Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra recently unveiled its new electric vehicle dedicated manufacturing and battery assembly facility at its Chakan plant. The fully integrated ecosystem will produce Mahindra’s Electric Origin SUVs.

It may be recalled that the company announced an ambitious investment plan of INR 160 billion in FY2022-FY2027. This includes INR 45 billion towards powertrain development, two product top hats, including software and tech, and manufacturing capacity.

The automaker's EV manufacturing hub incorporates highly automated manufacturing ecosystem that leverages over 1,000 robots and multiple automated transfer systems. The company aims to have 25 percent gender diversity ratio at its EV plant. The EV line incorporates a fully automated Press Shop, an AI-driven Body Shop, robotic Paint Shops to optimise quality and efficiency.

The body shop utilises over 500 robots and a fully automated transfer system, which is monitored via an IoT-based ‘Nerve Center’ for real-time process insights and end-to-end traceability. The company has also adopted Industry 4.0 tech, AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots), and AGVs for seamless material movement.

The battery manufacturing lines use a patented pallet design for optimal insulation and geometric accuracy and hidden cell terminal welding for enhanced connectivity and robust performance.

Mahindra said it will perform multi-layered end-of-line testing simulating real-world conditions, backed by IP67 ingress protection, real-time temperature monitoring, and automated anomaly isolation.

Odysse Electric, an Indian two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) brand, has announced the successful delivery of over 1,500 electric scooters to Zypp Electric, an EV fleet operator focused on last-mile delivery services.

With a common goal of providing sustainable transportation solutions, the partnership between Odysse Electric and Zypp Electric aims at decreasing the carbon impact of urban transit and contributing to a cleaner future. As part of the collaboration, Odysse will deliver 40,000 EVs to Zypp over the next three years.

Nemin Vora, CEO, Odysse Electric, said, "With each scooter delivered, we move closer to making sustainable mobility a mainstream reality. We believe that electric vehicles represent the future of urban mobility, and this collaboration demonstrates the growing need for greener solutions in India's transportation environment. Collaboration with Zypp Electric has been extremely fulfilling, and we are thrilled to continue supporting their aim of offering sustainable last-mile delivery solutions. This supply of 1,500+ electric scooters is just the beginning, and we hope to increase our effect further as the demand for electric vehicles grows."

Mahindra has announced the prices for the top-end (Pack Three) variant of its flagship Electric Origin SUVs, the BE 6 and XEV 9e. The BE 6 Pack Three is priced at INR 2.69 million, whereas the XEV 9e Pack Three is priced at INR 3.05 million.

Mahindra's goal of democratising high-end technology is highlighted by Pack Three, which stands for the pinnacle of luxury, state-of-the-art features and unparalleled performance. In response to consumers' increasing preference for high-end EVs, Mahindra will only introduce Pack Three for the BE 6 and XEV 9e during the first phase. Mahindra has also introduced the ‘Three for Me’ finance programme, which ensures that Pack Three variants can be owned at the same monthly EMI as Pack One, with a balloon payment at the end of six years. With this arrangement, the BE 6 Pack Three will be available at a monthly EMI of INR 39,224 and the XEV 9E Pack Three will be available at a monthly EMI of INR 45,450.

Phased test drives for the SUVs will commence on 14 January 2025 and the bookings will open on 14 February 2025, with deliveries expected to begin in early March 2025.

Veejay Nakra, President – Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and Joint Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, said, “The response to our Electric Origin SUVs has been phenomenal, with customers showing a strong inclination towards high-end technology and premium features. In response, we will initiate bookings only for the feature-loaded Pack Three in 79 kWh for both BE 6 and XEV 9e on 14 February 2025, which is Valentine’s Day. With its 79-kWh battery delivering over 500 km of real-world range, customers can be free from range anxiety. Our vision is to make premium EVs mainstream, and with our ‘Three for Me’ finance programme, we ensure these vehicles remain accessible, aiming for a total monthly target of 5,000 units in Phase 1.”

EKA Mobility has announced that it will launch the country’s largest range of electric commercial vehicles at the Bharat Mobility Auto Expo 2025. The premier mobility show is scheduled to be held between 17 January 2025 and 22 January 2025 in Delhi. 
The range of electric commercial vehicles the company will unveil will amount to over 11 platforms such as electric buses that cover city, intercity and shuttle applications with industry-leading technology; electric trucks that feature medium and heavy-duty variants designed for intra-city and long-haul logistics, and electric small commercial vehicles that are modular and scalable. They also capable of catering to niche and specific applications for both passenger and cargo transportation.
The company will also debut EKA Connect at the show. It is a state-of-the-art fleet management platform designed to optimise vehicle performance and enhance operational efficiency.
Speaking about the company’s plans for Bharat Mobility show, Dr Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman, EKA Mobility and Pinnacle Industries Limited, expressed, “With the launch of our largest range of electric commercial vehicles, we are introducing a new era of intelligent and sustainable transportation. It is a testament to India’s growing leadership in electric mobility innovation and manufacturing. Our new range redefines what is possible in sustainable transportation, combining innovation, versatility, and performance to meet the diverse needs of businesses and communities."
Recognised under the Government’s Auto PLI scheme, EKA Mobility has Mitsui & Co. (Japan) and VDL Groep (Netherlands) as equity partners. 
 

Warivo Motor India Pvt Ltd, one of India's leading players in electric mobility sector, has entered into a strategic partnership with HDB Financial Services to provide tailored financing solutions to its customers for both low-speed and high-speed electric two-wheelers.

From regular commuters to performance-focused EV aficionados, HDB Financial Services is dedicated to provide financing options that meet a broad spectrum of client demands. Through this partnership, HDB Financial Services will provide clients buying electric scooters across its more than 1,700 branches in India with customisable EMI plans. Because of this, people will be able to spread out the cost of buying an EV over time, which will make it simpler to control spending while they make the switch to environmentally friendly transportation.

Yuvraj Garg, Director, Warivo Motor, said, “Our partnership with HDB Financial Services is another step towards making electric mobility accessible to all. By providing flexible, customer-focused financing solutions, we are empowering individuals to transition to EVs with ease and actively supporting India’s clean energy goals for a greener, more sustainable future.”

Rakesh Kumar, National Head – Two-Wheeler and Auto Loans, HDB Financial Services, said, “At HDB Finance, we are committed to provide more accessible and affordable financial solutions to aspirational customers in the emerging India. This initiative aligns with our focus on driving financial inclusion and offering tailored services that meet the evolving needs of our customers."