Rajasthan CM: Honda To Build Zero Alpha EV In Tapukara With Rs 1,200 Crore Investment
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has made a huge announcement. Recently, after a meeting with the Honda Cars India delegation at his office in Jaipur, Rajasthan, he stated that the upcoming electric SUV Honda 0 Alpha EV will be manufactured at Honda's Tapukara plant in Rajasthan. Also, Honda Cars India will be investing Rs 1,200 crore to set up a new EV manufacturing unit at the Tapukara facility.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s official post on X stated, “As part of the preparations for the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, during the Japan visit in September 2024, we had invited Honda Cars India Limited to manufacture and invest in EV models in Rajasthan. I am extremely delighted to share that the production of Honda's first EV model, Honda 0 Alpha, is set to begin at the Tapukara plant in Rajasthan with an investment of ₹1,200 crore.”
It added, “This is a heartening outcome of the visionary policies of this double-engine government, such as #MakeInIndia and #RisingRajasthan. Along with giving a new momentum to industrial development in the state, it will also create new employment opportunities for the youth of the state.” Along with the announcement, images of the Rajasthan Chief Minister with Honda delegates with a framed picture of a Honda 0 Alpha EV have been shared as well.
Following the meeting, it has been reported that the Rajasthan government has promised full support for EV manufacturing to Honda. It will be providing help with infrastructure development, policy facilitation, and ease of doing business. Additionally, to promote EV sales in the state, the Rajasthan government will offer financial incentives for EV purchases.
Also, the government of Rajasthan will help in expanding charging stations across the state by using a single-window clearance system. Lastly, it is also providing incentives for scrapping vehicles older than 15 years and purchasing new vehicles, including EVs. All of these will help in faster adoption of EVs in the state.
Back in September 2024, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited Japan and invited Honda to invest in EV manufacturing in Rajasthan. This visit was the last of the preparations for the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit. This investment, according to the government, is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India for the World” initiative.
This EV manufacturing project, according to the Rajasthan government, will help in the acceleration of industrial growth in Rajasthan. Also, it will help in strengthening the state's automotive manufacturing ecosystem and attract more investments from other EV automakers in the country. Lastly, this new EV production project will create employment opportunities for youth in the state.
Takashi Nakajima, President and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Cars India Ltd, stated that Tapukara is already a key production hub for Honda in India. The plant manufactures vehicles and components for both domestic and international markets. Additionally, setting up the EV hub in the same facility will be easier as Honda has developed a strong automotive ecosystem in Rajasthan through a large supplier network.
As for the details of the Honda 0 Alpha EV, it will be part of Honda's 0 Series. The Honda 0 Alpha EV is expected to make its debut by 2027, and it will be based on a born-electric platform developed by Honda. It is expected to get a 50–70 kWh battery pack with a real-world range of around 450–500 km on a single full charge. Initially, it will be launched as a front-wheel-drive vehicle; however, later it could get AWD variants as well.