Chennai EV Capital of India, Says Hans Raj Verma

Bridgestone Goes Digital with Paperless Inspections

The Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised the EV Summit 2022 with the theme “Indigenization of EV Supply Chain in India”.

Hans Raj Verma, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation Ltd, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has a vision to make Tamil Nadu a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and this can be made possible with the much-needed EV push. Tamil Nadu is a very vibrant economy and Chennai is the EV Capital of India apart from being called the Detroit of Asia. The government welcomes EV companies to set shop and we are willing to assist them in every possible way.”

Tamil Nadu has two auto and electronic industrial clusters complimenting and supporting each other, a press release said. One of the clusters – the Sriperumbudur cluster has majors such as
Hyundai and Foxconn while the second being the emerging Hosur-Krishnagiri-Dharmapuri cluster with players like Ola, Ather, and more establishing their presence.

Rajesh Kumar Pathak IP & TAFS, Secretary, Technology Development Board, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, said, “The Technology Development Board is looking to fund and support disruptive technology including the EV Space. We welcome startups including startups in the EV domain to share their proposals as the INR 1000 crore Private-Public Partnership model for funding startups which would be launched shortly.”

He further said that the EV Summit was organised in the backdrop of the Government of India push to enhance national energy security, mitigate adverse environmental impacts from road transport vehicles and boost domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicles.

Additionally, with the Phase-II of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme to stimulate the market of EVs in the country, de-licensed the charging infrastructure business and specified guidelines and standards for charging infrastructure for electric vehicle thereby opening up the market of public charging infrastructure & ensuring a roadmap for development of charging infrastructure, and introduced various financial incentives to reduce upfront cost of EVs and charging infrastructure.

Mahesh Babu, Chairman - EV Summit and Director & Chief Executive Officer, Switch Mobility, said, “The Indian EV Industry has seen a fundamental transformation in the past decade and it is very critical for India to further transform in the coming decades. The current outlook for EVs is optimistic as the sector has seen the evolution of several trends that that are defining the growth of EVs.

EV adoption can be seen across different vehicle segments as well as different business segments. The electrification of vehicles has started gaining momentum and has opened new mobility avenues for India to tap into. India is all set to position itself as one of the leading marketplaces for Electric Vehicles (EVS)”.

Dr V Sumantran, Board of Director, Switch Mobility, said, “India is a very different market when compared to other countries. It has been repeatedly seen in many domains and will be seen in the EV space too. The potential for EV in the two-wheeler market should be tapped further as Indians use more of two wheelers compared to other vehicles. To build a stronger ecosystem, companies should talk to each other, resulting in an exchange of ideas. A consortia should be formed to help the domain grow at a faster pace.”

The Indian automobile industry is the fifth largest in the world and is expected to become the third largest by 2030. As per India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), the Indian EV industry is expected to expand at a CAGR of 36 per cent while NITI Aayog aims to achieve EV sales penetration of 70 per cent for all commercial cars, 30 per cent for private cars, 40 per cent for buses and 80 per cent for two and three-wheelers by 2030.

Prideep Kumar, Assistant Vice President, Caresoft Global, said, “The key influencers for the Indian EV market to grow is the Range, Technology, Design Disruptions and Profit.”

P Ravichandran, Former Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu & President, Danfoss Industries, said, “Tamil Nadu should find its own space in the EV space even as the TN Government is keen to strengthen the EV industry while launching major schemes to promote indigenization of supply chain.” (MT)

Ather Energy Installs Over 400 Ather Grid Fast Charging Points In Maharashtra

Ather Grid

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler major Ather Energy has crossed the milestone of having over 400 Ather Grid fast charging points across Maharashtra.

With 64 Experience Centres and 42 Service Centres in Maharashtra, Ather Energy has cemented its position in over 37 cities in the state. Furthermore, to provide its customers access to fast charging, it’s Ather Grid network now extends to 35 cities across Maharashtra including Mumbai, Nashik, Pune and Nagpur. It has also strategically placed the fast chargers to connect significant routes such as Mumbai - Pune, Pune - Satara, Satara - Kolhapur, Sangali - Kolhapur and Pune - Panshet.

What’s interesting to note is that customers also have access to 220 fast charging points built on the LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System) standard, which has been developed by Ather and opened for industry-wide adoption.

