Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Chandrasekaran Urges Shift Beyond Assembly-Led Manufacturing Growth
N Chandrasekaran said India should make more than just assembled products.
He wants companies to develop the whole range of skills and capabilities needed to design and make products in India.
He said better quality can help businesses innovate and compete.
This will require investment in research, equipment, training and ideas that companies own.
He said India’s economy appears strong, supported by domestic demand and services exports.
But he warned that long-term growth also needs reliable energy and more productive jobs.
He said these changes can help build a stronger network of smaller businesses and suppliers.
He connected this work to India’s goal of inclusive and sustainable development by 2047.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran called for moving from assembly-led growth toward end-to-end domestic manufacturing capabilities.
He said investment in quality, research and development, intellectual property, equipment and skills would be important to the transition.
Chandrasekaran described quality as a driver of innovation, productivity and competitiveness, citing Toyota and Germany as examples.
He said domestic demand, services exports and other indicators showed economic resilience, while energy security and human capital remained priorities.
He linked the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision to inclusive, sustainable development and stronger infrastructure, institutions and intellectual property.
- Who
- Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.
- What
- He called for India to move beyond assembly-led growth and build end-to-end domestic manufacturing capabilities.
- When
- Monday, at the Indian Foundation for Quality Management Symposium 2026.
- Where
- At the Indian Foundation for Quality Management Symposium; the article does not specify a location.
- Why
- To sustain long-term economic growth and support the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Assembly-Led Growth
End-to-End Domestic Capabilities
India’s manufacturing next phase
Assembly-Led Growth
Assembly-led growth is important and can help create a stronger small and medium enterprise segment, Chandrasekaran said.
End-to-End Domestic Capabilities
He called for progressing from assembly to full-product capabilities, backed by research, intellectual property, quality and skills.
Quality and competitiveness
Assembly-Led Growth
The article describes assembly-led growth as an important starting point for manufacturing expansion.
End-to-End Domestic Capabilities
Chandrasekaran argued that quality should also drive innovation, productivity and competitiveness, rather than serve only to ensure product standards.
- Speaker
- N Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons Chairman
- Event
- Indian Foundation for Quality Management Symposium 2026
- Manufacturing priorities
- Quality, research and development, intellectual property, equipment and skills
- Economic indicators cited
- Auto sales, credit growth, power demand and cement demand were showing double-digit growth, according to Chandrasekaran.
- Current account deficit
- He said it had remained consistently below 1% of GDP.
- Long-term priorities
- Energy security, advanced and precision manufacturing jobs, and human capital
- National vision
- Viksit Bharat 2047