ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) is set to commission a 2 million tonne production capacity for advanced automotive steel products at its Hazira plant by March 2025. This new capacity aims to eliminate the need for steel imports in India's automotive sector, aligning with the government's ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The company has invested Rs 85 billion into this new product line, which will specifically cater to the automotive industry. AM/NS India is in the final stages of obtaining approval from various automobile manufacturers for the new production. The expansion includes two new units: a Continuous Galvanizing Line and a Continuous Galvanizing and Annealing Line, which will incorporate advanced technical expertise from both ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel. These units are expected to be fully operational in 2025 and will produce licensed products with strength levels up to 1180 MPa in both coated and uncoated steel. This initiative builds on AM/NS India's earlier success with its introduction of Optigal and Magnelis products. The company aims to meet the growing demand for high-quality automotive steel in India, which currently stands at 7.8 million tonnes annually and is projected to grow by 7% each year.

Ranjan Dhar, Director and Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at AM/NS India, emphasized that the automobile industry currently imports about 15% of its annual 8 million tonne steel consumption. With the new production lines, the company expects to meet this demand domestically, eliminating imports altogether. The product response from the automotive sector has been promising, with AM/NS India already supplying 1.2 million tonnes of auto-grade steel. AM/NS India aims to capture 30-35% of the auto-grade steel market in India with this expansion.

In addition to its automotive steel venture, AM/NS India plans to increase its crude steel production capacity to 15 million tonnes per annum by 2026, up from the current 9 million tonnes. This expansion will involve an investment of over Rs 600 billion. The company is also showcasing its automotive innovations, including ArcelorMittal’s Multi Part Integration (MPI) solutions, at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo. These solutions offer cost efficiencies, reduced manufacturing costs, and streamlined processes through integrated designs, benefiting various automotive applications. (Business Line)