VinFast Auto India, the subsidiary of Vietnam-based electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, has inducted its first cohort of 200 local professionals at its soon-to-be inaugurated factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The number is expected to gradually scale up to 3,500 workers over the next five years.

Selected candidates in Tamil Nadu are currently undergoing rigorous training, guided by Vietnamese subject matter experts and seasoned Indian professionals. This initiative aligns with Naan Mudhalvan, the Government of Tamil Nadu's flagship skilling programme, which aims to provide industry-relevant competencies to local youth.

Guidance Tamil Nadu's WorkLabs Cell is facilitating this industry-academia collaboration, ensuring a seamless talent pipeline. This follows a large-scale recruitment drive in April, where VinFast India, with support from the District Collector's Office and the Tamil Nadu Industries Department, partnered with local polytechnic colleges to identify, train, and onboard young diploma holders. VinFast's workforce strategy adopts an 80:20 hybrid model, with 80 percent of the plant workforce comprising freshers and trainees from local communities.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “We deeply appreciate the support of District Collector K Elambahavath and the Industries Department, whose collaborative approach has been vital in translating our talent development goals into reality. As we ramp up our operations in India, we are proud to invest in the people and potential of Tamil Nadu. With varied employment opportunities, this facility stands as a catalyst for regional growth as well as in building a resilient, inclusive and high-performance manufacturing ecosystem that can serve both Indian and global markets.”

VinFast India’s Thoothukudi plant is set to play a key role for the company’s Asia growth story. It will have a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles per annum and is set to produce the VF 6 and VF 7 e-SUVs.

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Ahmedabad-based electric vehicle maker Jindal Mobilitric, part of the Jindal Group, has announced its plan to have 100 dealerships by next year.

In 2022, Jindal Group acquired Mumbai-based start-up Earth Energy EV to enter the electric two-wheeler segment.

The company’s first product offering, the R40, boasts a claimed range of 165km and is being produced at its Ahmedabad factory. The facility is said to have a capacity to produce 250,000 units per annum, which also an in-house battery manufacturing of similar capacity.

“The company has submitted its products for homologation and is expecting government approval soon. As soon as the approval comes into place, the company plans to launch its products through the dealer network it has established,” the company said.

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Chennai-based Montra Electric, the clean mobility brand of Murugappa Group, has partnered Green Drive Mobility to support sustainable logistics in India.

Over the next 3 months, the partners aim to deploy 50 Eviator electric small commercial vehicles supporting Green Drive’s expansion in the country.

The strategic partnership was signed by Saju Nair, Chief Executive Officer, TIVOLT Electric (SCV division of Montra Electric), and Hari Krishna, Founder & CEO, Green Drive Mobility.

“We are delighted to join hands with Green Drive Mobility. Our partnership with Green Drive represents a pivotal stride in accelerating the adoption of clean mobility solutions across India’s transforming logistics ecosystem. The Eviator, featuring a cutting-edge electric powertrain and impressive range, is meticulously engineered to meet the diverse and demanding needs of modern transportation across multiple segments. We are delighted to support Green Drive’s ambitious growth journey while reinforcing our shared vision of a carbon-neutral future,” said Saju Nair.

Hari Krishna, said, “At Green Drive Mobility, our mission is to empower ESG-focused organisations with sustainable and efficient last-mile delivery solutions. The integration of Montra Electric’s Eviator into our fleet is transformative. The Eviator stands out with its exceptional range, robust load-carrying capacity, and superior power and torque – all while ensuring maximum driver comfort. Equipped with advanced telematics, it provides real-time operational insights that will enable us to streamline our fleet performance. Moreover, the reliable charging infrastructure and after-sales support from the Montra Electric team will ensure minimal downtime and operational continuity. We are proud to partner with Montra Electric – a brand that shares our values of sustainability, innovation, and performance. The Eviator will prove to be a reliable, high-performance asset in our journey towards zero-emission logistics.”

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Guidance Tamil Nadu, has unveiled the design for the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre.

The new R&D hub, located within IIT Madras' Discovery Satellite Campus at Thaiyur, Chennai, is set to become a key driver for green hydrogen technology and its ecosystem in India.

The centre's design was unveiled by T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu. He said, “What Hyundai Motor India and IIT Madras’ efforts bring to my mind is the amazing capabilities of India and we are here to celebrate just that. The possibilities that are here in this amazing place and the possibilities that the rest of the world is only now looking up. The Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre is a crucial step towards indigenous hydrogen production.”

This initiative represents the next phase of Hyundai Motor India’s INR 1 billion commitment towards pioneering green hydrogen innovation in the country, with funding partially provided through Hyundai Motor India Foundation's CSR efforts.

Spanning 65,000 sqft, the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre will feature advanced computational and experimental laboratories. It will focus on developing digital twins of hydrogen infrastructure, customised test rigs and fabrication lines for pilot-level evaluation of electrolysers and fuel cells. The centre will also house test zones for containerised pilot demonstrators, aiming to accelerate the readiness and adoption of green hydrogen across the value chain, aligning with India's goal of energy independence by 2047.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai, we believe hydrogen is a key pillar in achieving global carbon neutrality. With the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre, we aim to foster an open platform for knowledge exchange by facilitating collaboration between global expertise and the local green hydrogen ecosystem. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to ‘Make in India’ by empowering local innovation, nurturing talent and supporting the development of scalable, affordable and sustainable hydrogen solutions. Our collaboration with IIT Madras and the Government of Tamil Nadu reflects our long-term vision of advancing India’s clean energy future and establishing a strong foundation for a hydrogen-powered tomorrow.”

Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “This Centre will work with all the stakeholders of the hydrogen sector at the global level including academia, national R&D laboratories, industries and policymakers. This will make India Atmanirbhar Bharat in the hydrogen sector. It will greatly contribute to sustainability and provide a boost to the nation’s decarbonisation initiatives that target Net Zero by 2070. This Centre can accelerate the efforts to achieve these targets.”

The HTWO Innovation Centre builds on Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen brand and business platform, HTWO, leveraging its expertise across the entire hydrogen value chain from production to application, with a strong emphasis on localisation and public-private collaboration.

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Ampere, the two-wheeler brand from Greaves Electric Mobility, has rolled out a 5-year / 75,000km battery warranty on its flagship electric scooter – the Ampere Nexus.

The Ampere Nexus utilises a Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) battery, which is claimed to have around 110km of real-world range, top speed of 93 kmph.

It features best-in-class suspension, aerodynamics and an industry-fastest charging time of just 3 hours 22 minutes. The Ampere Nexus had undertaken a endurance run of plying over 10,000km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari ride, setting four national records.

The e-scooter is priced at INR 114,900 (ex-showroom) and also comes with lowest down payment and interest rate starting 6.99 percent.

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