NOVEMBER 20268TOP STORIESAuto manufacturing investment is gaining momentum in Andhra Pradesh as South Korean automaker Kia India plans to invest USD 1.5 billion to expand its Anantapur manufacturing facility. The proposed expansion could increase annual production capacity from 3 lakh to approximately 5 lakh vehicles. The development also comes amid Rs 1,614 crore in investment commitments from three Korean automotive component manufacturers.Together, these developments highlight the potential for a wider automotive manufacturing ecosystem in the state, spanning component localization, ancillary units, employment generation and export capabilities. Government incentives under Andhra Pradesh's industrial and electric mobility policies could further support this manufacturing momentum. Andhra Pradesh IT, Electronics and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said the investments followed his team's engagement with automotive component manufacturers during a July visit to South Korea. Manufacturing GVA in India remained concentrated in five states during FY2024-25. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh collectively contributed more than 54 percent of the country's total manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA), according to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI).Maharashtra led with a 15.92 percent share, followed by Gujarat at 14.10 percent and Tamil Nadu at 10.90 percent. However, the distribution of registered manufacturing establishments presents a different picture. Tamil Nadu has the largest factory base, raising questions about differences in industrial scale, production mix and value addition across states. Maharashtra accounted for 15.92 percent of India's manufacturing GVA in FY25, while its share of registered manufacturing establishments stood at 10.26 percent. LG Electronics India has announced its entry into the automotive business through a new Vehicle Solutions Business. The move expands its business-to-business (B2B) portfolio and brings its global automotive technology offerings to India. The company plans to manufacture and supply in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and telematics solutions from its third manufacturing plant at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. This automotive business will help LG Electronics India tap growing opportunities in connected vehicles, digital cockpits and intelligent mobility solutions.The announcement came alongside the company's Q2 FY27 financial results on Thursday, November 5, 2026. LG Electronics India reported a 25.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase in profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 489 crore. According to the company's exchange filing, the new Vehicle Solutions Business will cover several automotive and mobility-related activities. These include manufacturing, assembly, imports, exports, distribution and sales of automotive technologies. Tata Power has delivered a powerful clean-energy boost to Karnataka, commissioning a 300 MW solar project in Koppal for the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The plant brings more than additional capacity to the state's renewable energy landscape. It is expected to generate 810 million units (MUs) annually and prevent around 103,820 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.The milestone also strengthens Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd's (TPREL) expanding utility-scale portfolio. With large-scale generation and women taking leadership roles on site, the project offers Karnataka both a cleaner energy contribution and a meaningful workforce milestone. Koppal Adds Another Landmark to Karnataka's Solar Map TP Saurya, a wholly owned subsidiary of TPREL, developed the Koppal project. The plant supplies renewable power to SECI, linking its generation capacity to India's broader clean-energy procurement system. WHAT DOES KIA'S USD 1.5B AUTO MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT SIGNIFY?MANUFACTURING GVA: MAHARASHTRA LEADS WITH 15.92 PERCENT SHARELG ELECTRONICS INDIA EXPANDS B2B PORTFOLIO WITH AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSTATA POWER DELIVERS 300 MW SOLAR PUNCH FOR KARNATAKA
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