In a big win for the government's Make in India programme and Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's clarion call for the building of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Japenese companies Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and Denso Corporation plan to turn their under construction joint Lithium (Li)-ion battery manufacturing unit in Gujarat into a global export hub, reports Livemint.

The first such facility in India for manufacturing of Li-ion cells, the unit called TDS Lithium-ion Battery Private Limited is set to open up in April with the assembling of battery packs. Eventually, the factory will graduate to domestic production of the Li-ion cells around 2024-25.

The three Japanese firms had come together in 2017 to announce the joint venture to invest Rs 1,250 crore in Gujarat's Hansalpur to build the manufacturing and assembly facility. Subsequently, the three firms had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government to invest a total of Rs 4,930 crore to manufacture 30 million lithium cells a year.

According to M K Das, Gujarat's additional chief secretary for Industries and Mines, the three firms have big expansion plans in the coming year in a phased manner.

"They not only want to cater to the domestic market but, given that Gujarat also has port facilities, they also will be able to have market access in other countries as well," Das was quoted as saying.