LECCS allows different brands of light electric vehicles to use the same network. Ather Grid chargers are also visible on Google Maps, making it easy for any customer with a LECCS connector on their scooter to locate, navigate and charge, further enhancing the everyday ownership experience.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Maharashtra has been a strong market for us, and we’ve seen EV adoption here grow steadily over the years. As more people switch to electric, what really builds confidence is knowing that charging won’t be a challenge. However, for many potential buyers, charging continues to be one of the perceived barriers, and that’s something we’ve always worked towards solving. From the beginning, we’ve focused on building infrastructure that keeps pace with growing demand. Crossing 400 fast chargers in the state is a reflection of that effort. It’s about giving riders the assurance that they’ll always find a charger when they need one. As we expand our retail presence, the charging network will continue to grow in tandem to make EV ownership truly seamless.”

eBikeGo Opens Acer Electric Vehicles Outlet In New Delhi

eBikeGo Opens Acer Electric Vehicles Outlet In New Delhi

eBikeGo, an Acer Official Licensee and one of India’s electric mobility leader, has opened its first Acer Electric Vehicles retail outlet in New Delhi’s Okhla Industrial Area (Phase 2). This marks the beginning of a nationwide expansion, with 15 flagship stores planned to showcase Acer-branded e-vehicles.

The store offers a premium range of e-bicycles, e-scooters and e-bikes, blending global design with rugged Indian road adaptability. Targeting urban commuters and eco-friendly riders, the lineup includes e-cycles starting at an introductory price of INR 35,999, with e-scooters and e-bikes arriving soon.

Hari Kiran, Co-Founder & COO, eBikeGo, said, “We at eBikeGo are elated to announce our significant expansion in 15 cities across PAN-India, which has been made possible within only a few months, based on our strategic approach of setting up Acer Electric Vehicles retail outlets across various states. This rapid expansion underscores our commitment to eco-friendly transportation while positioning eBikeGo as a pivotal player in the Indian EV market and promoting a green and sustainable future for all Indians. It also enables us to put the spotlight on eBikeGo’s brand new e-2Ws products’ lineup, including our e-cycles, e-scooters and e-bikes.

“The overwhelming response we have received for eBikeGo’s store expansion and the feedback we have received for Acer brand serves as a testament to the strong brand appeal and speaks volumes about our credibility. With our wide portfolio of reliable EVs tuned to the Indian roads and consumer requirements yet boasting world-class standards, we shall continue to expand and grow our retail store network furthermore across the nation.”

BYD Celebrates Production Of 13 Millionth NEV With YANGWANG U7

BYD Celebrates Production Of 13 Millionth NEV With YANGWANG U7

BYD, a global leader in new energy vehicles (NEVs), celebrated the production of its 13-millionth NEV on 21 July 2025 at the company's Xiaomo Production Base in Shenzhen-Shanwei. The milestone vehicle, a YANGWANG U7, underscores BYD’s industry dominance.

The company maintained strong growth in the first half of 2025, with domestic sales surpassing 2.113 million units (up 31.5 percent year-on-year) and overseas deliveries reaching 472,000 units (a 128.5 percent surge). This performance solidified BYD’s position as the world’s top-selling NEV automaker and the first to achieve 13 million NEV productions.

The achievement reflects global consumer trust in BYD’s technology and quality. The success of its premium YANGWANG brand highlights Chinese automakers’ rising influence in the high-end EV market, showcasing China’s competitive edge in the new energy era.

Bike Bazaar Partners E-Sprinto To Deploy 10,000 E-Scooters

Bike Bazaar - E-Sprinto

Bike Bazaar, a non-banking finance company focussing on new and used two-wheelers, has announced that it has inked a strategic partnership with E-Sprinto, an electric two-wheeler company.

Under the strategic partnership, Bike Bazaar aims to deploy 10,000 electric scooters from E-Sprinto for last-mile delivery segment in India.

Atul Gupta, Director, E-Sprinto, said, “This collaboration with Bike Bazaar is a strategic leap towards transforming last-mile delivery in India. At E-Sprinto, we are committed to building not just electric vehicles, but ecosystems that empower riders with dependable technology, minimal downtime, and sustainable performance. Our scooters are engineered to serve the real needs of India’s delivery economy – high mileage, robust build quality and low maintenance. Bike Bazaar shares our vision of creating value beyond just mobility—this event proves their commitment to rider safety and long-term engagement. We are proud to be partnering with a company that prioritizes its customers so holistically.”

Satbir Singh, Business Head – EV & New Business Initiatives, Bike Bazaar, said, “At Bike Bazaar, our riders are not just customers – they are the heart of everything we do. Today’s event is not only a celebration of their continued trust but a reaffirmation of our responsibility toward their safety and livelihood. We believe safety is not an optional feature—it’s a fundamental culture that must be embedded in every touchpoint. Our partnership with E-Sprinto is a step in this direction—together, we aim to deliver smarter, safer, and more reliable EV solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the gig economy. This is more than a fleet expansion—it’s a shared mission to lead the charge in responsible electric mobility.”