Inaugurating its first vehicle showroom at Kochi in Kerala, BYD India Private Limited (BYD India) is slowly and surely entrenching itself into the Indian electric passenger vehicle space. As it does so, it is eying a big chunk of the growing electric passenger vehicle market. In what is expected as a market place that will spearhead a shift to alternate fuel vehicles in the mid- to long-term, BYD India, a subsidiary of China-based BYD company that specialises in the manufacture of electric buses and passenger vehicles, is looking at getting closer to its target customers by offering the BYD electric MPV and e6. 

Managed by EVM Southcoast in Kochi, the BYD India dealership will facilitate automotive consumers and buyers to seek one of the best electric vehicles available in the market, according to Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, Senior Vice President – Electric Passenger Vehicle Business, BYD India. “Starting from Kochi, we are getting closer to our target customers and are delighted to inaugurate our first showroom in the country with EVM Southcoast. We hope that our customised products and service will spur and accelerate green initiatives in the region,” he added. 

Of the opinion that Kochi is the most densely populated city of Kerala and is also known as the financial, commercial and industrial capital of the state, Shrirang Joshi, National Sales Head – Electric Passenger Vehicles Business, BYD India, mentioned, “Kochi has immense potential for premium passenger cars and we strongly believe that BYD will be the main contributor to EV adoption in the EPV segments in Kerala.” Spreading its wings in the Indian market with a careful study of which products will appeal and which markets are likely to accept them sooner than later, BYD India as the subsidiary of Warren Buffet-backed Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer that overtook Tesla this year is confident that it will find a way to be among the leading electric vehicle manufacturers in the country. 

It is no secret that BYD as a brand is already gathered an amount of visibility in India. The electric buses it produces in India in collaboration with Olectra are a common sight on Indian roads – in cities especially where they form a part of the fleet of STUs. Electric buses made by Olectra-BYD (this company is surprisingly claimed to have connection whatsoever with BYD India) are also found with some inter-city operators – public and private. These e-buses also reflect the fact that BYD is not new to this market as has already done its homework. 

The Chinese company has already gained a good insight into the factors that are driving the shift to electric vehicles. Claimed to be working on a plan to build its own manufacturing facility at Sriperambudur near Chennai, BYD, it is certain has done its calculation. It has learnt from the competition it has in the electric bus space in the country. With years of experience and knowledge in the manufacture of electric vehicles as diverse as buses and passenger vehicles, it is slowly and surely moving forward in a market place that saw the homegrown Mahindra & Mahindra unveiled an electric version of its XUV700 SUV among a few other exciting electric passenger vehicles recently. Currently, it is MG Motors and Tata Motors that are having a good hold in the electric passenger market in India. 

Expected to participate in the upcoming Auto Expo to highlight its commitment towards the Indian market, BYD India plans to sell about 1000 electric vehicles. These, it is said, will be assembled locally in line with the government policies in place for EVs and to take advantage of the PLI scheme, which provides a distinct advantage to those who manufacture locally and leverage the local supply chain. 

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Bajaj Auto, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has launched the Chetak C25 at INR 91,399, a new model joining its electric scooter range. The C25 is designed for urban mobility, focusing on a lighter frame and manoeuvrability to navigate city traffic. It retains the metal body and mono-body construction characteristic of the Chetak brand.

The e-scooter is powered by a 2.5 kWh battery, providing a claimed range of 113 km and a top speed of 55 kmph. The system supports fast charging, reaching 80 percent capacity in 2.25 hours. Practical features include a 25-litre boot for storage, alongside safety technologies such as hill hold assist, disc brakes and a ‘guide me home’ light function.

The C25 adopts a design language featuring a signature DRL headlamp and a jointless body. It is available in six colours with graphics inspired by street art. The model sits alongside the existing 30 and 35 Series in the Chetak portfolio, aiming to capture demand from first-time electric vehicle buyers and households requiring a secondary scooter for short-distance travel.

Eric Vas, President – Urbanite Business, Bajaj Auto, said, “The Chetak C25 reflects a clear shift in how urban mobility is being used today – shorter trips, tighter streets and a growing need for independent movement. While its form is compact and contemporary, the fundamentals remain unmistakably Chetak: solidity, sturdiness and reliability. The C25 allows us to extend the Chetak portfolio to a younger, more agile use case, while continuing to deliver the trust and confidence that the brand has stood for over generations.”

The introduction of the C25 follows a trend of increasing multi-scooter ownership within Indian households. Bajaj aims to leverage its service network to support the rollout of this model across urban markets.

