JSW Motors has announced an event on December 3 and 4, saying “a new chapter is about to begin”.
JSW Motors is set to formally launch its own car brand in India on December 3, several months after initially anticipated. The new brand will operate alongside JSW MG Motor India, parent company JSW Group’s joint venture with China’s SAIC. According to teasers circulated earlier, JSW Motors’ first launch will be a rugged-looking plug-in hybrid SUV based on the Chery Jetour T2, with some customisations and localised features.
JSW Motors has announced an event on December 3 and 4, saying “a new chapter is about to begin” and “the road ahead is about to look very different”. The launch was previously expected earlier this year, but JSW Motors warned of delays due to Government of India policies slowing down its efforts to import parts from China, stemming from geopolitical restrictions and new quality control regulations.
The newly formed JSW Motors announced in August that Parth Jindal had been appointed Chairman with immediate effect. It has also reportedly signed up a slate of dealers to open experience centres separate from the JSW MG Motor India retail network ahead of the launch.
The Jetour T2-based SUV was previously rumoured to launch around Diwali 2026. Details in a dealer recruitment campaign point to it having a monocoque chassis despite its boxy, upright, off-road-style design. The five-seater is expected to be launched with a PHEV powertrain with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine capable of 154 bhp and 220 Nm, along with dual electric motors generating a combined 221 bhp and 390 Nm.
JSW Motors is likely to offer many of the Chinese version’s premium features and cabin comforts including a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, powered and ventilated front seats, automatic climate control, and more. Other equipment could include 360-degree cameras, Level 2 ADAS, and hill-start and hill-descent assist.
Pricing for the as-yet-unnamed SUV will be key to its success. Additional teasers are expected in the lead-up to the December launch. In addition to the Jetour T2, several other models from Chery and its sub-brands have been registered in India, including the Tiggo 7L three-row electric SUV and Jaecoo J5 C-segment SUV.
At the recent launch of the brand’s electric commercial vehicle venture Ampstar, Jindal said the JSW Group’s multiple automotive ventures will share resources and suppliers to benefit from economies of scale. Ampstar’s overall goal is to establish a fully made-in-India transportation ecosystem, from technology to manufacturing and fuel source. Strategically choosing a plug-in hybrid is another step towards this, with the company likely to increase localisation and domestic development over time even as it partners with Chery at the outset. JSW Motors is also likely to utilise the company’s new greenfield manufacturing facility near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.
