Mahindra and Embraer pick Nagpur for C-390 Millennium final assembly line

Mahindra Group and Embraer have chosen Nagpur to set up a final assembly line for the manufacture of Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft in India. The two companies are jointly pursuing the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme. As part of this, they are continuing discussions and planning on preparing industrial and support facilities.

If the Government of India selects the Embraer C-390 Millennium and an order is placed under the IAF's MTA programme, the proposed facility will support local assembly and industrialisation of the aircraft in India. To move the required industrial infrastructure forward quickly should the partners win the programme, both companies are completing the related processes together with the Maharashtra government.

Vinod Sahay, member of the Group Executive Board at Mahindra Group, said: "Mahindra is committed to building a globally competitive aerospace ecosystem in India and to creating meaningful manufacturing and technology capabilities that contribute to the country's Atmanirbhar Bharat aspirations." He added: "As we work with Embraer on the C-390 Millennium, we are building the industrial ecosystem needed to support this programme at scale. Nagpur offers an excellent opportunity for such capability, and we are deeply grateful to the Maharashtra government for quickly approving land in Nagpur and helping with related requirements. Of course, all these preparations depend on the Government of India selecting the C-390 Millennium and on receiving an order from the IAF."

Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, said: "As we advance our preparations to bring the industrial capabilities of the C-390 Millennium to India, Embraer is pleased to strengthen its partnership with Mahindra. Selecting Nagpur as the potential site for the assembly facility is an important step towards building a strong, long-term aerospace ecosystem in the country. We welcome the support of the Maharashtra government and, if the C-390 Millennium is selected for the Indian Air Force programme, look forward to working closely with our partners to strengthen India's indigenous aerospace and defence capabilities."

The proposed Nagpur assembly facility will be a highly advanced centre in India. It will bring to the country knowledge of aircraft assembly, systems integration, production engineering, local supply chain development and more. Subject to winning the programme contract, the partnership intends to bring Indian aerospace companies into the C-390 Millennium ecosystem in phases, to provide production, after-sales service, training and lifetime support in line with the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.

The partnership has a background. Embraer and Mahindra signed an MoU in February 2024. Building on it, they signed a strategic cooperation agreement in October 2025 to jointly advance the C-390 Millennium for the IAF's MTA programme. The agreement envisages cooperation on industrialisation in India, local manufacturing, assembly, supply chain development and MRO activities. In February 2026, the companies also announced a plan to work towards establishing C-390 Millennium MRO capability in India if the aircraft is selected under the MTA programme.

The C-390 Millennium is a multi-role military transport aircraft. It is designed for many tasks, including transporting troops and cargo, air-drop missions, medical aid, search and rescue, firefighting and emergency humanitarian missions. The aircraft can carry a payload of up to 26 tonnes and is designed to take off from and land on temporary or unpaved runways.

The proposed industrialisation programme will draw together Embraer's expertise in aerospace engineering and aircraft manufacturing, Mahindra's established manufacturing capability and the vast Indian industrial ecosystem. As they advance preparations, the companies will continue discussions with the Government of India, the Indian aerospace ecosystem and the Maharashtra government.

Statements about potential industrial activities, production capacity, facilities, cooperation and business opportunities are forward-looking. They are based on current expectations and assumptions. There are risks and uncertainties arising from the outcome of the Indian Air Force's medium transport aircraft procurement process, government approvals, the execution of final agreements and other factors beyond the control of both parties. Actual results may therefore differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements.