Stellantis Takes Full Control of Its Thiruvallur Plant: Two Output Targets, One eC3

Stellantis Takes Full Control of Its Thiruvallur Plant: Two Output Targets, One eC3

Stellantis published one production target for its Thiruvallur plant on 21 September 2026, and its India chief gave a different one the same day. The company's statement, announcing that it now owns 100% of the Tamil Nadu joint venture, says output will rise from 16,000 units in 2026 to more than 43,000 by 2028. Shailesh Hazela, chief executive of Stellantis India, put it at about 18,000 units in 2026 and about 50,000 in 2027 in an interview published the same day.

Both numbers describe the same factory, which builds the Citroën eC3, the brand's only electric car in India. The gap between them matters less than what neither version says: how many of the new units will be electric. For context on where the eC3 sits, see every budget model on the ThatsMyEV price filter.

What Stellantis has confirmed

Stellantis said it bought the remaining equity held by Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation, a CK Birla Group company, in Stellantis Automobiles India Private Limited. The transaction was executed as foreign direct investment and ends a partnership that began in 2017. Vehicle assembly at Thiruvallur started in 2021.

Figures from Stellantis India's statement of 21 September 2026, except the CEO interview row and the rupee investment figure, which are Shailesh Hazela's own numbers. All manufacturer claims. Accessed 22 September 2026.

Why the eC3 is the number to watch

The eC3 is the only EV among the four models Thiruvallur builds, and Stellantis has not split either target by powertrain. The plant shipped its 50,000th vehicle in April 2026, according to a Stellantis India release of 23 April 2026, five years after assembly began. Nearly tripling output in two years is a different scale of operation, and the statement links it to new product investments without naming any.

Exports are the other lever. The draft India-EU free trade agreement gives Indian-built EVs a quota of 50,000 cars a year into the EU at 8% duty from Year 5, according to the EU's tariff schedule, and our EV news coverage covers the Indian side of that deal separately. Stellantis's CEO said he expects India's trade agreements to make its exports more competitive.

Price and rivals

Stellantis has not announced any change to prices, warranties or the dealer network alongside the buyout. The eC3 continues to compete with the Tata Punch EV and the MG Comet EV in the entry segment, and the ThatsMyEV comparison tool sets their range, charging and running costs side by side.

The ThatsMyEV Take

Stellantis is tidying up a joint venture so it can decide on its own what Thiruvallur builds and where it ships it. Full ownership removes a partner from every investment decision, and the statement is explicit that exports and new products are the point. This is a manufacturing story before it is a showroom story.

What decides whether it matters to EV buyers is the product plan, which Stellantis has kept to itself. If the extra 27,000 or more units are mostly petrol C3s and Basalts for export, the eC3 buyer sees nothing. If a second EV or a higher-volume eC3 export programme is behind the ramp, Thiruvallur becomes one of the more important EV plants in the south. The two conflicting targets suggest the plan is not settled.

Our advice as of 22 September 2026: if you are cross-shopping the eC3 against the Punch EV, buy the car in front of you, not the buyout. Nothing about the eC3 changed on 21 September. Check service reach near you, run both through the top rated list, and treat any promise of a cheaper eC3 from higher volume as unconfirmed until Stellantis prices it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Stellantis now fully own its Thiruvallur plant?

Yes. Stellantis said on 21 September 2026 that it bought the remaining stake held by Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation, a CK Birla Group company, in Stellantis Automobiles India Private Limited. It now owns 100% of the joint venture and its Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu.

Which cars are made at the Stellantis Thiruvallur plant?

The plant builds four Citroën models: the C3, the eC3, the C3 Aircross and the Basalt, according to Stellantis. The eC3 is the only electric model among them. Vehicles from the plant are exported to eight markets across four continents.

How much will Stellantis increase production at Thiruvallur?

The company statement targets more than 43,000 units by 2028, up from 16,000 in 2026. Stellantis India's chief executive gave a different figure the same day, about 50,000 units in 2027 from about 18,000 in 2026. Stellantis has not said which target governs.

Will the Citroen eC3 get cheaper after the Stellantis buyout?

Stellantis has not announced any price change for the eC3 alongside the buyout. Higher plant volume can lower costs over time, but the company has not said how much of the planned increase will be eC3 production, so any price cut is unconfirmed.

Who was Stellantis's joint venture partner in India?

Stellantis's partner was the CK Birla Group, which held its stake through Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation. The partnership began in 2017 and vehicle assembly at Thiruvallur started in 2021. The buyout ends the joint venture.

How much has Stellantis invested in India?

Stellantis puts its investment in India at over €1 billion across manufacturing, product development and localisation. Its India chief, Shailesh Hazela, placed the figure at close to ₹11,000 crore. These are the company's own figures.

Will Stellantis build new electric cars at Thiruvallur?

Stellantis has not said. Its statement links the production increase to new product investments and exports but does not name any model or split the target by powertrain. The eC3 remains the only EV built at the plant as of 22 September 2026.

How many people work at the Stellantis Thiruvallur plant?

The plant has a direct shopfloor workforce of 610, according to Stellantis. The company says that number will more than double as production rises, with further jobs expected at suppliers and logistics firms around the plant.

Sources

Stellantis India statement on full ownership of Stellantis Automobiles India Private Limited, 21 September 2026, as issued to media and accessed 22 September 2026. Shailesh Hazela interview remarks published 21 September 2026, for the 18,000 and 50,000 figures and the rupee investment total. Stellantis India release on the 50,000th Thiruvallur vehicle, 23 April 2026. The EU tariff schedule in the draft EU-India FTA text on the European Commission's trade website, for the Indian EV export quota.