JSW Motors to launch first SUV before Diwali 2026 – Autocar India
JSW Motors Limited, JSW Group’s independent passenger mobility division, will launch its first car in India before Diwali 2026, followed by a second model in 2027, its managing director, Parth Jindal, told CNBC-TV18 India.
Jindal said JSW will start production in August with local assembly and then move to 80 percent localisation from October. He added, “From the battery pack to the steel for the BIW parts, the motor, the seats, the glass, the tyres, everything else will be localised.” On pricing, Jindal said, “We aim to play in that Rs 15 to 30 lakh price point.”
As reported by Autocar India, the first model to arrive will be based on the Jetour T2 SUV, but it will carry a JSW badge and be sold independently of the JSW-MG partnership.
The T2 has a traditional upright, boxy SUV design, with an overall shape similar to the Land Rover Defender. However, unlike many rugged-looking SUVs, it uses a monocoque platform, not a ladder-frame chassis.
The international-spec model gets short overhangs, a tall and upright stance and squared-off proportions aimed at giving it a strong road presence.
Internationally, the Jetour T2 is sold in 5-seat form as well as a longer 7-seat version. The 5-seater model is around 4.7 metres long and 2 metres wide, giving it a footprint larger than midsize SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos; it’s even bigger than the Tata Safari.
While pure ICE versions of the T2 are available overseas, JSW’s India plan is centred on the T2 i-DM plug-in hybrid. The i-DM system uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with electric motors. The T2 i-DM is offered globally in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive forms, though JSW has not yet confirmed which version will be sold here.
The global-spec Jetour T2’s interior is centred around a dual-screen layout, with a large central touchscreen and a digital driver’s display. It also gets modern comfort features such as ventilated front seats, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof and dual-zone climate control.
Other key elements include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multi-colour ambient lighting and a premium sound system on higher trims. The T2 also offers a rotary drive mode selector with off-road-focused modes, in line with its rugged positioning.
Jindal has confirmed that the first product will be priced in the Rs 15 lakh-30 lakh range, suggesting it will sit above midsize SUVs. For reference, the FWD 5-seat T2 i-DM is priced at around Rs 35 lakh in the UAE. Final positioning in India will depend on localisation levels and the spec JSW chooses to offer. A second model is planned for 2027, which JSW expects will play a bigger role in driving volumes.
Jetour is a brand launched by Chery in 2018 and is focused mainly on SUVs. It operates in China and several global markets, including the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. For JSW, the T2 is expected to be the first step towards building a broader JSW-branded passenger vehicle portfolio in India.
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JSW ties up with Chery to launch Jetour T2 in India
