EKA (Pinnacle Mobility Solutions) has announced that Mitsui & Co (Mitsui), a global trading and investment company, has executed a second tranche investment as a part of the initially announced phased investment, further solidifying their commitment to the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) company. 

The strategic infusion of capital will be directed towards capital expenditures (Capex) and working capital, supporting EKA Mobility’s continued expansion and innovation in the EV sector. This tranche also establishes an attractive valuation benchmark for the company and is testimony to the rapid growth that EKA is witnessing. 

In December 2023, EKA, Mitsui & VDL Groep entered into a strategic long-term partnership, that included joint investments of $100 million (INR 8.5 billion) in phases, equity, and technology cooperation to create a leading global OEM in India. This is one of the largest and most significant partnerships in the new mobility segment globally. Under the cooperation, EKA Mobility will receive significant and strategic investments from Mitsui, and technological support & equity partnership from VDL Groep, a leading Dutch technology and manufacturing company. As part of this partnership, VDL Bus & Coach, a subsidiary of VDL Groep and Europe’s frontrunner in electric buses & coaches will support EKA Mobility by transfer-of-technology to produce electric buses in India for the Indian market. 

Earlier this year, Mitsui invested its maiden tranche in EKA which propelled the company to establish one of the largest R&D centres in the country for electric commercial vehicles, new product development, and expanding its export footprints. The second tranche will support EKA Mobility's manufacturing capabilities, accelerate new product development, expand market reach, and provide working capital. The investment will strengthen the company’s financial base to support day-to-day operations, supply chain optimisation, and market expansion initiatives.

Hiroshi Takeuchi, Deputy General Manager of Mobility Business Unit 1 of Mitsui said, “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with EKA Mobility through the investment of this second tranche. EKA Mobility has demonstrated strong growth and innovation in the EV space, and we are excited to support their continued success. We look forward to utilising Mitsui's global network to promote exporting EKA's competitive products to overseas markets. This investment aligns with Mitsui's strategic focus on sustainable and forward-looking industries, and we are confident that EKA Mobility will play a pivotal role in the future of transportation."

Headquartered in Pune, India, Eka has been at the forefront of the commercial electric mobility revolution, developing a range of electric buses in 7-metre, 9-metre and 12-metre categories, intercity coaches, and a range of electric light commercial vehicles. EKA is also one of the commercial vehicle manufacturers approved under the Government of India’s Auto PLI policy. 

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder of EKA (Pinnacle Mobility Solutions) said, "We are immensely grateful to Mitsui & VDL Groep for their unwavering confidence and sustained investment in EKA Mobility. The continued investment support will enable us to accelerate our growth trajectory, bring innovative EV solutions to market faster, and further our mission to create a sustainable and green transportation ecosystem. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Mitsui & VDL."

At present, the company’s order book has significantly grown to over 1,000 electric buses and more than 5,000 electric light commercial vehicles. 

Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Bank to provide finance facilities for its M&HCV dealers.

Through the cooperation, Ashok Leyland's M&HCV dealers will have easier access to finance solutions, enabling them to improve company operations and effectively manage their working capital. Dealers may grow their operations with ease thanks to Indian Bank's customised financing alternatives, which offer better liquidity, quicker loan approvals and competitive interest rates. This partnership underscores Ashok Leyland's dedication to empowering its dealer network and promoting sustainable growth in the commercial vehicle sector by guaranteeing increased financial flexibility.

C Neelakantan, Head of Treasury and Direct Taxation at Ashok Leyland, and Saurabh Dalmia, Head of Cash Management at Indian Bank, signed the MoU in the presence of Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head of MHCV at Ashok Leyland, Ashutosh Choudhury, Executive Director, Roopali Singh, DGM-CMS Vertical, and Munash Dalal, AGM-CMS Vertical, who were representatives from Indian Bank.

Balaji K M, CFO, Ashok Leyland, said, “Ashok Leyland is delighted to partner with Indian Bank to offer customised finance solutions to our valued M&HCV dealers. With Indian Bank’s expansive network of 5,880 branches across India, we can cater to our dealers in every region. This strategic partnership will strengthen Ashok Leyland's market position. We remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our customers.”

Madhavi Deshmukh, National Sales Head – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “The strategic collaboration with Indian Bank will deliver exceptional financing solutions to our valued dealers, extending our market reach and reinforcing our commitment to innovation and partner success. This partnership will provide tailored financing solutions designed to meet the unique requirements of our dealers. We remain dedicated to fostering long-lasting relationship with our dealer network.”

