ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has inaugurated an advanced Pickling Line and Tandem Cold Mill (PLTCM) at its flagship plant in Hazira, Gujarat. The facility was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan to India.

With a 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 for world-class products, including first-of-its-kind and patented steel solutions from parent companies ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel.

The new line marks a major step towards making India self-reliant in the production of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) to meet the growing needs of the automotive industry.

Among the most advanced production lines in India, the facility integrates state-of-the-art process technology, superior automation and globally benchmarked quality systems, supported by the technical expertise of the parent companies. It is designed to support the manufacturing of advanced automotive steel for AHSS, Galvannealed (GA), Galvanised (GI) and Press Hardened Steel (PHS) applications.

The facility offers end-to-end solutions for automotive companies. These solutions are designed to meet global sustainability standards, enable vehicle lightweighting for improved efficiency and performance, and enhance safety in line with Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) norms.

The dedicated automotive line will strengthen AM/NS India’s downstream capabilities, align them with global benchmarks and support the production of AHSS with strength levels of up to 1180 MPa.

The inauguration is part of AM/NS India’s ongoing ?60,000-crore expansion project at its Hazira plant to develop upstream, downstream and enabling facilities.

His Excellency Mr Keiichi Ono toured the plant to gain firsthand insight into the scale of operations and its growth trajectory.

His Excellency Mr Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan to India, said, “I congratulate AM/NS India on the commencement of production at its state-of-the-art automotive steel sheet production line at the Hazira plant.

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.

Japan and India share a mutually complementary relationship, where Japan’s technology and capital are complemented by India’s manufacturing capacity and growing demand. Having witnessed the vitality of the Hazira Steel Plant firsthand, I am confident that industrial cooperation between Japan and India, and the future of Viksit Bharat, will be a bright one.”

Dilip Oommen, Chief Executive Officer, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), said, “ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India is firmly committed to the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. In line with the commitment and guided by our brand promise – ‘Smarter Steels, Brighter Futures’, we are building state-of-the-art steelmaking assets by leveraging the unparalleled technology and expertise of our parent companies, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel – both globally recognised leaders for offering the best automotive steel solutions. The inauguration of the Pickling Line and Tandem Cold Mill (PLTCM) marks an important milestone in this journey, 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 the requirements of next-generation vehicles and global automotive standards.”

The new unit will help meet growing demand for high-quality, value-added automotive steel in India. Demand currently stands at 7.8 million tonnes per annum for flat steel and is projected to grow by 6–7 per cent annually.

As India emerges as a global automotive powerhouse and is already the world’s third-largest automotive producer with aspirations to become the second largest, the need for world-class steel to support premium and technologically advanced vehicles is becoming increasingly critical.