Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based Ohmium International to co-develop integrated Green Hydrogen-based power solutions in India.

This collaboration brings together Toyota’s expertise in fuel cell technology and Ohmium’s capabilities in scalable PEM electrolysers to explore applications such as microgrids for use in data centres and remote, environmentally sensitive areas. Toyota Kirloskar Motor will contribute technical know-how and fuel cell modules, while Ohmium will lead design and performance evaluations.

The initiative supports India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and aligns with the country’s goals of energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070. It also marks a strategic expansion of Toyota’s hydrogen initiatives in India – from the 2022 Mirai FCEV pilot project with iCAT to its recent MoU with Ashok Leyland for hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles.

Through such partnerships, Toyota Kirloskar Motor aims to foster a robust hydrogen ecosystem in India, supporting both mobility and stationary power needs while advancing local innovation under the ‘Make in India’ vision.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, said, “Hydrogen, as a clean and renewable energy source, is regarded as the fuel of the future – a key to building a self-reliant and carbon-neutral India. In this direction, the Government of India has been undertaking several progressive initiatives, fostering innovations across the energy and transportation ecosystems. Notably, numerous industry leaders, start-ups and researchers are unlocking new opportunities in the hydrogen space, aiming to drive sustainability across multiple domains. The adoption of strategic approaches to harness hydrogen’s full potential will be crucial in ensuring a clean, affordable, and source energy future for the nation. It is particularly encouraging to witness corporates and technology pioneers actively contributing to the development of scalable, indigenous hydrogen solutions that align with national priorities and the vision of a greener, more sustainable tomorrow. And I commend Toyota and Ohmium for making strong efforts with cleaner energy options through advanced hydrogen-led capabilities, aligning with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.”

Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, said, “Initiatives that foster and promote scalable, home-grown solutions are essential to accelerating India’s transition to a low-carbon economy. In this regard, diverse sectoral industries will play a pivotal role in realising the goal of building a self-reliant green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030. Their innovative capabilities and localised solutions will form the backbone of India’s energy transition. The National Green Hydrogen Mission envisions India as a global leader in clean energy innovation and its deployment. To achieve this vision, it is imperative to strengthen domestic capabilities across the hydrogen value chain. Strategic collaborations such as this, between Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Ohmium, have the potential to significantly accelerate the progress towards a hydrogen-powered green energy future.”

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Minister of Industries, Food & Supplies, Environment Forest and Wildlife, Government of NCT of Delhi, said, “As India continues to take strong strides in environmental leadership, initiatives like these reinforce our commitment to sustainable transformation at the grassroots. Green hydrogen presents a promising solution to reduce air pollution, drive industrial decarbonisation and enable the development of cleaner, future-ready ecosystem. The collaboration between Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Ohmium is a significant step forward – combining global innovation and local expertise to co-create scalable, green energy solutions. Such partnerships are essential to building sustainable industrial zones and pollution-free society, in line with our vision for a greener, healthier India.”

Ahmad Chatila, Ohmium Board Chaiman, said, “We are privileged to collaborate with Toyota Kirloskar Motor to integrate our locally manufactured electrolyser technology with their advanced fuel cell systems. This collaboration supports India’s Hydrogen economy goals and demonstrates our commitment to a greener future with cleaner air, better public health, and resilient, secure infrastructure.”

Manasi Tata, Vice-Chairperson, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota, our commitment to a carbon-neutral future extends beyond clean mobility. Green hydrogen is a vital part of this vision – not only for transportation but also its production, distribution, and diverse end-use applications. Through this collaboration with an innovative PEM technology player like Ohmium, we are not only advancing Hydrogen applications but also reinforcing our support for the country’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. By co-developing locally relevant hydrogen solutions, we aim to empower India’s energy transformation and contribute meaningfully to the hydrogen ecosystem.”

