Stellantis is gearing up to establish India as its primary export hub for electric vehicles (EV) in Southeast Asia. The automaker has already exported 500 units of its Citroen eC3 EV to Indonesia and has ambitious plans to further expand its export operations.
Aditya Jairaj, Stellantis India’s CEO and MD, has expressed the company’s goal to be the first multinational OEM to export EVs from India as part of its “Make in India” initiative. Stellantis aims to export EVs to markets such as Nepal and Bhutan, with a particular focus on exploring opportunities to export the Citroen eC3 to other Southeast Asian countries.
Stellantis has already made strides in its export activities, having sent the C3 to Africa, the C3 Aircross to Malaysia and Indonesia, and some Jeep vehicles from India to Japan. The company is also contemplating exporting Jeep vehicles from India to other Southeast Asian markets and Africa.
This positions Stellantis as a potential leader in the Indian market, as rival company Tesla has struggled to gain a foothold in the Indian EV market until recently. It is now making efforts to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding plans to invest $2 billion in India, potentially including the construction of a factory.
Additionally, Panasonic Energy, a long-time supplier to Tesla, is in discussions for a potential joint venture with Indian Oil to manufacture batteries in India.