Chennai: Brazil-based electrical equipment manufacturer WEG, with annual revenue of $7.3 billion, plans to invest Rs 2,000 crore in a new manufacturing facility on 100 acres at SIPCOT Dharmapuri, creating 3,000 jobs and boosting industrial development in the relatively underdeveloped district.The proposed greenfield facility will manufacture electric vehicle (EV) motors, industrial drives and power generation equipment, strengthening Tamil Nadu’s position in advanced manufacturing and the global electrical equipment industry, according to an official statement.WEG India, the Indian subsidiary of the global engineering company, already operates a manufacturing facility in Hosur, where it began production in 2011. In July 2022, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to invest Rs 650 crore in expanding its Hosur unit, with a commitment to create 650 jobs.The proposed Dharmapuri project will consolidate and expand the company’s manufacturing operations in Tamil Nadu. WEG evaluated multiple states before choosing Tamil Nadu for its next phase of expansion, following discussions with the state’s industries minister, the additional chief secretary for industries and Guidance Tamil Nadu, the statement said.The investment is expected to generate direct and indirect employment, creating opportunities for local youth and women and accelerating industrialisation in Dharmapuri. It is also expected to attract component suppliers, strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and create an ancillary industrial ecosystem around the facility.WEG has been manufacturing in India since 2011 and currently has five sites in the country dedicated to the production of electric motors, generators, voltage regulators, excitation systems, and frequency inverters for different industrial applications. It employs about 2,000 people in India.