Swapnesh R. Maru, Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Planning, Green Field Project, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), said, “India stands at a transformative juncture in its clean energy journey, with a clear vision to achieve energy independence and long-term sustainability. At TKM, we are happy to contribute meaningfully to this future by adopting a multi-pathway approach. This allows us to diversify our environmental efforts and move with speed and at scale towards achieving carbon neutrality, in alignment with our national objectives. In this direction, our collaboration with Ohmium goes ‘Beyond Mobility’ – it’s a shared commitment to contributing towards the creation of a hydrogen-powered India that is self-reliant, resilient, inclusive, and future-ready. Guided by our deep respect for the planet, we see hydrogen not just as a fuel, but as a catalyst to usher in sustainability across mobility, energy and industry sectors. By integrating global expertise with India-focused innovation, we are proud to be delivering environment friendly solutions, fostering happier paths together.”

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Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has successfully completed a landmark journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) with its Eicher Pro X EV.

The expedition, titled #XpertHaiTohPossibleHai, saw the electric commercial vehicle become the first and fastest in its category to traverse the 4,100-kilometre route under fully loaded conditions.

Starting from Lal Chowk, Srinagar, and concluding at the southern tip of India in six days, the journey was independently adjudicated by the India Book of Records, resulting in four new national records. The initiative was designed to address industry concerns regarding range anxiety, charging infrastructure and the operational reliability of electric vehicles (EVs) in the B2B sector.

The journey tested the vehicle across India’s most diverse terrains and climates, including the Himalayas, the Deccan Plateau and coastal ghats. The Eicher Pro X EV travelled through temperatures ranging from -2deg Celsius to 40deg Celsius. The EV relied entirely on public charging stations, coordinated through the MyEicher App. The trip was conducted with the vehicle at full load capacity to simulate authentic logistics operations.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, SCV - Sales & Marketing, VECV, said, “The K2K milestone is a strong validation of the Eicher Pro X EV’s engineering capability under real-world operating conditions. The initiative not only builds confidence in electric mobility as an economical source of providing logistical solution but also strengthens trust through proof, not promise.”

Eicher collaborated with commercial vehicle influencer Raman Nayak (Behind The Wheels) and a network of regional creators to document the journey. The multi-episode series focused on the practicalities of EV ownership, such as route planning and terrain management, presented in local languages to reach a broader demographic of fleet operators.

Bhagwan K. Bindiganavile, EVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, said, “In the commercial vehicle industry, trust is built through proof. Taking a production vehicle on a journey of this scale was a deliberate move to move beyond conventional marketing and demonstrate capability in a real, unfiltered and conclusive manner.”

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has announced that its first family electric scooter, the Rizta, has crossed the 300,000-unit sales milestone within just two years of its April 2024 launch.

The e-scooter has become Ather’s primary volume driver, significantly accelerating the company's growth in both its home markets and new regions.

The Rizta reached 200,000 units in December 2025 and added the most recent 100,000 units in just five months, reflecting a rapid surge in demand for family-focused electric mobility.

The Rizta has been instrumental in Ather’s ‘Middle India’ strategy, focusing on states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In these regions, Ather's market share shot up from 4.1 percent (Q1 FY25) to 17.3 percent (Q4 FY26). In Northern states, including Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, market share grew more than threefold during the same period.

In its home base of Southern India, the Rizta helped Ather retain its leadership position, contributing to a regional market share of 23.5 percent in Q4 FY26.

Interestingly, nearly 70 percent of Rizta owners are families with children, moving away from Ather's traditional enthusiast-only demographic. The e-scooter's success is attributed to its 56-litre total storage, spacious seat and safety features like SkidControl. In FY2026, the Rizta accounted for approximately 76 percent of Ather’s total sales volume.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Since its launch, the Rizta was sharply positioned as a family scooter and has resonated extremely well with the family audiences across the country. The Rizta has helped us gain a leadership position in FY2026 in Southern India. Additionally, the Rizta has played a crucial role in expanding our market share in ‘middle India’ by 4X since its launch in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In FY '26 the Rizta constituted about 76 percent of our portfolio and continues to lead our growth.”

