PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Feb 21: After a series of block closures for maintaining inventory and lack of order things are now looking up at Tata Motors.
The automobile major and its ancillaries based at Adityapur in adjoining Seraikela- Kharsawan district has seen a rise in production of all heavy commercial vehicles in February.
According to company sources, the production of trucks, trailers, tippers and other multi-axle vehicles has witnessed a rise from around 6,000 vehicles in January to around 8000 in February.
The production is expected to touch the 10,000 mark in March.
Industry sources said the company has set a higher target of manufacturing around 10,000 vehicles in March, the last month of the current fiscal.
A senior functionary of Tata Motors Workers Union, the INTUC-affiliated recognised union of the company said, “We are happy that production, as well as orders for heavy commercial vehicles, have picked up. It is a good sign. With increasing orders, the company has decided to increase its target next month. “
Notably, there are around 750 small, medium and large ancillary units at Adityapur that supply auto components to Tata Motors.
The company had remained shut for almost two months ever since the Covid-19 induced lockdown was announced in March 2020 which had severely impacted its ancillaries at Adityapur.
Production resumed in May but in absence of orders, the company was facing a tough time.
Last year too, the company witnessed a series of block closures over falling demand for heavy vehicles.
Officials of Adityapur Small Industries Association (ASIA) were upbeat over the rising production target in Tata Motors.
“The ancillary units based at Adityapur are optimistic of getting good orders from Tata Motors which has earned its production target. This will, in turn, generate employment opportunities and revenue for ancillary units,” said Santosh Khetan, president of the industry outfit.
