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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CATL and Stellantis broke ground on a EUR 4.1 billion battery plant in Figueruelas, Spain, on 26 November. The 50:50 joint venture will produce lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells and targets an annual production capacity of 50 GW/h.

The project, which is Spain’s largest battery factory, is backed by over EUR 300 million in EU funds, with production expected to start in late 2026.

According to unions, around 2,000 Chinese workers will help construct the site, a point of contention with local authorities and residents. Also, 3,000 Spanish staff are to be hired and trained later.

Spanish authorities and residents have voiced concerns about job opportunities for local workers and potential strain from the influx of foreign employees. CATL Vice President Meng Xiangfeng said earlier in November the company needed experienced technicians to build and fine-tune production lines, with plans to train local workers to take over operations gradually.

David Romeral, Director General of CAAR Aragon, a network of automotive businesses in the region, said: “We don’t know this technology, these components – we’ve never made them before. They’re years ahead of us. All we can do is watch and learn.”

The regional government is organising work permits for arriving workers while seeking to attract battery supply chain companies to Aragon. Some Chinese technicians and managers have already arrived, with several hundred more expected by year-end and nearly 2,000 by the end of next year.

CATL’s approach contrasts with its Hungarian site in Debrecen, where it hired mostly locals to build its European plant. However, a lack of local workers caused production to be delayed from late 2025 into mid-2026. The Figueruelas facility will serve as CATL’s third European manufacturing operation, alongside the Hungarian plant and one in Germany.

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Neuron Energy, an EV battery manufacturer, has raised INR 310 million in a Pre-Series B funding round led by Equanimity Ventures, Rajiv Dadlani Group, Thackersay Family Office and Chona Family Office, with participation from Family Offices and HNI investors. With this, Neuron Energy has raised INR 810 million to date.

The funding will be used to expand Neuron Energy’s manufacturing capacity to 3 GWh and to establish a fully automated, large-scale battery facility for electric four-wheelers and buses at Chakan, Pune. The capital will also strengthen the company’s R&D capabilities, accelerate domestic growth, and broaden its footprint in international markets.

Pratik Kamdar, CEO and Co-Founder, Neuron Energy, said, “This Pre-Series B round is a defining step in our mission to industrialise world-class battery manufacturing in India. As EV adoption accelerates, we are focused on building capacity, embedding automation, and pushing the boundaries of performance and reliability. This investment ensures we can deliver at scale, both in India and globally.”

The company said it operates with a low-CapEx and low-OpEx business model. It has been growing profitably year-on-year and is on track to achieve INR 2 billion in revenue this year. The company is also confident of achieving sales of over INR 9 billion, with profitability, over the next few years.

Rajesh Sehgal of Equanimity Ventures, added, "We see immense potential in Neuron Energy’s approach to EV battery innovation and scalability. Their focus on quality, automation, and energy efficiency aligns with the evolving demands of the EV industry in India and beyond. We are proud to support their next phase of growth as they scale into new vehicle categories and manufacturing capacities."

The new facility reinforces the company’s position in two-wheeler EV batteries and signals a strategic entry into heavier vehicle segments. This supports Neuron’s vision to become a comprehensive EV battery solutions provider.

Rajiv Dadlani, from the Family Office of the Rajiv Dadlani Group, said, "Neuron Energy demonstrates remarkable potential to become the market leader, with their renewed focus, in delivering top-quality products. The company and its founders are highly committed to delivering rigorously tested and safe-to-use Li-Ion smart batteries. We are confident that they will continue to thrive and set new standards in the industry."

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Mahindra has launched the XEV 9S, an electric 7-seater SUV built on the INGLO platform, with prices starting at INR 1.99 million (ex-showroom).  The XEV 9S is powered by MAIA, described as India’s fastest automotive mind.

The EV comes with a 70 kWh battery, delivering a power of 180 kW and 380 Nm of torque. It offers a claimed real-world range of 500 km from its LFP battery, which comes with a Lifetime Warranty. The SUV is stated to be the fastest 7-seater in its class, reaching zero to 100 kmph in 7.0 seconds, with a 202 kmph top speed.

The fully-loaded Pack Three Above 79 kWh variant is priced at INR 2.94 million ex-showroom with bookings open on 14 January 2026 and deliveries starting on 23 January 2026.

R Velusamy, President - Automotive Business, Mahindra & Mahindra and Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile, said, “We have always believed that technology is meaningful only when it expands human possibility. The XEV 9S built on the INGLO electric origin platform does exactly that by creatin space – more than anyone else and gives a smooth and noise free ride. THE MAIA brain enables many of its high-tech features, making it the most advanced offering for its price.”

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Chief Executive Officer - Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra and Executive Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile, said, “The future of Indian mobility will belong to brands that don’t just electrify vehicles, but reimagine categories. With the XEV 9S, we’re not just playing in the EV segment, we’re expanding it. This SUV signals the start of a BIG new electric era for Mahindra - one built on scale, on purpose, and on a deep understanding of how India moves. The attractive prices starting at ₹ 19.95 Lakh make a very high-tech product accessible, with bookings opening on Jan 14 and deliveries start on Jan 23.”

The XEV 9S is an expression of Mahindra’s Heartcore Design philosophy, featuring a stance, lines, a gloss finish and interiors. The vehicle is designed to be silent on wheels.

Key highlights include:

• Space: Offers 4,076-litre of cabin space (for front and second row), boot space up to 527-litre and 150-litre of Frunk space. The third-row features 50:50 split seats.
• Suspension: Features Intelligent Adaptive dampers with i-Link at the front and 5-Link independent suspension at the rear.
• Driver Aids: Includes L2+ ADAS with five Radars and one Vision Camera, Driver Drowsiness Detection with DOMS (Eyedentity) and Secure360 Pro for live view and recording.
• Interior Comfort: Features Powered Boss Mode, ventilated second row seats, recline and sliding adjustment, sunshade for second row windows, Acoustic ‘Laminated’ Glass and wireless phone charging.
• Technology: Equipped with Brake by Wire with IEB, High Power Steering with VGR, VisionX – AR HUD, AutoPark Assist, and 140 features including Digital Key, NFC and Charge Scheduler.
• Entertainment: Includes a 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Audio system with Dolby Atmos, three 31.24 cm screens, 5G Connectivity and Fun & Work Apps.
• Efficiency: Running costs are INR 1.2 per km, with maintenance costs of INR 40 paise per kilometre and negligible road tax. Business owners benefit from 40 percent depreciation.

Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative Officer - Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Designing the XEV 9S wasn’t about adding lines to a surface, it was about shaping a feeling. We wanted it to feel like stepping into a personal sanctuary, yet one that carries the pulse of modern India. Electric gave us the canvas; INGLO gave us the freedom to sculpt light, space and comfort. The result is an SUV that wears its size with grace and its technology with humility. It’s expressive, it’s calm, and it’s unmistakably Mahindra - built for a nation whose aspirations are only getting bigger.”

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