Tata Motors has launched the new Nexon EV MAX for a starting price of INR 17.74 lakh (ex-showroom All India). 

The company said in a release that the Nexon EV MAX is powered by high voltage state-of-the-art Ziptron technology and would be available in two trim options – the Nexon EV Max XZ+ and Nexon EV Max XZ+ Lux. It also has three colours – Intensi-Teal (exclusive to the Nexon EV MAX), Daytona Grey and Pristine White. Dual tone body colour will be offered as a standard, the release said.  

Equipped with a 40.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack, the Nexon EV Max offers 33 per cent higher battery capacity, delivering an anxiety-free ARAI certified range of 437 km (under standard testing conditions), the company said. The Nexon EV MAX produces 105 kW (143 PS) of power and delivers an instant torque of 250 Nm available at push of the pedal, resulting in 0 to 100 sprint times in under 9 secs. 

The Nexon EV Max will be available with options of a 3.3 kW charger or a 7.2 kW AC fast charger. The 7.2 kW AC fast charger can be installed either at home or at workplace, which helps in reducing charging time to 6.5 hours. It will support a faster charging time of 0 - 80% in just 56 mins from any 50 kW DC fast charger, the company claimed. 

Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Sales and Service Strategy, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “We at Tata Motors are committed to the rapid electrification of mobility in the country, and are humbled by the overwhelming response that we are receiving from our customers. Keeping customer centricity at the core and dedicated to bringing in newer products at regular and quick intervals, we are elated to launch the new Nexon EV MAX – an SUV that offers all EV users MAX freedom to undertake regular and uninterrupted long distance travel. This SUV offers more range, more power, and faster charging while improving the overall driving efficiency, providing an uncompromised EV ownership experience.”  

Anand Kulkarni, Vice President, Product Line & Operations, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “The Nexon EV Max is a testament to our state-of-the-art high voltage EV architecture Ziptron, designed for unique Indian driving and weather conditions. It offers significantly enhanced range, safety, performance and luxury to give a truly MAX experience to our customers. With more than 30 new features in the Nexon EV MAX and 3 mainstream EV offerings for personal segment buyers, Tata Motors is set on an ever evolving journey to bring performance and technology to the fore and encouraging the Indian customer to #EvolvetoElectric!” 

The striking exterior of the Nexon EV MAX has been complemented with significantly modernised interiors to match the progressing preferences of the discerning customers, the release pointed out. The central console has undergone a significant revamp and gets a new uncluttered and clean design, it features a Jewelled Control Knob with active mode display, all new Makarana beige interiors, leatherette seats with ventilation for front passengers, air purifier, wireless smartphone charging, auto-dimming IRVM and cruise control.  

Nexon EV Max features three driving modes – eco, city and sport and gets eight new features on the upgraded ZConnect 2.0 connected car technology. The ZConnect app offers 48 connected car features. This will help in attaining deeper drive analytics and diagnostics. The add-on feature list covers a smartwatch integration, auto/manual DTC check, setting a limit for charging, monthly vehicle reports, and enhanced drive analytics. 

With Nexon EV MAX, Tata Motors has introduced a Multi-Mode Regen feature which will help customers to easily adjust the level of regenerative braking through switches on the floor console. Customers can choose between 4 regen levels based on the driving conditions: Level 0 with nil recuperative braking, going up to the highest Level 3 aiding single pedal driving. The Company has also added an intuitive feature – auto brake lamps which gets activated once a certain level of regen is achieved, this helps to alert fellow motorists.  

The company said that the Nexon MAX comprises of enhanced safety features like ESP with i-VBAC (intelligent – Vacuum-less Boost & Active Control), Hill Hold, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Vehicle Hold and all 4-Disc brakes. Making it a complete package, the promise of reliability and durability of Ziptron continues on Nexon EV Max with its battery and motor pack being IP67 rated for a weather-proof and worry-proof performance. (MT)

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer Simple Energy has announced its ambitious plans to raise USD 350 million through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) slated for Q2-Q3 of FY2027.

The company is projecting INR 8 billion (USD 96 million) in revenue for FY2026 and over INR 15 billion (USD 180 million) in cumulative revenue over the next 18 months.

The EV maker states it commenced commercial operations less than two years ago, has already achieved gross margin breakeven and is targeting a 15 percent gross margin in the near term. EBITDA profitability is anticipated by the end of FY2026, with net profitability planned ahead of the IPO.

The upcoming IPO is expected to accelerate Simple Energy’s national expansion, and support manufacturing capacity enhancement.

Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO, Simple Energy, said, “Clean energy is the cornerstone of India’s sustainable future. With 95 percent of our vehicle components made in India, we are proud to contribute to the Make-in-India initiative. The IPO is a pivotal step in our journey to democratise electric mobility, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.”

With a growing footprint in key markets such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala, Simple Energy aims to achieve 100,000 cumulative EV sales and a 5 percent share of the domestic two-wheeler EV market by FY2027, a sharp rise from its current 0.3 percent. Its dealership network is also set to expand from 15 to over 250 outlets across 23 states.

