Sustainable mobility start-up, Dandera Ventures, today, announced the appointment of KS Johar as its Director - Manufacturing. The automotive industry veteran will spearhead the set up and mass production practices of world-class production and manufacturing facilities for Dandera.

Sharing his views, Sarth Jain, Founder of Dandera Ventures, said, “Mr Johar brings to Dandera a wealth of experience and expertise in setting up and scaling large automobile manufacturing capabilities. We are truly excited to welcome him to the Dandera family and look forward to him building a formidable and world-class manufacturing and operations infrastructure for Dandera, as we prepare to bring to market an industry-leading portfolio of commercial EVs.”

According to Dandera Ventures, Johar brings to the company nearly 40 years of experience across automotive manufacturing and other business functions. He was previously associated as Senior Operations and Production Leader at Maruti Suzuki India. Here, he played a pivotal role in helping Maruti Suzuki achieve market dominance in the automobile sector through world-class products at the lowest possible costs, claims Dandera Ventures. An automotive OEM expert, Johar was instrumental in setting up state-of-the-art green field plants from scratch at Maruti Suzuki. Dandera Ventures states that he also oversaw large operations, the launch of various vehicle models and scaled up individual plant output to 300,000 vehicle units per year.

Sharing his thoughts, Johar said, “The Dandera team has outstanding R&D capabilities in electric vehicle design and development, and has further impressed me with their clear vision and roadmap for supporting the global logistics industry’s transition to sustainable mobility with a rich portfolio of electric vehicles serving different needs. I am excited to join them and look forward to playing a role in realising their vision through creating truly world-class manufacturing and production systems for their current and forthcoming range of EVs.”

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Kinetic Green Tonino Lamborghini (KGTL), the joint venture between Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions and Tonino Lamborghini, has appointed Surge Systems as its authorised dealer for the electric luxury golf and lifestyle cart range in India. This partnership is set to leverage Surge Systems' expertise in professional turf maintenance and aftersales support to establish Kinetic Green Tonino Lamborghini's presence in the luxury golf cart market.

The golf carts, which the company describes as embodying Italian design and Indian engineering, are marketed as a luxury lifestyle statement under the 'Make In India' initiative.

Kinetic Green Tonino Lamborghini aims to achieve an annual revenue of INR 25 billion over the next five years and capture 10 percent of the global golf car market. The appointment of an authorised dealer in India supports the company's commitment to both building and selling in India, while also contributing to its export ambitions.

Dr. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO, Kinetic Green, said, “A symphony of Italian design and Indian engineering, the KGTL’s Golf Carts embody the Make In India initiative and a luxury lifestyle statement. On this journey, we are thrilled to onboard Surge Systems as our official dealer partner and looking forward to their positive contribution. I am confident that the company’s unique credibility, exceptional after-sales service, and extensive network will add value to our presence in India. Our collaboration with Surge Systems allows us to leverage their deep technical expertise, established customer trust and premium market presence while introducing a globally renowned luxury brand into its portfolio.’’

Ferruccio Lamborghini, Vice-President, Tonino Lamborghini, said, "This collaboration with Kinetic Green marks an exciting new chapter in the history of the brand founded by my father over 45-years ago. Together, we have created a project that combines the best of two worlds: the elegance and identity of Italian design with the strength, efficiency and innovation of Indian manufacturing. This is more than an industrial joint venture – it is a bridge between two entrepreneurial cultures, united by a shared vision of the future. We chose India not only as a strategic production base, but also as a symbol of openness, growth and global ambition."

Antony Bijoy, CEO, Surge Systems, said, “At Surge System, our strength lies in engineering excellence and responsive technical support. Representing Tonino Lamborghini and Kinetic Green electric luxury golf carts is a natural extension of our commitment to performance, reliability and service, delivering not just luxury mobility, but a robust, sustainable solution.’’

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Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has announced that it has achieved its highest-ever monthly sales record in October 2025, delivering 40,397 vehicles, which represents a substantial increase of 92.6 percent YoY. This milestone was announced as the 300,000th NIO ES6 rolled off the production line.

The total October deliveries were distributed across the company’s three electric vehicle brands:

• NIO Premium smart EV brand: 17,143 units.
• ONVO (Family-oriented smart EV brand): 17,342 units.
• FIREFLY (Small smart EV brand): 5,912 units.

Cumulative deliveries for the company reached 913,182 units as of 31 October 2025.

The NIO ES6 has become the best-selling battery EV from a Chinese brand priced above RMB 300,000, and the first in its segment to reach the 300,000-unit production milestone. The new ES6, introduced earlier this year, has strengthened NIO's leadership in the premium EV market.

