The Indian aluminium industry is seeking duty adjustments on imports and input material used in aluminium production to secure domestic market and drive investments in run up to Budget 2025. Leading industry associations, including the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) and the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), have separately submitted their pre-budget recommendations to the Ministry of Finance (Government of India), urging policy changes to strengthen India’s aluminium industry.

As India strives towards becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, the associations emphasise aluminium's vital role in economic growth, with extensive applications across defence, infrastructure, electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Stating that the surge in primary aluminium and low-grade scrap imports, particularly from countries with excess capacity like China, has disrupted the domestic market and deterred investment in local production, the AAI has suggested raising of import duties on primary aluminium from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent; from 7.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent in the case of downstream aluminium, and to set aluminium scrap duties at 7.5 percent to curb low-quality scrap inflow and support domestic recycling efforts.

FIMI has called for an increase in primary/downstream aluminium import duties to 12.5 percent along with raising aluminium scrap duties from 2.5 percent to 7.5 percent or higher.

Of the opinion that high duties on essential raw materials have created an inverted duty structure, adding costs for domestic aluminium producers, sources close to the aluminium industry in the country have expressed that a reduction in custom duty on several materials could help to address this.

GIMI has also recommended reduction of customs duty on several materials such as Calcined Petroleum Coke from 7.5 percent to 2.5 percent; to eliminate the duty on Caustic Soda Lye and to lower Aluminium Fluoride duty to 2.5 percent.

By rationalising these input tariffs, the industry could reduce production costs by up to 17 percent, bringing Indian aluminium production closer to global cost standards and enhancing its competitiveness.

The aluminium industry is also impacted by high energy costs due to the GST Compensation Cess of INR 400 per metric tonne on coal.

FIMI has recommended removing this ‘cess’ or allowing it as an offset against green compliance costs, which would reduce operational costs and support the industry’s shift towards sustainable practices.

India holds a strategic advantage with the world’s seventh-largest bauxite reserves and fifth-largest coal reserves. Yet, despite India’s per capita aluminium consumption remaining low at 3 kg per annum, well below the global average of 12 kg. The industry faces significant hurdles in attracting fresh investments despite the domestic demand projected to reach 10 MTPA by 2030. While the industry has already invested over US $20 billion to expand capacity to 4.2 MTPA, an additional US $40 billion will be required over the next six years that will help meet rising demand.

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EKA Mobility, a leading Indian electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, has announced the rollout of its 1,000th small commercial vehicle (SCV) from its manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.

Backed by global and domestic investors – including VDL Groep (Netherlands), Mitsui & Co. (Japan), NIIF India-Japan Fund, and Enam Holdings – the company operates as a Champion OEM under the Government of India's Auto PLI Scheme.

To mark the milestone, EKA Mobility organised two high-profile vehicle handovers highlighting local community integration and international diplomatic ties:

• Local Delivery: The 1,000th vehicle, an EKA 6S, was officially presented to the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Trust, one of Pune’s prominent charitable institutions. The EKA 6S is India's first steering-wheel passenger electric three-wheeler featuring a driver plus six-seater capacity configuration. The trust will deploy the EV within its community service and humanitarian operations.
• International Diplomatic Delivery: The company handed over an EKA 3S electric three-wheeler to Marisa Gerards, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India. The handover highlights EKA's bilateral connection with the Netherlands, which is home to its strategic engineering and industrial partner, VDL Groep.

The Chakan plant serves as EKA Mobility's primary industrial hub for SCV and truck production. It currently has an installed production capacity of 24,000 commercial vehicles per year. The site employs more than 1,000 people and features an on-site research and development centre staffed by over 400 engineers and designers.

Under its EvolutioNARI initiative, EKA Mobility has established an all-women-led assembly line specifically dedicated to its SCV production, focusing on diversity within the automotive manufacturing sector.

Furthermore, EKA Mobility is currently the only domestic OEM offering a full-stack commercial EV portfolio spanning three-wheelers, SCVs, buses and trucks. The company's assembly footprint is scaling across three distinct locations – Chakan, Pune, plant has an annual capacity to manufacture 24,000 SCVs and trucks. Koregaon, Pune, can manufacture 15,000 e-buses and upcoming Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh, which will have a combined manufacturing capacity of 4,000 buses.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, said, “The 1,000th SCV rolling off our Chakan facility is not merely a production number; it is proof of what Indian engineering, innovation, and determination can achieve. It reflects years of perseverance and a shared belief that India can emerge as a global leader in sustainable mobility through world-class products designed and manufactured at home. As we celebrate this achievement on World Environment Day, we are reminded that our purpose extends beyond manufacturing vehicles. We are building solutions that help businesses operate more sustainably, reduce environmental impact, improve everyday mobility, and contribute to a cleaner future for generations to come.”

