CKA Birla Group Eyes EV Manufacturing at Former Hindustan Motors Plant in Uttarpara
The CKA Birla Group has approached the West Bengal government with a proposal to manufacture electric vehicles at Uttarpara, the former Hindustan Motors facility that once produced the iconic Ambassador.
The Uttarpara plant has a long history in India’s automobile industry. Established in 1948, the facility housed press, forge, foundry, machine and assembly units and remained closely associated with Hindustan Motors’ Ambassador production for decades. Operations at the plant were suspended in 2014.
According to Hindustan Motors, the West Bengal government subsequently resumed possession of around 395 acres of the property. The company’s challenge over the land was dismissed by the Supreme Court in July 2025.
The latest proposal comes against the backdrop of Bengal’s efforts to strengthen its manufacturing ecosystem. Tata Motors’ Nano project at Singur had earlier raised hopes of establishing the state as a major automobile manufacturing destination, but the project moved out of Bengal in 2008.
Since then, the state has not had a major passenger-vehicle original equipment manufacturer operating at the scale once envisioned for the region. The CKA Birla Group’s proposal could therefore bring renewed attention to Uttarpara as a potential automotive manufacturing hub.
Bengal’s Automotive Market
West Bengal continues to represent a significant vehicle market despite the absence of a major passenger-vehicle manufacturing plant.
In FY26, the state accounted for around 2.7% of India’s 46.43 lakh passenger-vehicle sales. It also accounted for approximately 4.7% of the country’s 2.17 crore two-wheeler sales.
However, establishing an EV manufacturing facility would require more than setting up an assembly plant. Industry experts have highlighted the importance of achieving sufficient scale, developing a local supplier ecosystem, increasing local sourcing and ensuring supporting infrastructure.
For Uttarpara, the potential EV project could mean more than the revival of a former automobile facility. If supported by the right ecosystem, it could create opportunities across component manufacturing, supply chains, logistics, technology and skilled employment.
The proposal is still at the stage of discussions with the West Bengal government. If it moves forward, the former Hindustan Motors site could enter a new phase, shifting from one of India’s most recognisable automobile manufacturing facilities to a potential base for electric vehicle production.