JSW Motors’ first India car launch may slip amid licensing hurdles

JSW Motors’ plans to enter India’s passenger car market this year may run into delays as the company grapples with licensing hurdles tied to imported components. The carmaker has indicated that its debut launch could slip unless approvals for Chinese suppliers are cleared faster. The company is targeting a rollout in the second half of the year, with its first model set to be assembled at a new facility in Maharashtra using parts sourced from China. However, India’s quality control regulations require overseas suppliers to secure certification from local authorities before shipping goods into the country. Industry sources say this process can take months and adds both time and cost to new projects. Introduced in 2020 to prevent low-quality imports, the certification system has become a bottleneck for manufacturers dependent on global supply chains. JSW Motors has reportedly approached the government requesting faster approvals for its suppliers to keep the launch timeline intact. The company is working with Chinese automaker Chery to bring the Jetour T2 SUV to India and also holds a stake in SAIC’s Indian venture, JSW MG Motor India, underscoring its broader ambitions in the domestic auto space.