Homegrown commercial vehicle (CV) maker Ashok Leyland is considering setting up an electric vehicle (EV) battery project in Bhandara in Maharashtra as part of its expansion plans, with the potential investment estimated at ₹10,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore if the project goes ahead, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said, Times of India reported.
For the automotive sector, the proposed battery project could add another large-scale investment to the country's growing EV manufacturing ecosystem if Ashok Leyland proceeds with the plan.
However, the minister’s comments indicate that the project is still under consideration and no final investment commitment was announced.
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“If they go ahead, then it could bring in investments between Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore,” Gadkari was quoted as saying.
The proposed project would add to the investment activity emerging in Vidarbha, which Gadkari presented as an industrial destination with relatively stable labour conditions, expanding logistics infrastructure and access to a dry port for exports.
According to the minister, the potential Ashok Leyland investment was among several developments pointing to greater industrial activity in the region. He also referred to Mahindra’s planned ₹15,000-crore unit and said the MIHAN project had already generated around one lakh jobs in Vidarbha.
“There is a very friendly atmosphere here and Vidarbha is a fantastic place for investments,” Gadkari further said.
Gadkari also highlighted Nagpur’s growing role in logistics, pointing to the operational dry port and its ability to facilitate direct exports.
He said Mahindra tractors were already being transported to Bangladesh by river from Haldia Port, helping reduce logistics costs. Gadkari also said the government’s zero-mines policy across the country would further support marketing and industrial activity.
The push to strengthen logistics infrastructure is particularly relevant for manufacturers in Vidarbha, where improved freight connectivity could support movement of components and finished vehicles to domestic and export markets.
The proposed Ashok Leyland project, if approved, would come as CV and electric mobility manufacturers continue to expand their manufacturing and technology capabilities in India. For Vidarbha, securing a large EV-related investment could further strengthen the region’s position within the country’s evolving automotive and clean-mobility supply chain.