Ashutosh Choudhury, Executive Director, Indian Bank, said, “Indian Bank is pleased to partner with Ashok Leyland to provide their dealers seamless and tailored financing solutions. This collaboration reaffirms our commitment to supporting the diverse financial requirements of businesses in the commercial vehicle sector. With Indian Bank’s best-in-class processes, we are confident that more dealers will benefit from this partnership, enabling them to scale their operations and drive business growth.”

Ashok Leyland, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, has inaugurated its 22nd Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) dealership in Uttar Pradesh. The new 3S facility located in Chunar, Mirzapur will further strengthen the company’s presence in North India.

The company’s LCV portfolio includes Saathi, Dost, Bada Dost, Partner and MiTR targeted for a wide range of customers and applications.

Viplav Shah, Head – LCV Business, Ashok Leyland, said, “Recognising immense potential of Uttar Pradesh as a key market for us, we are thrilled to strengthen our presence in the region. Our new dealership in Chunar (Mirzapur) would go a long way in reinforcing our presence in the state. The phenomenal success of our ‘Dost’, ‘Bada Dost,’ and the new ‘Saathi’ range underscores the robustness of our products - thanks to their best-in-class mileage, superior performance, and higher payloads. We take immense pride in our exceptional service retention levels, with nearly 70% of our customers returning to our dealer workshops even beyond the warranty period. This new dealership marks yet another milestone in our journey to provide the best possible experience to our valued customers.”

Ashok Leyland, one of the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nagaland Rural Bank for a strategic vehicle financing partnership. The partnership will see Ashok Leyland get access to customised financial solutions from Nagaland Rural Bank.

The MoU was signed by C Neelakantan, Head -Treasury and Direct Taxation, Ashok Leyland and Velayutham Sadhasivam, Chairman, Nagaland Rural Bank.

Balaji K M, CFO, Ashok Leyland, said, “At Ashok Leyland, we are dedicated to continuously enhancing customer experience and delivering greater value in our products and services. Nagaland Rural Bank is a regional rural bank with a strong presence in the state. With this partnership in place, our customers in the region will have access to comprehensive financing solutions with specially curated easy repayment plans”.

Sanjeev Kumar, President – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “Ashok Leyland is looking forward to collaborating with Nagaland Rural Bank to offer our customers highly attractive financing solutions. This strategic partnership not only strengthens our market presence but also reinforces our commitment to innovation and customer success. With cutting-edge technology and industry-leading total cost of ownership, our products are designed to drive profitability and value for our customers. We remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver exceptional customer experience and build long lasting relationships.”

Velayutham Sadhasivam added, “Nagaland Rural Bank is delighted to collaborate with Ashok Leyland to provide seamless vehicle financing solutions. This partnership underscores our commitment to meeting the diverse financial needs of commercial vehicle customers across the state. We are confident that this alliance will help us expand our reach and offer customized financing options, fostering the growth of businesses in the commercial vehicle sector.”

Eicher Trucks & Buses, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles, has announced that it successfully hosted the second Woman Transporters Delegation at its Bhopal plant.

The event saw women leaders in the transport industry exchange ideas, share insights and explore new business opportunities. The discussion revolved around a wide range of topics such as digitisation, alternative fuels and intelligent mobility solutions that provide challenges and opportunities.

The women leaders were given an exclusive tour of Eicher’s Bhopal plant, an interactive session with VECV Executive Management and test drive experience.

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VECV, said, “At Eicher Trucks and Buses, we firmly believe that inclusivity and diversity strengthen businesses and drives growth. Technology and digital solutions are transforming the industry, making businesses smarter and more efficient. While we are taking steps to improve diversity and inclusion internally through initiatives like an all-woman assembly line in Bhopal, we thank you for working with us to foster innovative approaches in the commercial vehicle industry."

Bhagwan K Bindiganavile, EVP, Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, added, “The Indian CV industry is transforming rapidly, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Seven Cs for mobility solutions: Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting-edge. We appreciated the women leaders focus on balancing the new technologies making logistics more efficient with a people-first approach.”

SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VECV; B Srinivas, COO, Eicher Trucks and Buses; Ramesh Rajagopalan, EVP, Customer Service, Retail Excellence and Network Development and Vimal Mulchandani, EVP- Manufacturing Operation, Eicher Trucks & Buses & Volvo Buses also engaged with the women transporters delegation.