British engineering and luxury brand Rolls-Royce has set its sights on India as a potential “home market”, with the company’s CEO Tufan Erginbilgic emphasising the ambition during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ongoing visit to India.
The announcement comes as part of the UK delegation’s industry dialogues following the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is being hailed as a cornerstone of the economic partnership under the India-UK Vision 2035 roadmap.
Erginbilgic, who is accompanying the British Prime Minister on his first official visit to India, said the company’s long-term strategy is to embed itself more deeply within India’s industrial ecosystem. “We have deep ambitions to develop India as a home for Rolls-Royce, building on our strong and successful partnership,” he stated.
Highlighting the company’s presence across aerospace, defence and energy, Erginbilgic noted that Rolls-Royce’s portfolio of technologies in air, land and sea applications could strengthen India’s capabilities in critical sectors. He underlined that the group aims to foster in-country manufacturing, strategic partnerships and technology transfers that would support India’s pursuit of self-reliance under its Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The Rolls-Royce chief also linked the company’s India focus to the country’s broader development vision. “Our technologies position us to accelerate India’s progress towards a Viksit Bharat. We are determined to be India’s partner in its journey of innovation, growth and global competitiveness,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a statement, welcomed the company’s expansion plans in India. “Rolls-Royce is a symbol of British excellence, and I was delighted to meet CEO Tufan Erginbilgic during my visit to India. Their commitment to growing in India supports our Plan for Change – driving economic growth at home, creating jobs, and strengthening UK-India ties,” Starmer said.
The Prime Minister further noted that the presence of global companies such as Rolls-Royce would reinforce the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between New Delhi and London. He stressed that such initiatives are essential to building a more prosperous future for both nations.
For Rolls-Royce, the India push is also tied to the country’s energy and connectivity needs. The company said in its statement that its expertise aligns closely with India’s ambitions for energy independence, self-reliance in defence manufacturing, and the development of next-generation connectivity infrastructure, including artificial intelligence platforms.
Industry experts view the timing of the announcement as significant, coinciding with Modi-Starmer talks in Mumbai where trade, technology and defence are high on the agenda. The UK Prime Minister’s visit also underscores London’s intent to consolidate post-CETA trade momentum with one of its fastest-growing partners.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement has already expanded the scope of bilateral cooperation, facilitating deeper investment flows, job creation and industrial partnerships. Rolls-Royce’s commitment to building long-term capacity in India reflects broader trends of British companies seeking closer integration with India’s economic landscape.
Erginbilgic’s remarks also highlight how multinational firms are increasingly aligning their strategies with India’s push for indigenous production in strategic sectors. Analysts suggest that for Rolls-Royce, India offers both a growing domestic market and an export base, making it a critical geography in the company’s global footprint.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will meet his British counterpart on Thursday, welcomed Starmer’s visit in a post on X, signalling the importance New Delhi attaches to the bilateral engagement. Officials expect announcements from the visit to reinforce cooperation in trade, defence, climate and innovation.
As the British delegation continues its engagements in Mumbai, Rolls-Royce’s public articulation of its India ambitions is seen as a strong signal of intent to invest in local capabilities, aligning with the spirit of Vision 2035. The move is expected to further boost confidence in the trajectory of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.Rolls-Royce eyes India as key home market
