ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Inaugurates Advanced Automotive Steel Line in Hazira

HAZIRA / NEW DELHI: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) today announced a major milestone in its manufacturing journey with the inauguration of an advanced Pickling Line and Tandem Cold Mill (PLTCM). The facility was officially opened by His Excellency Mr. Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan to India, at the company’s flagship plant located in Hazira, Gujarat.

A Major Step Toward Self-Reliance:
With an impressive capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum, the state-of-the-art PLTCM is a key addition to AM/NS India’s automotive manufacturing capabilities. The line will soon be configured to produce high-quality, cold-rolled base steel used to manufacture world-class products, including first-of-its-kind and patented steel solutions from parent companies ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel. This new line marks a significant stride toward making India fully self-reliant in the production of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) to meet the growing needs of the automotive industry.

The facility integrates state-of-the-art process technology, superior automation, and globally benchmarked quality systems. It is designed to support the manufacturing of advanced automotive steel for AHSS, Galvannealed (GA), Galvanised (GI), and Press Hardened Steel (PHS) applications. These solutions are designed to meet global sustainability standards, enable vehicle lightweighting for improved efficiency, and enhance safety in line with Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) norms.

Strengthening Global Benchmarks:
The dedicated automotive line significantly strengthens AM/NS India’s downstream capabilities, supporting the production of AHSS with strength levels of up to 1180 MPa. This inauguration forms a vital part of the company’s ongoing ₹60,000-crore expansion project at the Hazira plant, which aims to develop upstream, downstream, and other enabling facilities.

His Excellency Mr. Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan to India, toured the plant to gain firsthand insight into the operations. He stated, “Japanese advanced technology has contributed significantly to the launch of high-end steel product manufacturing in India. This signifies that Japan’s contribution to the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiative has entered a new phase. I am confident that industrial cooperation between Japan and India, and the future of Viksit Bharat, will be a bright one.”

Leadership Vision:
Mr. Dilip Oommen, Chief Executive Officer of AM/NS India, highlighted the company’s commitment to national initiatives. “The inauguration of the PLTCM marks an important milestone, creating the foundation for manufacturing high-quality, high-grade automotive steels domestically. This will support import substitution, enhance supply chain resilience, and enable the automotive industry’s transition towards safer, lighter, and more sustainable mobility solutions. It reinforces India’s position as a competitive manufacturing hub aligned with global automotive standards.”

Supporting a Growing Market:
The new unit will help meet the growing demand for value-added automotive steel in India, which currently stands at 7.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and is projected to grow by 6-7% annually. As India emerges as a global automotive powerhouse—currently the world’s third-largest producer—the need for world-class steel to support premium and technologically advanced vehicles has become critical.