Indian automobile manufacturers like Tata, Mahindra, Hero MotoCorp, and Ashok Leyland are now putting more effort into employing more female staff on their production front, aiming to foster gender diversity in their workforce.
Women, who were previously a minority in this sector, are now actively involved in manufacturing two wheelers, four wheelers, and even heavy commercial vehicles in factories across the country. This initiative will significantly expand the workforce and foster a more inclusive work culture.
Tata Motors has taken a leading role by establishing an all-women production line at its Pune facility, where more than 1,500 women are involved in manufacturing the company’s renowned SUVs like Harrier and Safari.
Across its six manufacturing plants, Tata Motors has a total of 4,500 female employees working on every section of the production line, demonstrating their commitment to gender diversity in the workforce.
Ravindra Kumar GP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Tata Motors, said, “We are an equal opportunity employer and believe a gender-balanced workforce leads to increased productivity, better decisions, enhanced collaboration, and more innovative ideas. Our focus is on enhancing diversity, especially on the shop floor.”
The number of women employees at Mahindra & Mahindra’s (M&M) manufacturing plants has tripled compared to last year. Currently, the company employs over 1,202 female employees. Mahindra recruits these talented women from over 25 ITIs, out of which many are women-only ITIs.
These recruited female employees play crucial roles in various core production activities, such as welding, robotics loading, vehicle assembly, and machine shop operations. Mahindra also plans to expand the female workforce in the coming years.
Ashok Leyland, India’s one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has a workforce of 991 women working across its seven manufacturing plants. At its Hosur plant, there is a specialized assembly line exclusively staffed by around 120 women.
Their primary responsibility is to assemble engines for light commercial vehicles. This dedicated assembly line demonstrates remarkable efficiency by successfully producing 120 engines during each shift on a daily basis.
Hero MotoCorp is the world’s largest two wheeler manufacturer in terms of production volume. The company, known for producing affordable motorcycles, currently employs over 1,500 women employees across its production facilities in India.
The concept of women technicians and engineers in the automobile industry once seemed like a distant dream, but these manufacturers are challenging traditional gender roles and creating new opportunities for women in the automotive sector.
This opens up avenues for career growth and provides equal opportunities for professional development. By embracing this positive change, Indian automakers are improving their workforce diversity and setting an inspiring example for other industries to follow.
