In a sector long dominated by men, Royal Enfield’s Cheyyar Plant stands as a bold statement. The decision to fully staff it with women is not just a milestone, but a movement.
India’s automobile industry has long been seen as a male-dominated space. However, that is changing. Several leading manufacturers are now actively bringing more women into their workforce, not just in marketing roles but also on the shop floor. Companies such as Tata Motors, MG Motor India, and now, Royal Enfield have taken steps to enhance gender diversity across their operations.
Tata Motors took a notable step in 2023 by launching an all-women assembly line at its Pune plant. MG Motor India has followed a similar path. At its Halol plant in Gujarat, women comprise nearly 40% of the workforce. Currently, 34% of all JSW MG Motor India employees are women. On the shop floor, women represent almost 40%, with 33% holding leadership roles. Royal Enfield joins the growing list of automakers prioritising gender-inclusive practices.
Royal Enfield’s Cheyyar Plant to be run entirely by women
The Cheyyar facility in Tamil Nadu will soon become Royal Enfield’s first manufacturing unit, which is managed and operated entirely by women. Govindrajan B, CEO of Royal Enfield and Managing Director of Eicher Motors, shared this update on LinkedIn, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive and gender-diverse workforce.
A few years ago, women made up only 5% of Royal Enfield’s workforce. Since then, the company has steadily improved its gender diversity. Today, women account for 20% of the workforce across all locations. The Cheyyar facility marks a significant step forward, as the company prepares to run the entire plant with a 100% women workforce. After successfully launching an all-women assembly line, the company now continues its push to make automotive careers more inclusive for women across different communities.
Beyond one plant: Building a culture of inclusion
Women’s participation at the Royal Enfield’s Cheyyar Plant is part of the company’s larger drive to create more inclusive workplaces company-wide. The company’s Vallam facility currently employs the highest number of women across all its locations, with women making up 26% of the workforce there. In FY25, the company hired 24% women across roles, exceeding its own gender diversity target for the year.
These women work in a range of positions, including operators, assemblers, supervisors, data entry specialists, and financial roles. They bring different perspectives and contribute to a more balanced work culture, strengthening operations at every level.
Inclusive policies, but women are still a minority in India’s auto sector
India’s automotive industry plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. It contributes 7.1% to the national GDP and nearly half of the manufacturing GDP. Despite its size and importance, women make up only 16% of the workforce in NSE-listed automotive companies, which employ around 849,000 people.
Between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the overall auto sector workforce grew by 22%. However, women’s participation increased by only 3%. This gap shows that gender inclusion is not keeping pace with the industry’s rapid growth. Many young women struggle to see themselves building a long-term career in the sector because they rarely find women in operational or leadership roles.
Skilling, safety, and solidarity: Bridging the gender gap
A major hurdle for women in the auto sector is the lack of relevant skills and training. Only 24.5% of women aged 15 to 59 have received vocational or technical training, compared to nearly 45% of men. Enrollment of women in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) was just 6.6% in 2021. This low number leaves many women underprepared for technical jobs in manufacturing and limits their career options.
Workplace safety remains a serious concern for women in the industry. Complaints of sexual harassment increased from 0.8 per 1,000 women in FY23 to 1.2 in FY24. Overall complaints rose by 44%, while the number of unresolved cases grew by 1.3 times. Additionally, cases under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act increased by 8%, and discrimination complaints surged fivefold during the same period.
While companies like Royal Enfield, Tata Motors, or MG Motor India are making important initiatives, there is still much to be done.
Royal Enfield’s Cheyyar Plant: A milestone, not the destination
India’s automobile industry is beginning to break its long-standing gender barriers, with companies like Royal Enfield, Tata Motors, and MG Motor leading the way in hiring and empowering more women. Their initiatives show that progress is possible when businesses commit to inclusive policies and create real opportunities on the shop floor and beyond.
However, the industry still faces significant challenges, from skills gaps to workplace safety, that slow down women’s full participation. Closing these gaps will require continued effort and collaboration across the sector to build a truly balanced and welcoming environment for women at every level.
At Changeincontent, we believe such milestones deserve more than applause; they demand replication. Gender inclusion in heavy industries must go beyond tokenism and become the new normal.
Also Read: All-women team at L&T: The bold shift India’s heavy industries needed.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content. We broadly define inclusivity as media, policies, law, and history, encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and marginalised individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
