Altigreen, a commercial electric vehicle maker, inaugurated its latest retail experience centre in Hadapsar, Pune on Friday. This is the company’s eighth retail dealership in India in a span of two months. As per the company, the experience centre will allow EV enthusiasts to access Altigreen’s range of electric cargo vehicles. Additionally, the commercial electric vehicle maker claims that its electric 3W offering, neEV recently achieved the feat of completing a 150+ kilometre intercity drive, between two places in Karnataka – Mysore Palace and Bangalore Palace – on a single charge, in about six hours.

For the partnership, Altigreen opted to go with Jubilant MotorWorks, a dealer partner for Audi and MG Motor. The Altigreen-Jubilant MotorWorks showroom in Pune was launched at the hands of Rashmi Urdhwareshe, President at SAEINDIA and Former Director, ARAI.

Speaking on Jubilant Motorworks’ partnership with Altigreen, Amit Jain, CEO, Jubilant Motorworks, said, “It’s a momentous occasion for us to partner with Altigreen in chiselling the future of mobility in the country. We are aligned with the recent e-mobility trends and already see a massive potential driven by the nation’s agenda of electrification. We are extremely happy to be able to introduce eco-friendly mobility and a sustainable future into our business fabric. We introduce the full range of Altigreen’s premium quality vehicles for the first time in Pune at Jubilant Motorworks’ facility in Hadapsar.”

“We were one of the early movers during the onset of EVs in India,” Jain further cited and continued, “The adaptability today is something we saw coming. Altigreen has a value system we believe in, and we create deep and long-lasting relationships.”

According to Altigreen, every element of the dealership has been designed to lend a welcoming feel, especially to all those walking in, including autorickshaw drivers, small business owners and people from all walks of life. The company intends to ensure that the dealership reflects Altigreen’s ethos of respect and empathy, and its endeavour to gain the trust of consumers through transparent dialogue.

At the inauguration, Dr Amitabh Saran, Founder and CEO, Altigreen, said, “With the launch of this new retail experience centre in Pune, we are steadily building a strong nationwide network to cater to the rising demand for commercial EVs in the country. For now, Maharashtra is the only state where we now have two retail experience centres. As a homegrown company, we take great pride in delivering Made-in-India products. We are investing significantly to strengthen our production and R&D capabilities while developing a robust pan India distribution network to offer the best and cleanest last-mile transportation. We are happy to continue our partnership with Jubilant Motorworks, now in Pune as well, and deliver world-class products in multiple vehicle categories.”

Sharing his views more in depth, Dr Saran asserted, “Whenever we do any of our dealerships, it’s not just about the vehicle, but giving respect to the customers / auto drivers as well – which we all usually tend to give only if there’s a strike. When we started looking at this space, we thought that it must be something that can compete with what’s on the roads. In a country like India, where diesel vehicles, ICEs, etc. have been doing a fabulous job, the EVs have to be at least as good as them. The idea is to ensure that no matter in what capacity we are doing this, there should be a pride of ownership.”

Urdhwareshe, who was the chief guest at the event, put across her thoughts, too, in terms of EVs and Altigreen’s journey. She averred that EVs is a different segment and serves a very important purpose in addressing the transportation needs of the urban, rural areas and more.

“I have seen the struggle they have been through, finally arriving at a product that is fit to rock the market,” she went on to say and continued, “I can see that the product is really clean in nature. I am also very happy that Altigreen decided to position in the three-wheeler segment. Moreover, for the three-wheeler segment, the cost of ownership holds the most significance.”

Highlighting her thoughts on the Altigreen-Jubilant MotorWorks partnership, she expounded, “Having three-wheelers and their commitment to green mobility is very unique. Jubilant MotorWorks and Altigreen have excellent commitment to it.” She further addressed the audience saying that she would like to appeal to them to share their experiences with the transport authorities, so that it will encourage other users to shift to electric mobility. 

While at the inauguration, several customers were also invited up on the dais, who were given keys to Altigreen’s electric three-wheeler.

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Marking a significant step in its electrification strategy, Subaru Corporation has initiated domestic production of Battery Electric Vehicles at its Gunma Yajima Plant. This launch coincides with the finalisation of extensive upgrades to the plant’s production systems, a project commenced in August 2025. Central to these enhancements is a new, flexible assembly line engineered to manufacture the all-new E-Outback alongside traditional petrol and hybrid models within a single, integrated process. This approach leverages Subaru's established expertise in mixed-model production, allowing the company to adapt efficiently to the evolving automotive landscape.

The E-Outback itself represents a key milestone as Subaru's second global BEV, developed through a longstanding alliance with Toyota Motor Corporation. This partnership, celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2025, has grown to encompass collaborative efforts in development, production and supply chain management. The recent manufacturing advancements are a direct result of deepened cooperation in electrification technologies, combined with continuous refinement of Subaru’s own manufacturing, or monozukuri, capabilities.

Looking forward, Subaru intends to further increase manufacturing flexibility. This focus aims to achieve greater production efficiency and development agility, thereby strengthening the company's ability to respond to market shifts and bolster its overall competitiveness. The Subaru E-Outback is scheduled for introduction in the United Kingdom during Summer 2026, with full specifications to be disclosed nearer the launch date.

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VinFast’s strategic progress in India has been further validated through recent accolades from the influential Vikatan Group media network. The company was distinguished with two significant awards: one recognising its substantial investment commitment, and the other honouring its VF 7 model as the premier urban electric vehicle for 2026. These commendations underscore the brand’s deepening integration into the Indian automotive sector, highlighting both its industrial strategy and its product relevance.

