BYD India, a subsidiary of the China-headquartered world-leading new energy vehicles manufacturer BYD, has launched what it claims is India's first 6- and 7-seater electric MPV – the BYD eMAX 7 at prices starting INR 2.69 million.

The BYD eMAX 7 will succeed the BYD e6, with one of the notable changes over the outgoing model is the integration of the 8-in-1 electric powertrain from BYD's e-platform 3.0 and varied seating options.

The e-MPV comes in two variants – Superior and Premium – with 6- and 7-seater options for both. While the Superior variant comes with a battery pack of 71.8 kWh, the Premium variant packs a 55.4 kWh battery pack, returning a claimed 530km and 420km range NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) tested, respectively.

The Superior variant is capable of reaching 0-100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds and the premium variant does the same in just 10.1 seconds. The vehicle also boasts a wheelbase of 2,800 mm, which is one of the best in the MPV segment.

Rajeev Chauhan, Head of Electric Passenger Vehicles (EPV) Business at BYD India, said: “This electric MPV is not just a vehicle; it's a revolution in how progressive families experience travel. With its cutting-edge technology, exceptional comfort, and eco-friendly performance, the BYD eMAX 7 is set to raise the bar in the Indian electric vehicle market. We are excited to bring this modern, elegant eMPV to our customers and are confident that it will significantly enhance their driving, travel and ownership experience. We will always be committed to bringing the latest global innovation to our discerning Indian consumers.” 

The vehicle offers an immersive and futuristic cabin experience with abundant room, front ventilated seats, a 12.8-Inch (32.5 cm) rotatable infotainment display, a 5-inch (12.7 cm) advanced instrument cluster, a wireless phone charger and an gear lever.

The expansive 1.42 sqm panoramic glass roof creates a sense of roominess in the cabin, further enhancing passenger comfort. The third row of the vehicle can be folded to create 580-litres of boot space, ensuring ample space for cargo needs. The middle seats can also be split into 60:40 to maximise the boot space.

The BYD eMAX 7 is available with 4 exterior colour options – Quartz Blue, Cosmos Black, Crystal White, and Harbour Grey.

The e-MPV uses BYD’s Blade Battery and the 8-in-1 electric powertrain from the globally acclaimed e-platform 3.0. The distinctive feature of the BYD Blade Battery is the arrangement of battery cells in a blade-like formation, which increases the contact area between cells and electrical pathways, resulting in efficient heat transfer. Additionally, this unique design helps reduce the risk in the event of a vehicle collision. 

On the other hand, BYD's 8-in-1 electric powertrain is a system that integrates eight critical components into one, consisting of the motor, motor controller, reducer, on-board charger, DC converter, high-voltage distribution box, vehicle controller, and BMS (Battery Management System). This system is designed to optimise space utilisation and energy efficiency.

The EV packs a range of safety features, including 6 airbags as standard, ABS, EPF, EBD and ADAS to name a few.

The BYD eMAX 7 also takes care of the New Energy needs of its customers with advanced technologies like VTOL and Regenerative braking. Powering a family camping outdoors or using it to power other electric equipment, the VTOL (Vehicle to Load) technology ensures maximum usability of the vehicle. 

On the comfort side, the BYD eMAX 7 sees all the three rows of the vehicle have its separate AC vents and 2 Type A and Type C charging ports for the first two rows each. The 12.8-Inch (32.5 cm) intelligent rotating touch screen hosts Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ensuring seamless connectivity to customers' phones. It gets immersive 6-speaker sound system too. In addition, the vehicle also hosts advanced convenience features like voice assistance, keyless entry, NFC card key, electric trunk opening, PM 2.5 filtration system, one touch up-down with anti-pinch for all 4-door windows and automatic air conditioning.

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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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Montra Electric, the electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle business of the Murugappa Group, has become the first manufacturer in India to receive certification for heavy-duty electric trucks under the government's PM E-Drive Scheme.

To mark the achievement, the company delivered a Rhino 5538 EV 6x4 Tractor trailer to UltraTech Cement. The handover took place in the presence of Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Montra Electric and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer of UltraTech Cement.

The PM E-Drive scheme includes a budget of INR 5 billion specifically for electric trucks, providing a benefit of up to INR 960,000 per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive is intended to lower operating costs and reduce exposure to fuel price volatility for fleet operators in the logistics, mining, and manufacturing sectors. The Rhino 5538 EV range is designed for Indian conditions and is available in 6x4 and 4x2 variants.

The Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 variant features a 282 kWh LFP battery that produces 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque. It offers a range of approximately 198 km under standard test conditions and supports six-minute battery swaps. These specifications suit the vehicle for high-utilisation applications in ports, steel plants, and cement logistics.

H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said, "The PM E-Drive scheme is a testament to the growing prowess of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to decarbonizing our logistics and making India a global hub for EV manufacturing. Electric trucks are pivotal to our Net Zero goals, and by fostering a self-reliant ecosystem through such certifications, we are driving the spirit of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat. We are very happy to see our Prime Minister’s vision coming to life with the 1st PM E-Drive certified heavy duty electric truck from 'Montra Electric' getting delivered today."

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said: “Decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. We are grateful to the Government of India and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing forward-looking and progressive policy frameworks such as the PM E-Drive Scheme, which represent a welcome and transformative step in accelerating this shift, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high. At Montra Electric, we are proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering technologically advanced, reliable, and scalable electric M&HCV solutions that can drive meaningful and lasting change in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

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