Automotive component supplier Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., has announced a new investment of INR 3.45 billion (USD 42 million) to expand its automotive electronics manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, India. This commitment includes an immediate investment of INR 450 million and an additional INR 3  billion over the next three years to support advanced telematics and next-generation automotive connectivity programmes.

This latest funding brings Harman’s cumulative investments in the Pune plant to INR 5.54 billion (USD 67 million) since its inception in 2014. The expansion is expected to create 300 new jobs in Pune by 2027.

The expansion, inaugurated by CEO Christian Sobottka, adds 71,505 square feet of built-up area, boosting the plant's production capacity by 50 percent. By 2027, the facility is poised to deliver an annual output of 4 million car audio components, 1.4 million infotainment units and 800,000 million Telematics Control Units (TCUs).

The facility will now manufacture the Harman Ready Connect, a pre-developed, all-in-one Telematics Control Unit co-developed with Samsung. This commitment, the company states strengthens the Government of India’s vision to ‘Make in India, for the World’ by positioning the country as a hub for advanced automotive manufacturing.

The Pune plant supplies all major Indian OEMs, including Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra & Mahindra, alongside export customers in Europe and North America.

Christian Sobottka, CEO and President of Automotive, Harman, said, “This investment is a clear signal of our commitment to India. Pune is not just adding capacity - it’s building the future of connected cars. From 5G telematics to sustainable manufacturing, India’s talent and innovation strength make it central to Harman’s global automotive growth.”

The Pune facility also remains a leader in the company's sustainability journey. It currently uses on-site solar installations that generate over 317,000 KWh of electricity annually and is progressing toward 100 percent renewable electricity use by 2030.

Krishna Kumar, Managing Director & Automotive Head, Harman India, said: “India is where Harman designs, builds and exports the next generation of in-car experiences. From connected infotainment to immersive audio to telematics and connected safety solutions, our engineers here don’t just serve India - they serve the world. That’s why India sits at the heart of Harman’s global automotive strategy.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its automobile rake reached Pollachi Railway Terminal in Tamil Nadu, making it the first passenger vehicle manufacturer to dispatch vehicles by rail to the terminal.

The rake carried 120 vehicles, including Wagon R, Ertiga, Dzire and Celerio models, and departed from the Manesar in-plant railway siding on 18 August 2026.

Maruti Suzuki worked with Indian Railways to operationalise Pollachi Railway Terminal for rail-based vehicle dispatches. The location adds a destination in Southern India alongside Coimbatore.

The terminal enhances the ability of the company to serve customers across the region ahead of the Onam festival in Keralam. The facility can support 70 automobile rakes annually, enabling the delivery of 11,000 vehicles each year through railways.

Interestingly, the manufacturer adopted rail-based vehicle dispatches during FY 2014-15 to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and road congestion. The company increased the share of rail in outbound vehicle dispatches from 5 percent in FY 2014-15 to 26.5 percent in FY 2025-26, dispatching 3.2 million vehicles cumulatively via rail networks to date.

Maruti Suzuki India aims to increase the share of rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35 percent by FY 2030-31 to reinforce commitments to rail logistics.

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South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution has commenced operations at its 226-acre manufacturing facility in Lansing, Michigan. The site represents an investment exceeding USD 2 billion since 2022 and targets an annual production capacity of over 35 GWh at full scale.

The site produces lithium-iron phosphate battery cells for energy storage systems alongside nickel-manganese-cobalt cells for electric vehicles. The energy storage cells will be integrated by LG Energy Solution Vertech into equipment for grid and industrial uses, with energy supplier DTE Energy designated among the utility customers. The vehicle battery lines will supply nickel-manganese-cobalt cells to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky for installation in the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV.

The Lansing site currently employs 900 people, with headcount projected to reach 1,700 at capacity. The facility joins an existing manufacturing site in Holland, Michigan, as well as an engineering centre in Troy, bringing the company's total investment in the state to over USD 5 billion since 2010. The company plans to establish over 50 GWh of lithium-iron phosphate cell production capacity across North America across five operating and joint-venture plants.

Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, said, “Michigan is open for business and creating good-paying jobs building the future of cars, chips, and batteries. LG Energy Solution has called Michigan home for more than 20 years, and we’re proud to see that investment continue with the start of production at its Lansing facility. This project will create up to 1,700 good-paying jobs, helping more working families make it in Michigan. It’s part of our historic work to invest in clean energy, electric vehicle manufacturing, and battery storage in communities across Michigan. Let’s keep working together to grow Michigan’s economy, create opportunity, and build a bright future for our state.”

Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, stated, “Domestic battery production is foundational to America’s energy future – reducing dependence on foreign adversaries, driving good-paying American jobs and advancing the American Energy Dominance Agenda. Michigan is uniquely positioned to help lead this effort with its skilled workforce, manufacturing expertise and the industrial capabilities needed to strengthen America’s domestic battery supply chain. The Trump administration is thrilled to see these vital manufacturing jobs returning to the U.S. and remains committed to ensuring we have the capabilities to build the technologies of the future here at home.”

Sangwoo Hong, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago, said, “The Korea-U.S. alliance has evolved into a comprehensive strategic alliance including economic cooperation and cutting-edge technology. Today’s opening is a key milestone. The battery industry sits right at the heart of our shared strategic priorities. Michigan is a prime example of this strategic partnership. LG Energy Solution is expanding its presence across the United States. By growing from Holland to this new facility in Lansing, LG Energy Solution is solidifying Michigan’s position as a global hub for battery manufacturing.”

David Kim, CEO, LG Energy Solution, said, “Today marks a defining milestone for LG Energy Solution. Lansing will produce advanced batteries that support not only the future of mobility, but also America’s growing energy infrastructure and digital economy. We are strengthening America’s battery ecosystem, expanding our manufacturing footprint and reaffirming our long-term commitment to the United States.”

Dae-sik Choi, President, LG Energy Solution Michigan, said, “The state’s skilled workforce is a great fit for our high impact industry, and we expect to continue our partnership with Michigan well into the 21st century. The jobs at this facility pay well, offer great benefits and require creativity and problem solving at all levels. Unlike many other high-tech industries, battery making creates jobs for everyone, from hourly workers to advanced degree holders.”

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Epsilon Advanced Materials has received government approval for its Epsilon C2GR anode material project under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The scheme provides INR 1.45 billion in capital expenditure support, representing 25 percent of the project's capital investment. Epsilon stands as the single manufacturer approved for anode material production in this evaluation round. Across all product categories, the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme has cleared 106 projects representing INR 695.48 billion in total investment.

The sanctioned project focuses on establishing domestic production of graphite anode materials for lithium-ion battery cells used in electric mobility, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics. Epsilon has operationalised a customer qualification facility, EAM-ONE, located in Vijayanagar, Karnataka. The company plans to scale graphite anode manufacturing capacity to 30,000 tonnes per annum by 2028, with a targeted extension to 100,000 tonnes in a subsequent phase.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Group, said, “The project approval under ECMS is an important recognition of Epsilon’s efforts to develop indigenous graphite anode technology and manufacturing capabilities in India. Building a resilient battery ecosystem requires ownership of technology, intellectual property, R&D and process know-how. This support will help accelerate our scale-up and strengthen India’s domestic battery materials value chain. We remain committed to contributing to the Government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by building globally competitive critical battery materials from India.”

Epsilon's research framework incorporates testing across coin-cell, pouch-cell, and multi-layer pouch-cell formats to facilitate material customisation. The company holds 43 patent filings covering process, product, and equipment technologies, with plans for 50 additional intellectual property filings through 2030 to support domestic supply chain integration.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has concluded Environment Month 2026, an initiative focused on resource recycling and emissions reductions across its supply chain.

The programme involved over 13,600 workforce members, suppliers, dealership partners and community members under the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 framework.

The company recorded a reduction of 3,005-tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions, with internal operations contributing 895 tonnes and supply partners accounting for 2,110 tonnes. Water conservation efforts yielded savings of 16,806 kilolitres across operations and suppliers. Waste reduction measures removed 231 tonnes of material from disposal streams, alongside reductions in plastic and paper usage across the dealership network. In addition, manufacturing updates reduced volatile organic compound emissions by 3.19 grams per square metre, while dealership locations recorded 255 megawatt-hours in electricity savings.

The automaker introduced compressed biogas as a fuel source for cooking facilities, yielding an estimated reduction of 980 tonnes in carbon emissions. Internal programmes included eco-driving sessions for 1,700 employees, community tree planting projects resulting in 89,000 saplings and the ‘Hasiru Santhe’ exhibition showcasing recycling applications such as converting cotton waste into felt and copper scrap into valve components.

B. Padmanabha, Senior Executive Vice-President and Director of Manufacturing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "Environment Month 2026 demonstrated that sustainability thrives through collective action and shared responsibility across the entire value chain. The measurable outcomes we achieved—from carbon reductions to waste elimination—prove that when employees, families, suppliers, and communities align around environmental commitment, transformation is possible. This month was not just about awareness; it was about embedding circular thinking and resource consciousness into how we operate and live."

The initiative forms part of the automaker's ongoing environmental programmes, including the Toyota Green Wave Project, which monitors plant and animal species at company sites and the Ecozone educational programme for schools.

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