Why Adani Ports is betting on Dighi to lead India’s auto export surge with Motherson

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited has announced a new strategic partnership with Samvardhana Motherson Hamakyorex Engineered Logistics Limited, the logistics arm of Motherson Group, to develop a dedicated roll-on/roll-off automobile export terminal at Dighi Port in Maharashtra. The facility is expected to handle up to 200,000 vehicles annually and is being positioned as a new hub for automotive exports from India’s key manufacturing corridor between Mumbai and Pune. The collaboration signals a focused move by both partners to redefine finished vehicle logistics in the country, with a forward-looking emphasis on electric vehicle readiness, AI-driven yard optimization, and seamless integration into India’s evolving multimodal logistics network.

Dighi Port, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, will serve as the site for this high-capacity auto export terminal. The new project aligns with India’s national Make in India initiative and seeks to create an efficient, resilient ecosystem for vehicle exports catering to global markets. This comes at a time when India’s outbound vehicle shipments are reaching record levels, and global original equipment manufacturers are increasingly using the country as a manufacturing and export base for both internal combustion and electric vehicles.

The announcement was made on December 5, 2025. During early trading on the same day, shares of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited were marginally down by 0.04 percent to ₹1,505.00. The stock opened at ₹1,504.60, touched a high of ₹1,506.00 and a low of ₹1,500.10. The volume-weighted average price stood at ₹1,503.25, with no adjusted close price posted at the time of release. Although the trading range was narrow, the announcement reflects a broader strategic effort by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited to expand its presence in specialized cargo handling and sector-specific logistics services.

How will Dighi Port transform auto logistics through this JV with Motherson?

The proposed RoRo terminal at Dighi Port will introduce vertically integrated operations aimed at end-to-end handling of finished vehicles. This includes services such as vehicle yard management, pre-delivery inspections, electric vehicle charging, vessel loading, and real-time inventory tracking. The yard will be optimized using artificial intelligence tools to reduce dwell time and provide complete visibility into vehicle movements across the port. These features are designed to enhance turnaround times and improve operational efficiency for automotive manufacturers.

Samvardhana Motherson Hamakyorex Engineered Logistics Limited will invest directly in terminal infrastructure as part of its broader logistics platform. This includes a 1.3-kilometre jetty capable of supporting large RoRo vessels, located in sheltered waters to allow for all-weather operations. The terminal will be built to support fast outbound evacuation of vehicles via National Highway 66, which connects the port to manufacturing clusters across Maharashtra and adjacent states.

In a statement accompanying the release, Ashwani Gupta, Chief Executive Officer and Whole-Time Director at Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, described the initiative as a major milestone in India’s automotive logistics sector. He stated that the combination of Adani Ports’ integrated multimodal infrastructure with Motherson’s domain-specific logistics expertise would create a seamless vehicle transport network. Gupta added that the project would not only drive trade but would also deliver long-term value to customers and supply chain stakeholders.

Laksh Vaaman Sehgal, Vice Chairman of Motherson Group, said the joint venture represents a significant step in Motherson’s journey to provide world-class, integrated logistics solutions tailored to the needs of automotive manufacturers. He emphasized that the development of the terminal would reduce logistics costs for original equipment manufacturers while improving efficiency, predictability, and traceability in the finished vehicle logistics chain.

Why is Dighi Port being positioned as the next strategic automotive terminal?

Dighi Port is strategically located on India’s west coast, with direct access to Maharashtra’s industrial belt. The port already features established infrastructure for handling oil, chemicals, containers, and dry bulk cargo, as well as warehousing and tank farm capacity. Its location allows easy road connectivity to key auto manufacturing hubs in Pune, Chakan, and Aurangabad. These features make Dighi a natural choice for expansion into finished vehicle logistics, particularly as India pushes to scale up its export capabilities in the automotive sector.

The port’s new RoRo terminal will be equipped with EV-compatible logistics features, making it one of the first dedicated vehicle shipping ports in India ready to handle high volumes of electric vehicles. Integrated load planning tools, real-time OEM dashboards, and AI-powered yard management systems are intended to enable live tracking and reduce congestion, all while offering value-added services tailored to auto exporters.