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Ather Energy has announced the addition of Tamil language support to the dashboard of its Rizta Z electric scooter. The update allows owners to switch the interface to Tamil, with the rollout scheduled as an over-the-air (OTA) update starting in February 2026.

The initiative is part of Ather’s plan to offer a multi-language interface supporting eight regional languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

The Tamil release follows the previous introduction of Hindi and Kannada. The company indicates that this move supports the preference for technology interaction in regional languages.

The Rizta series consists of two models, the Rizta S and Rizta Z, which provide ranges of 123 km and 159 km. The vehicle features a 56-litre storage capacity, comprising a 34-litre under-seat compartment and an optional 22-litre front accessory. Safety systems integrated into the scooter include SkidControl, Fall Safe, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) and Live Location Sharing.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, CBO, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been an important market for Ather from the beginning, both in terms of our manufacturing presence and our growing rider base. As Rizta continues to see strong adoption and has recently crossed the 2 lakh sales milestone, it becomes important for the product to feel familiar and easy to use for riders across regions. Building local language support into the Rizta experience has been a deliberate part of how we think about creating a seamless ownership experience. After the Kannada dashboard rollout, bringing Tamil to the Rizta Z dashboard on the occasion of Pongal felt like a natural next step.”

The company recently reached a sales milestone of 200,000 units for the Rizta. Additionally, a touchscreen upgrade for the Rizta Z was confirmed during Ather Community Day 2025 to further enhance the user interface.

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Montra Electric, the clean mobility division of the Murugappa Group, has opened two new dealerships in the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion includes an electric small commercial vehicle (e-SCV) outlet in Libaspur, North Delhi and an electric three-wheeler (e-3W) facility in Surajpur, Greater Noida.

The Greater Noida dealership, operated by Vigsons Automobiles, will retail the Super Auto and Super Cargo models. This facility is equipped with service infrastructure and technicians to support owner-operators and fleet customers in the passenger and cargo segments. The North Delhi site, operated by Action Volt Wheels, is intended for businesses involved in e-commerce distribution and FMCG logistics, providing workshop and after-sales support for mid-mile operations.

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said, “The transition to electric commercial mobility is an institutional shift, not merely a product change. As adoption expands across India, its success will depend on the strength and reliability of the supporting ecosystem. Building this foundation, anchored in quality, service, and long-term ownership confidence, is essential for clean mobility to scale in a sustainable manner.”

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, added, “Delhi-NCR is one of the most structurally important markets for electric commercial vehicles, where scale is being driven by real operating use-cases rather than experimentation. Our focus is to build a network that is capable of supporting this scale, through dependable retail partners, strong service infrastructure, and consistent customer engagement. The new dealerships in Greater Noida and North Delhi are a step towards ensuring that customers experience electric mobility as a reliable business solution, not just a sustainable alternative.”

The company stated that the NCR is a primary market due to the demand for urban logistics and shared mobility. The new facilities are designed to transition electric vehicles from pilot projects to regular commercial use by focusing on vehicle uptime and service responsiveness.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) participated in the Advantage Maharashtra Expo 2026 to showcase its technology and manufacturing initiatives. The company focused on Flex-fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFV SHEV) technology and its ongoing expansion within the state of Maharashtra.

At the Technology Pavilion, the automaker displayed the HyCross FFV SHEV, a vehicle designed to operate on ethanol-blended fuels while utilising a hybrid electric powertrain. This technology is part of Toyota's ‘multi-pathway’ strategy intended to reach carbon neutrality by utilising various energy sources. The expo, organised by the Marathwada Association of Small-Scale Industries and Agriculture (MASSIA) and the Government of Maharashtra, serves as a platform for industry and technology exchange in the Marathwada region.

Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President and Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Toyota Kirloskar Motor extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Maharashtra for its continued support toward our greenfield manufacturing project in the state. Our upcoming facility will further enhance TKM’s operational footprint in the state with localization as a key focus while creating expanded opportunities for local development. Participation in the Advantage Maharashtra Expo underscores our ongoing collaborative initiatives across the region, reflecting our commitment to fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and community empowerment in Maharashtra. TKM has consistently focused on building core capabilities and strengthening the educational ecosystem in Maharashtra through its structured skilling & CSR programs. Complementing these efforts, we continue to advance technology initiatives that support cleaner mobility and more efficient powertrain systems.”

Beyond vehicle displays, Toyota Kirloskar Motor held sessions on manufacturing culture and skill development for industry representatives and educational institutions. The company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to develop a skilling ecosystem focused on Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

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