BYD Sealion 7 Launched At INR 4.89 Million, Bookings Surpass 1,000 Units

BYD Sealion 7

Chinese electric vehicle major BYD has announced the starting price of its new Sealion 7 e-SUV at INR 4.89 million.

The e-SUV comes with 82.56 kWh battery pack and can be had in either Premium and Performance variants. It is equipped with BYD's Intelligence Torque Adaption Control (iTAC) and the CTB (Cell to Body) technology, which integrates BYD’s Blade Battery as a structural element of the chassis.

Rajeev Chauhan, Head of Electric Passenger Vehicles (EPV) Business, BYD India, said, “The unveil of the Sealion 7 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is a milestone event for BYD India. Besides, the Sealion 7 has witnessed an overwhelming response of over 1,000 bookings within a month of announcing the car. Combined with our network expansion to over 40 dealers and counting, this response to the Sealion 7 furthers our vision for innovative and sustainable mobility in India.”

The BYD Sealion 7 can accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in 4.5 secs in the Performance trim and 6.7 seconds in the Premium variant. It has a claimed range of 542 km on the Performance variant, while the Premium comes with a claimed 567 km range.

Designed by BYD's Global Design Director, Wolfgang Egger, the BYD Sealion 7 sports a sleek, flowing lines, an aerodynamic profile and a distinctive ‘Ocean X’ front styling. On the inside, it is equipped with a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, Nappa leather seats, and 128-colour ambient lighting options.

Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Push For Higher Blends And Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Ethanol

The Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association (GEMA), the apex body for India's ethanol production sector, has urged the government to accelerate the rollout of higher ethanol blends and fast-track the nationwide adoption of flex-fuel vehicles.

GEMA states this strategy is necessary to align India’s biofuel policy with global practices, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and support the country’s net-zero emissions goal by 2070.

Following the successful achievement of the 20 percent ethanol blending target set for 2025, the association believes India should now aim for higher blend levels, citing Brazil's model of progressive blending up to E27 (a 27 percent blend) and use of flex-fuel vehicles.

While acknowledging that a blend of 25 percent to 30 percent may not be possible immediately, GEMA stressed the possibility of increasing the blend up to the tolerance level of existing vehicles (potentially 1 percent or 2 percent over 20 percent).

Dr. CK Jain, President, Grain Ethanol Manufacturer’s Association, said, “There is an immediate need to enhance the blending up to the tolerance level of the existing vehicles to give some relief to the Grain Ethanol Industry. The roadmap for ethanol blending beyond 20 percent must be clear, ambitious and supported by a forward-looking policy framework.”

He further added that the industry has already invested to meet enhanced requirements but stressed that timely government policies and cohesive inter-ministerial coordination are essential to maintaining momentum.

GEMA emphasised that higher ethanol blends will not only significantly cut carbon emissions but also reduce India’s oil import bill, enhancing energy security. Furthermore, increased blending would boost the rural economy and employment by creating demand for agricultural feedstocks like sugarcane, maize and surplus rice.

The association urged faster collaboration between policymakers, the Department of Science and Technology, and automobile manufacturers to enable flex-fuel readiness.

Abhinav Singal, Treasurer, GEMA, added, “A cohesive approach involving relevant ministries and all stakeholders is essential to build a sustainable and economically viable biofuel ecosystem.”

Toshiba Launches SCiB 24V Battery Pack For Automotive And Industrial Use

Toshiba SCiB

Toshiba has introduced a new SCiB 24V battery pack (P25H20-3), a lithium-ion solution designed for the automotive, marine and heavy equipment sectors. The battery is intended for seamless replacement of conventional lead-acid batteries.

The new product is already being used in the ‘e-Float Terrace,’ an electric boat from Yamaha Motor Co., which is scheduled to begin offering cruise experiences in Yokohama, Japan, this October.

The SCiB 24V battery pack, equipped with 20Ah-HP SCiB cells, is engineered to meet the D23 size specified for starter lead-acid batteries (JIS D 5301). This allows for direct replacement of existing 24V lead-acid units.

The pack can be deployed as a standalone unit or configured in series and parallel – up to 2 in series and 6 in parallel (48V, 5.76 kWh) – to meet power requirements. The battery’s capability to handle high-load operations makes it suitable for marine vessels, commercial vehicles (buses and trucks) and heavy equipment (construction and agricultural machinery).

Toshihiko Takaoka, Vice-President, Battery Division of Toshiba Corporation, said, “We engineer SCiB batteries for outstanding reliability in demanding environments. The 24V battery pack combines excellent low-temperature performance and vibration resistance with robust waterproofing certified to the IPX9K and IPX7 standards. Its exceptional long-life performance helps reduce maintenance requirements for electric boats. To extend these advantages to more partners, we will continue to pursue further orders across marine and other applications.”