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Servotech Renewable Power System has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Haryana Enterprises Promotion Centre (HEPC), Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Haryana. The agreement outlines a proposed investment of approximately INR 4 billion to expand its manufacturing and warehousing operations within the state.

The proposed CAPEX will be deployed in a phased manner over the next 24 to 36 months. The expansion targets several clean-technology and power segments that have been identified as core thrust areas under the state's new industrial policy.

The investment will scale Servotech's manufacturing capacity across electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar products, battery packs, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and power electronics.

While the company is currently evaluating specific site locations within Haryana, the capacity expansion is intended to scale overall production volumes, improve operational efficiencies, deepen import substitution, and support growing domestic and export market demand. Under the terms of the MoU, the Haryana Government, via the HEPC, will provide single-window facilitation support and ease-of-doing-business assistance to streamline project implementation.

The project is projected to generate around 500 direct and indirect employment opportunities, contributing to Haryana's industrial and economic growth.

The MoU was finalised in the presence of the Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, during the official launch of the ‘Make in Haryana’ Industrial Policy 2026 in Gurugram on 1 June 2026. The event also introduced a compendium of nine separate sectoral policies designed to attract industrial and clean-energy investments to the state.

Raman Bhatia, MD, Servotech Renewable Power System, said, “We are delighted to partner with the Government of Haryana. Haryana has emerged as one of India’s most progressive investment destinations, and the launch of the Make in Haryana Industrial Policy 2026 reinforces the state’s commitment to industrial growth, clean-energy manufacturing and innovation. Our proposed INR 4 billion investment aligns with Servotech’s long-term vision of scaling renewable energy manufacturing capabilities and is a meaningful step towards our stated ambition of reaching INR 15 billion in revenue by FY2027. We believe this collaboration will strengthen our operational footprint and contribute to Haryana’s clean-energy ambitions and broader economic development.”

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It was in February 2024, Vietnam-based VinFast announced its plans to build an integrated electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, India. The facility spread across 400 acres would see an initial investment of USD 500 million over five years with a projected capacity to manufacture 150,000 vehicles annually. 

In August 2025, the company officially inaugurated its facility, which made the Tamil Nadu plant its third operational plant and the fifth project in its global manufacturing network.

And now in a matter of 10-months, the Vietnamese automaker has rolled out its 10,000^th made-in-India vehicle from its Tamil Nadu facility. The milestone was reached less than one year following the official inauguration of the manufacturing facility.

At present, the automaker has introduced three models for the Indian market – VF 6, VF 7 and VF MPV 7. It is also looking to introduce electric scooters and electric buses in India this year.

According to the company, the achievement highlights its team's capability and its ongoing commitment to developing sustainable mobility infrastructure within the Indian automotive market.

VinFast states that with the Tamil Nadu plant on stream, it is now moving closer to its sales target of 200,000 vehicles and its long-term production goal of 1 million vehicles per year by 2030.

Also read: Pham Nhat Quan Anh Succeeds Le Thi Thu Thuy As Chairman Of VinFast Auto

Amit Arora Joins VinFast India As Director O2O Sales

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JSW MG Motor India has started production of the MG Majestor, its D+ segment sport utility vehicle (SUV), at its manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat.

The SUV features a four-wheel-drive (4WD) system and triple differential locks to manage traction and control across terrain conditions. It is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine paired with an electronic drivetrain and includes advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for vehicle safety and control.

Pre-reservations for the vehicle have opened at a price of INR 41,000 on the company's website, with early customers receiving priority delivery timelines and vehicle previews.

The Halol assembly plant utilises automated manufacturing processes and quality control systems to handle the assembly of the vehicle's chassis, body panel alignment and mechanical components.

To support the vehicle rollout, the carmaker is introducing its ownership programme, which includes a 5-year unlimited-kilometre warranty package, 5-year roadside assistance service contract and 5 labour-free scheduled maintenance services.

Biju Balendran, Deputy MD, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The commencement of production of the MG Majestor marks a significant step for us as we move closer to introducing a new benchmark in the premium SUV space. With the Majestor, we are bringing together strong engineering, advanced capability and a commanding presence, aligned to the evolving expectations of customers. Built at our Halol facility with advanced processes and stringent quality systems, the Majestor is engineered to deliver high standards of durability, performance and reliability. We are confident it will resonate strongly with customers looking for both capability and refinement in their next SUV.”

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