Founded in 2019, Simple Energy till date has raised USD 41 million in funding from a network of investors, including Balamurugan Arumugam (Chief Growth Officer, Klarity), the Apar Industries family office, Dr. A Velumani’s family office, the Haran family office and others.

JSW MG Motor India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country, has launched the MG Windsor Pro with a new 52.9 kWh battery pack at prices starting INR 1.24 million + INR 4.5/km for the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. The MG Windsor Pro can be had without BaaS at INR 1.74 million (valid for first 8,000 bookings).

The EV now comes with a larger 52.9 kWh battery pack, claimed certified range of 449km, 136 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque. It is equipped with Level 2 ADAS, 12 major features – Traffic Jam Assist, Vehicle Safe Stop, Adaptive Cruise Control, Bend Cruise Assistance (Sub-function of ACC), Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Headlamp Control, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency braking system and Intelligent Hydraulic Braking Assistance ––  with 3 level of warning through audio, visual and haptic for enhanced safety.

The Windsor Pro comes with three new and vibrant colour options, Celadon Blue, Aurora Silver and Glaze Red, along with a new 18-inch dual tone machined alloys. A new dual-tone Ivory and Black interiors further highlight the variant.

In terms of creature comforts, the new Windsor Pro is equipped with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) technologies. The V2L features allow users to power external devices directly from the car, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike. While the V2V technology enables energy sharing capabilities between compatible EVs

JSW MG Motor India has also onboarded new financiers, such as IDFC First Bank and Kotak Mahindra Prime to expand the reach of its BaaS plans.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “MG Windsor has been instrumental in accelerating the growth of India’s 4W-EV segment, winning customers over with its compelling value proposition. Positive word-of-mouth from early buyers fuelled its rapid acceptance, extending its reach beyond metro cities into Tier II and III markets. By introducing a product that stands apart from the conventional, we have successfully connected with a new wave of buyers. Alongside our partners, we remain committed to redefining the Indian auto landscape by delivering relevant innovations at the right time with the right technology. The launch of the MG Windsor Pro reflects our commitment to providing expanded choices, instilling greater confidence in EVs in general, and inviting more customers to venture confidently into the future of sustainable mobility.”

Hindustan Zinc, the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has reported significant early-stage breakthroughs in the development of next-generation zinc-based battery technologies. These efforts aim to deliver higher energy efficiency, improved safety and longer battery life, supporting India's transition to clean, sustainable energy.

As lithium-ion battery supply chains face growing constraints and rising costs, zinc is emerging as a viable and strategic alternative. The company shared that zinc-based batteries offer several advantages, including superior safety (non-flammable), long cycle life, recyclability and operation across a wide range of temperatures. Additionally, they leave a greenhouse gas footprint nearly six times lower than conventional technologies.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said, “Batteries are pivotal in the global shift toward clean energy. We are committed to driving innovation through our collaborations with premier Indian research institutions and by leveraging our metallurgical expertise. Our goal is to responsibly accelerate the battery revolution and contribute meaningfully to India’s energy independence.”

In partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru, Hindustan Zinc is exploring sustainable zinc-based storage technologies.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2024, researchers at JNCASR are advancing zinc-ion battery technology, with a focus on novel zinc anode formulations and advanced electrolytes.

“Our work on electrode/electrolyte interface engineering has yielded promising results,” said Professor Prem Senguttuvan from JNCASR.

In a parallel initiative, IIT Madras is working on the development of a 1 kWh rechargeable zinc-air battery module, structured as a 6/12-cell stack. The project, led by Professor Aravind Kumar Chandiran, emphasises rechargeability, interface durability and battery longevity. “These batteries have enormous potential for electric vehicles, grid-scale storage, and consumer electronics,” said Prof. Chandiran.

Hindustan Zinc quoted a recent BloombergNEF report, which projects the global energy storage market will grow at a 21 percent CAGR, reaching 442 GWh by 2030.

Further expanding its global footprint, the company has also signed an MoU with US-based AEsir Technologies, a leader in nickel-zinc battery innovation. Through this partnership, Hindustan Zinc will provide technical expertise, commercial-grade electrodes and performance additives to help scale battery technologies from lab prototypes to industrial production.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, currently supplies to over 40 countries and commands approximately 75 percent of India’s primary zinc market.

JSW MG Motor India is set to expand its EV portfolio with the MG Windsor Pro, which is set to be introduced on 6 May 2025.

The MG Windsor Pro is expected to offer a higher range, more features, improved safety and minor design tweaks. While technical details are yet to be released, it is safe to understand that the company is looking to further drive sales of its popular EV, targeting a new set of customers.

Launched on 11 September 2024, the company positioned the Windsor as a CUV (crossover utility vehicle) and the most comfortable EV in its segment.

The Windsor EV has already surpassed 20,000 units sales since launch, and has been the highest selling electric passenger vehicle for the last several months in a row.