The Japanese company shared that tis range of SCiB batteries are known for their high safety, long life, low-temperature performance, rapid charging capability and wide usable state-of-charge range.

MoEVing - Tata Motors CV

MoEVing, an electric mobility solutions firm, has partnered Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles dealers – Pascos, Johar Automobiles and Bhandari Automotive – to lease a fleet of 700 electric small commercial vehicles (e-SCVs). The fleet includes the Ace EV and Ace Pro EV.

The EVs will be used for last-mile deliveries in the e-commerce, logistics and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors across more than 10 Indian cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. This deployment is expected to lead to a carbon emission reduction of almost 2,000 tonnes per year.

The collaboration introduces a business model where the Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles dealers will own and maintain the fleet, while MoEVing will operate it. This arrangement is intended to unlock operational efficiencies and enable scalable mobility solutions.

The partnership will serve over 20 enterprise clients, aiming to cover an estimated 25 million green kilometres annually.

Vikash Mishra, Founder and CEO, MoEVing, said, “Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of green, zero-emission mobility across India’s logistics. We have had excellent experience working with Tata Motors and are looking forward to deploying these vehicles across various use cases and segments. Our innovative business model for operating them on lease will enable scalable, cost-effective deployment of electric vehicles, streamline fleet ownership and maintenance, and accelerate scalability. We look forward to breaking more milestones with the largest deployment of Tata Electric Commercial vehicles across the country”

Pinaki Haldar, Vice-President & Business Head – SCVPU, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, added, “Tata Motors is steadfast in its commitment to driving India’s transition to green, zero-emission mobility. This partnership between MoEVing and our leading dealer partners – Pascos, Johar, and Bhandari Automotive – marks a pivotal step in scaling sustainable last-mile logistics. The Ace EV & Ace Pro EV are engineered to deliver superior performance, uptime and reliability in real-world operating conditions. Additionally, with a versatile range of load deck configurations and payload capacities, these vehicles are designed to meet the diverse needs of customers across businesses. Our robust network of over 200 dedicated EV support centres across the country ensure maximum uptime and swift turnaround, backed by trusted service and deep technical expertise.”

With the addition of 700 e-SCVs, MoEVing’s fleet now includes over 2,500 electric vehicles.

Tesla Reports 37% Drop In Net Income For Q3 CY2025

Tesla Model Y

American electric vehicle major Tesla has reported record revenue and free cash flow for the Q3 CY2025, supported by high vehicle deliveries and energy storage deployments.

The electric vehicle maker posted total revenue of USD 28.1 billion, a 12 percent increase YoY. Free cash flow reached nearly USD 4 billion, which the company states is its highest.

Total vehicle deliveries reached 497,099 in the quarter, a 7 percent YoY growth. Deliveries of the Model 3 and Model Y rose by 9 percent to 481,166 units. Energy storage deployments were a record 12.5 gigawatt hours (GWh), up 81 percent YoY.

Gross Margin stood at 18 percent, a drop of 185 basis points from the previous year. Gross profit was USD 5.1 billion, up 1 percent.

Operating income fell 40 percent YoY to USD 1.6 billion, resulting in a 5.8 percent operating margin. This decline was due to increased operating expenses, which rose 50 percent YoY to USD 3.4 billion, alongside higher average vehicle costs and a shift in sales mix. Lower regulatory credit revenue also impacted profitability.

Net income attributable to common stockholders reached USD 1.4 billion, a 37 percent drop. Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased by USD 4.9 billion to USD 41.6 billion.

During the quarter, Tesla expanded its vehicle range, launching the Model 3 and Model Y Standard variants. The company also launched the Model Y Performance and the Model YL in China, a longer six-seat version.

In the energy sector, Tesla unveiled Megapack 3 and Megablock, its next-generation industrial storage products. Production for Megapack 3 is scheduled to begin at Megafactory Houston in 2026. The company also launched a new lease offer in the US for solar and Powerwall systems.

Tesla launched its ride-hailing service in the Bay Area using Robotaxi technology and began deploying version 14 of FSD (Supervised) in October. The Supercharger network expanded by over 3,500 stalls in the quarter, an 18 percent YoY growth and it launched its first v4 Supercharger cabinets.

“While we face near-term uncertainty from shifting trade, tariff and fiscal policy, we are focused on long-term growth and value creation. We are prudently making the necessary investments in our business, including future business lines, that we believe will drive incredible value for Tesla and the world across transport, energy and robotics,” the company said in a statement.

Tesla indicated that Cybercab, Tesla Semi and Megapack 3 remain on schedule for volume production starting in 2026. Production lines for Optimus, the humanoid robot, are being installed in anticipation of volume production. The lithium refinery in Texas is expected to begin production in Q4 2025.