscape, this 75-acre facility will produce diesel & electric buses, create jobs, and drive… pic.twitter.com/UawGUrhjLv
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) March 19, 2025
The plant will manufacture the complete range of Ashok Leyland diesel buses as well as Switch Mobility’s electric buses.
Also present at the event were Transport Minister M Ram Prasad Reddy, Industries Minister TG Bharath, MP V Balashowry, and Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group-India.
With an annual production capacity of 4,800 buses, the facility includes Nalanda, a modern Learning Centre, and an advanced Service Training Centre.
The plant is expected to play a key role in skill development and employment generation for the local workforce. It is also designed as a green facility, featuring rooftop solar panels, positive water balance measures, a zero-discharge system, among others.
Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of Ashok Leyland, credited Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s progressive industrial policies for attracting investment:
“We are excited to be in Andhra Pradesh. Our relationship with this State has been over several decades now, through Ashok Leyland and other Hinduja Group entities. The inauguration of the new plant marks the beginning of yet another chapter for Ashok Leyland in this vibrant State, where our Group is committed to exploring more opportunities for driving economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and generating prosperity in the region.”
Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO of Ashok Leyland, emphasized the plant’s role in strengthening the company’s market leadership:
“With the inauguration of the new plant, Ashok Leyland will further consolidate its position as the No. 1 bus brand in India and among the top five globally. This facility will help us cater to the growing demand for fully built buses in India. Production in the new plant has just commenced, and owing to our large order book, the plant will start operating at 100 percent capacity from day one.”
He added that the plant features state-of-the-art equipment and high levels of automation, reinforcing Ashok Leyland’s commitment to manufacturing high-quality vehicles.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