This buildout comes at a time when Indian ports are being reshaped by changing trade dynamics, increasing outbound vehicle shipments, and rising demand for automation and real-time visibility in supply chains. The partnership offers a direct response to these trends, making Dighi Port a potential model for other ports seeking to attract automotive volumes.

How does this partnership align with Adani Ports’ national infrastructure roadmap?

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited is India’s largest integrated transport utility, handling nearly 28 percent of the country’s total cargo volume. Its portfolio includes 15 ports and terminals along India’s coastline and a network of 12 multimodal logistics parks, 3.1 million square feet of warehousing space, and a road logistics fleet of over 25,000 trucks. The company’s marine fleet comprises 127 vessels, and its operations are integrated through proprietary digital platforms supported by artificial intelligence and optimization technologies.

This project is consistent with Adani Ports’ strategy of vertical integration and service specialization across different logistics verticals. By creating a dedicated automotive export terminal, the company is aiming to diversify its revenue streams while strengthening its role as an end-to-end logistics partner. The development also adds to Adani Ports’ credentials in sustainable infrastructure and logistics digitization. Five of its ports are ranked in the World Bank’s 2024 Container Port Performance Index, and the company has been placed in the 95th percentile of the 2025 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment among global transportation infrastructure players.

By 2030, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited is targeting a cargo throughput of one billion tonnes per annum, up from the current 633 million tonnes. Strategic investments such as the Dighi RoRo terminal help support that growth vision by unlocking new cargo segments, attracting OEM customers, and increasing port-side efficiencies.

What does this mean for institutional sentiment and EV-specific logistics infrastructure?

Institutional sentiment surrounding Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited remains steady, with investors closely watching the ramp-up trajectory of new specialized logistics assets like Dighi. The infrastructure-heavy nature of the RoRo project aligns with the broader shift toward capex-led value creation in India’s logistics sector, especially in light of increasing export demand and EV transition timelines.

Brokerages covering infrastructure stocks have noted that Adani Ports is continuing to deliver on its long-term thesis of becoming a logistics ecosystem enabler rather than a traditional port operator. The Dighi facility’s design, which integrates EV charging infrastructure, AI-based optimization, and real-time OEM data dashboards, is expected to resonate with EV manufacturers looking for faster and more reliable export pathways.

The port’s fast connectivity to industrial corridors and focus on digital transparency make it attractive for OEMs aiming to reduce cost and delivery uncertainty. From an ESG perspective, the move to include EV-specific features enhances the port’s readiness to meet future regulatory and sustainability benchmarks, while appealing to both automakers and institutional investors with green investment mandates.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited’s execution capability in deploying large-scale port infrastructure is well regarded in equity research circles, and this announcement reinforces that reputation. Analysts are likely to watch key milestones in the Dighi terminal rollout, including the start of construction, commissioning schedule, and early throughput data over the next few quarters.

What are the key takeaways from the Adani Ports–Motherson Dighi Port partnership?

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited and Samvardhana Motherson Hamakyorex Engineered Logistics Limited have announced a joint venture to develop a dedicated RoRo terminal at Dighi Port in Maharashtra.

• The terminal is expected to handle up to 200,000 vehicles per year and will cater to major automobile manufacturers in the Mumbai–Pune industrial belt.

• The facility will feature integrated yard management, pre-delivery inspections, electric vehicle charging, vessel loading, and real-time inventory tracking using AI-powered tools.

• The 1.3-kilometre RoRo jetty will support all-weather operations and offer direct connectivity to National Highway 66, improving OEM evacuation times.

• Dighi Port’s strategic location and multimodal infrastructure make it an ideal hub for finished vehicle logistics, especially for electric vehicle exports.

• The project aligns with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited’s broader strategy to scale its shore-to-door integrated logistics platform and reach 1 billion tonnes of cargo throughput by 2030.

• Institutional sentiment remains stable, with analysts seeing the deal as a step toward unlocking new revenue streams in specialized cargo handling.

• The RoRo terminal is EV-ready, supporting India’s growing green export ambitions and adding to Adani Ports’ ESG and sustainability profile.

• Dighi Port becomes one of the few Indian ports capable of offering OEM-integrated dashboards for live load planning and vehicle movement tracking.

• The development strengthens both companies’ positioning in the high-growth automotive and logistics infrastructure segment, making Dighi a potential model for future export terminals across India.