Guidance Tamil Nadu Managing Director Darez Ahmed and Dheeraj G. Hinduja
Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland of the Hinduja Group, signing an MoU in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Industries Minister TRB Rajaa and senior company officials in London on Friday.
At the ongoing TN Rising Europe investment drive led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, MoUs worth ₹15,516 crore — expected to generate 17,613 jobs — were signed with different companies in Germany and UK. This includes the MoU signed on Friday with UK-based Hinduja Group to invest ₹7,500 crore in businesses, towards cell and battery manufacturing for EVs, BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) and EV charging stations. This investment aims to expand the electric vehicle ecosystem and create over 1,000 jobs, according to a government press release.
AstraZeneca also announced its third strategic investment in Tamil Nadu within two years — a ₹176 crore expansion of its Global Innovation & Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai.
The Hinduja Group envisions investments through its various companies in Tamil Nadu’s EV ecosystem, advancing Tamil Nadu’s vision of becoming one among the global hotspots for sustainable mobility and battery technologies, the release said.
On September 1, commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland announced plans to invest over ₹5,000 crore towards the development and manufacturing of next-generation batteries. The investment planned over the next 7-10 years will include both automotive and non-automotive applications including energy storage systems.
The government release said that AstraZeneca’s GITC plays a vital role in AstraZeneca’s global operations, enabling high end research, AI-driven innovation and technological transformation in healthcare delivery. With its third investment in Tamil Nadu in just two years, this signals strong confidence in the state’s talent pool and our governance under the leadership of the Chief Minister.
These investments build on earlier announcements made during the Chief Minister’s meetings in the UK, which secured ₹820 crore in MoUs generating 1,293 jobs across sectors such as GCCs, manufacturing, textile technology, and design education, the release said.
In a press release, AstraZeneca said its expanded presence in India will fuel the development of advanced technology capabilities, foster high-value job creation, and deepen collaborations with local talent pools and partners in Tamil Nadu and India. Additionally, this step will help accelerate the delivery of next-generation medicines, support digital and data-driven solutions, and help shape future-ready healthcare ecosystems.
“This new investment reflects our ongoing mission to improve patient lives by embedding cutting-edge technologies into every aspect of our work. Chennai continues to evolve as a vital innovation hub, and our continued growth here demonstrates the state’s boundless potential”, said Siva Padmanabhan, Managing Director, AstraZeneca India Pvt Ltd, said in the release.
The investment supports the growth of AstraZeneca’s world-class technology and innovation teams, including specialists in artificial intelligence, data analytics, machine learning, data science, and supply chain analytics to shape and transform healthcare outcomes. The GITC will benefit immensely from upgraded and additional capacity, designed to enable collaborative research and transformative solutions that address complex healthcare challenges.
Including the GITC, it employs more than 5,000 in the country and is continuously shaping talent that is skilled, diverse and future ready, the release said.
Published on September 6, 2025