The title of Investor of the Year, conferred by Nanayam Vikatan business magazine, specifically acknowledges VinFast’s landmark commitment to establishing an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. This project is noted not only for its scale and strategic clarity but also for its anticipated role in fostering a new industrial corridor, generating employment and bolstering the local supplier network. It aligns with national initiatives like Make in India and reflects confidence in the region’s manufacturing potential.

Concurrently, the VF 7 electric SUV was named Urban Electric Vehicle of the Year at the Motor Vikatan Awards 2026. This recognition from automotive experts underscores the model’s successful adaptation to India’s urban driving conditions, balancing design, performance, safety and comfort. It serves as a testament to VinFast’s product development focus and its localisation strategy aimed at meeting specific market demands.

As a respected media institution in South India with a legacy dating to 1926, the Vikatan Group’s awards carry considerable weight among businesses and consumers. These latest honours add to a growing list of VinFast’s achievements in the market, illustrating the convergence of its investment, manufacturing, and product efforts. Within a short timeframe, the company has employed a long-term strategy encompassing manufacturing, retail, charging infrastructure and after-sales services. Through this comprehensive approach and a focus on sustainable innovation, VinFast is steadily building its brand presence while contributing to India’s transition towards green mobility.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “Being recognised in two important award categories demonstrates how VinFast is steadily building its position in India, not only through long term investment commitments but also through products developed to match local conditions and user needs. This recognition provides further momentum for us to accelerate implementation, expand the electric vehicle ecosystem, and maintain a long-term partnership with the Indian market.”

B Srinivasan, CEO, Vikatan Group, said, “VinFast India represents the new-age investor – bold in vision, swift in execution and deeply aligned with India’s growth story. By unravelling the true potential of the port city of Thoothukudi, VinFast India has helped create a conducive industrial ecosystem, played a positive role in employment generation and restored the city’s importance on India’s manufacturing map. Their investment is not just capital at work but confidence in India’s future.”

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Blue Energy Motors and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have entered a strategic partnership to deploy Battery Swapping Stations for electric commercial trucks at select HPCL fuel outlets nationwide. This initiative leverages HPCL’s extensive network of over 24,400 retail locations to create a widespread and convenient energy infrastructure for freight operators. By situating swap stations within established fuelling hubs, the collaboration seeks to make electric mobility a practical and scalable reality for India’s logistics sector.

The core advantage of battery swapping lies in its dramatic reduction of energy replenishment time to under five minutes, minimising vehicle downtime compared to conventional charging. For fleet operators, this efficiency translates into higher vehicle utilisation, improved productivity and more predictable scheduling. Furthermore, a growing and accessible network of swap stations alleviates range anxiety, enabling electric heavy-duty trucks to confidently undertake longer routes and multiple shifts.

As India advances its green transportation goals, this alliance holds significant strategic value. HPCL’s vast retail footprint, which already supports over 5,400 EV charging points under its HP e-Charge brand, offers a ready platform for rapid infrastructure deployment across key freight corridors. Blue Energy Motors, a pioneer in zero-emission freight solutions, brings its expertise in electric commercial vehicles, exemplified by its launch of India’s first electric freight corridor. Together, the companies aim to accelerate electric vehicle adoption by directly addressing the operational needs of commercial fleets, thereby strengthening the long-term development of sustainable freight transport in the country.

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Eicher Trucks and Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has completed a journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari using its Eicher Pro X EV.

The record verified by the India Book of Records (IBR), saw the electric vehicle cover over 4,000 kilometres in 6 days under loaded conditions. The run commenced in Srinagar on 20 January 2026 and concluded in Kanyakumari on 26 January 2026, traversing the Himalayas, plains and the Deccan Plateau.

Throughout the expedition, the vehicle utilised public chargers located via the MyEicher App. An adjudicator from the India Book of Records accompanied the truck to monitor route compliance, load, distance and charging stops. The mission served as a demonstration of electric vehicle endurance across diverse altitudes and climates to validate the technology for logistics corridors.

The journey was intended to show that electric commercial vehicles can operate beyond short-haul deliveries. By maintaining performance across hilly and coastal routes, the Pro X EV aimed to establish total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits and maintenance predictability for fleet operators. The successful completion of the route suggests that current charging infrastructure can support long-haul electric freight movement.

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “For more than four decades, Eicher trucks and Buses have earned customer trust through leadership in fuel efficiency and application-specific engineering. The record-setting performance of the Eicher Pro X reinforces our unwavering focus on application excellence, reliability, and performance, anchored in robust product development and manufacturing capabilities, and enabled by a customer-centric, pan-India commercial and dealer network. I commend the entire Eicher team for achieving these well-deserved records”.

SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “By covering the K2K route with a loaded Pro X EV, Eicher Trucks & Buses has proven that electric mobility is no longer restricted to short-haul, ‘last-mile’ deliveries. We are not just setting records, but through the strength of our service network and extensive dealer set-up, we are demonstrating that our EV technology is commercially viable, reliable, and has the range to serve as the backbone of India’s green logistics corridors”.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP – SCV Sales & Marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The Eicher Pro X EV was put to the ultimate test – covering over 4000 kilometres across diverse climates and challenging altitudes. With this recognition from the India Book of Records we’ve moved beyond our own stringent testing benchmarks to real-world validation - Demonstrating that Eicher Pro X EV is a dependable partner for logistics movement across varied operations in India”.

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  - Sohan Sohan Lal January 30, 2026 11:29 AM

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