Ather has maintained strong customer engagement through its AtherStack software. In September 2025, the company released AtherStack 7 via an over-the-air (OTA) update. This update introduced a touchscreen interface for existing Rizta Z models, pothole alerts & voice commands and advanced safety features including crash alerts, ParkSafe tow-zone detection and LockSafe theft prevention.

This milestone comes as Ather prepares to enter the mass-market segment with its upcoming EL platform and expands production capacity through its Factory 3.0 facility at AURIC, Maharashtra.

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Hyroad Energy has entered into an agreement with Toyota Motor North America to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks in Southern California. The announcement took place at the ACT Expo, where the companies outlined a framework covering vehicles, software, and fuel supply.

As per the understanding, Hyroad will provide the trucks along with maintenance and data services for Toyota’s logistics operations. On the other hand, Toyota will supply the hydrogen fuel via its refuelling infrastructure currently being developed in Ontario, California.

The fuel cell trucks offer a claimed driving range of up to 500 miles (804km) and refuelling time of 15-20 minutes, comparable to diesel vehicles. However, the trucks emit only water vapour. Each Class 8 truck carries approximately 70 kg of hydrogen, equivalent to the capacity of 12 Toyota Mirai sedans.

Hyroad operates as an equipment-agnostic provider, bundling vehicle procurement, maintenance and fleet management software. In August 2025, the company acquired 117 hydrogen trucks and intellectual property assets from the Nikola Corporation bankruptcy auction. It now provides parts and support services for existing Nikola truck owners alongside its own fleet operations.

“Accelerating the hydrogen economy requires collaboration, and Toyota is proud to work with Hyroad to move the heavy-duty sector forward,” stated Toyota in a release.

Dmitry Serov, Founder & CEO, Hyroad Energy, said, “Toyota has done exactly what great allies do — they've brought genuine hydrogen expertise to the table and made thoughtful, strategic decisions. They're not waiting for someone else to build this ecosystem. They're investing in it directly, and that's what makes this meaningful. When fuelling, vehicles, software and operational commitment all come together, hydrogen trucking works."

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BYD has claimed the title of the United Kingdom’s leading electric vehicle brand for 2026, surpassing established rivals including Tesla, BMW, KIA and Volkswagen. Official figures show the Chinese automaker has registered 12,754 battery-electric cars since the start of the year. This achievement is particularly notable as BYD has simultaneously become the top choice among private EV buyers, a feat accomplished despite being excluded from the government’s official Electric Car Grant scheme.

The brand’s broader success extends to its plug‑in hybrid lineup, marketed under the DM‑i dual‑mode intelligent system. Combining fully electric and hybrid sales, BYD has delivered 26,396 new energy vehicles in the UK year‑to‑date, capturing a 9.5 percent share of the national market. Three DM‑i models are currently available – SEAL U, SEAL 6 and SEALION 5 – with the ATTO 2 and additional models scheduled to arrive soon. The overall UK EV market has expanded by 22 percent, reflecting rising consumer appetite for sustainable transport.

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

BYD SEAL

Bono Ge, Country Manager, BYD UK, said, “With fuel prices remaining high, more drivers are turning to electric vehicles as a smarter and more economical choice. We are delighted to see the UK EV market grow by 22 percent year-on-year, and even more proud that BYD has become the UK’s leading EV brand in a little over three years. At BYD, we are committed to delivering outstanding value through high-tech electric vehicles that combine innovation, quality and affordability. But our ambition goes beyond building great cars.

“We are also bringing advanced technologies that unlock the full value of electrification, including Vehicle-to-Grid solutions that can help customers optimise energy use and reduce costs. In parallel, BYD has been deploying home and utility-scale energy storage solutions to support a more efficient and affordable energy ecosystem. Looking ahead, we also plan to introduce our breakthrough FLASH Charging, capable of charging a vehicle from 10 percent to 97 percent in just nine minutes.”

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