The NIO ES6 is a 5-seater mid-size SUV with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. Key specs include a total power output of up to 400 kW (536 hp) and 725 Nm of torque, enabling a zero to 100 kmph of 4.7 seconds for the Performance and Signature models. It features a standard active air suspension and is available with a 75 kWh or 100 kWh battery pack, with the latter offering a claimed range of up to 610 km on the NEDC cycle. 

Furthermore, the ONVO L90, the brand’s smart large-space flagship SUV, achieved monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units for the third consecutive month since its official launch in late July 2025. The L90 is positioned to accelerate the transition of large three-row SUVs toward full electrification.

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India’s battery manufacturing capacity is expected to surge from nearly 60 GWh to 100 GWh by next year, according to industry leaders speaking at the 18th Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo and 3rd The Battery Show India (TBSI) in Greater Noida. The events, organised by Informa Markets in India, brought together innovators, investors and policymakers to strengthen global collaboration in the clean energy ecosystem.

Nikhil Arora, Director, Encore Systems, noted that with automation efficiencies exceeding 95 percent and the handling of 12 kg cells by six-axis robotics, large-scale localisation is driving the energy storage value chain. He highlighted that sodium-based cell technologies, which are highly recyclable and suitable for grid-scale storage, reflect India’s growing self-reliance. Arora added that collaborations with institutions like IIT Roorkee and NIT Hamirpur are accelerating technology transfer. He stated that as storage costs fall from INR 1.77 to INR 1.2 per unit in five years, India is set to achieve cost parity between solar and storage, advancing its journey toward energy independence.

Ankit Dalmia, Partner, Boston Consulting Group, predicted that the next five years will be shaped by advances in battery storage, digitalisation and green hydrogen. He stated that new chemistries, such as LFP, sodium-ion, and solid-state batteries, could cut storage costs by up to 40 percent by 2030, enabling 24x7 renewable power.

Dalmia added that the country's clean-energy ecosystem represents a USD 200–250 billion investment opportunity this decade, with targets of 500 GW of renewables and 200 GWh of storage by 2030. He also noted that the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets 5 million tonnes of production annually by 2030, is positioning India to capture about 10 percent global green-hydrogen capacity.

Dalmia stated: “With the right policy support, manufacturing scale-up and global partnerships, India can become a resilient, low-cost hub for clean energy and battery innovation. India’s clean-energy ecosystem represents a USD 200–250 billion investment opportunity this decade, with targets of 500 GW of renewables and 200 GWh of storage by 2030. Investors are focusing on hybrid RE + storage, grid-scale batteries and pumped storage projects, while companies leverage AI and digital twins for smarter grid integration. Despite policy and land challenges, strong momentum and falling costs are powering rapid growth.”

Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, highlighted policy support, stating that the Ministry of Power has approved a INR 54 billion Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for 30 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) which is expected to attract INR 330 billion in investments by 2028.

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Tata Motors, one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Think Gas, a City Gas Distribution player, to strengthen the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) refuelling ecosystem for long-haul and heavy-duty trucking in the country.

The collaboration aims to enhance infrastructure readiness, build awareness around fuel quality and enable wider adoption of LNG-powered commercial vehicles.

As part of the agreement, Tata Motors will work with Think Gas to identify freight corridors and logistics clusters with potential for LNG infrastructure expansion. Think Gas will focus on maintaining standards of fuel quality and supply reliability. Tata Motors customers will also receive exclusive benefits, including preferential pricing.

Think Gas currently operates 18 Liquefied and Compressed Natural Gas (LCNG) stations and plans to develop a corridor connecting industrial hubs, agricultural regions and logistics centres across the country.

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors, said, “As India advances towards sustainable and efficient freight movement, LNG presents a compelling solution for long-haul and heavy-duty trucking. Recognising its potential early on, we have developed robust solutions that deliver higher fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and superior performance. Through this partnership with Think Gas, our goal is to strengthen ecosystem readiness – ensuring reliable access to refuelling infrastructure and enabling fleet operators to adopt LNG with confidence. This collaboration marks another step forward in our commitment to advancing cleaner, future-ready mobility solutions for India’s commercial vehicle industry.”

Somil Garg, Senior Vice-President and Business Head (LNG Fuel), Think Gas, said, “At Think Gas, our aim is to make cleaner fuels accessible and affordable across India. Partnering with Tata Motors, a leader in advancing alternate-fuel mobility will help us strategically scale our expansion. Supported by our global investors – I-Squared Capital, Osaka Gas, Sumitomo Corporation, Konoike Transport, JOIN, we remain committed to building a robust, safe and sustainable LNG network nationwide.”

Tata Motors is developing mobility solutions powered by alternative fuel technologies, including battery electric, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), LNG, hydrogen internal combustion and hydrogen fuel cell.

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