The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the apex body for the forging sector, successfully concluded its National Annual Convention in Pune, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to strategise on the future of the Indian forging industry.

The landmark event focused on charting a clear growth roadmap, exploring opportunities amidst global supply chain disruptions and analysing the evolving outlook for both Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).

In his inaugural address, Yash Munot, President, AIFI, emphasised the industry’s need to balance the dual imperatives of sustainability and competitiveness. "India’s automotive and mobility sectors are undergoing unprecedented transformation. At AIFI, we firmly believe that collaboration across industry, academia and policymakers is the key to shaping a resilient future," he stated.

A core theme of the convention was the delicate balance between the EV transition and the continuing relevance of ICE technology in India.

Dr K C Vora of NAMTECH delivered a keynote on the ‘Future of EV & ICE in Indian Scenario,’ highlighting the critical role of EV adoption, supported by policies like FAME II, while stressing the need for continued optimisation of ICE platforms given India's diverse mobility ecosystem.

The second keynote by Prenayan Kaul of PwC focused on navigating global supply chain disruptions, urging forging companies to leverage technology-driven efficiencies and tap into new growth areas to counter headwinds like raw material volatility.

A major highlight of the convention was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AIFI and Hexagon. This strategic partnership aims to advance digitalisation and smart manufacturing capabilities within the forging sector, a move AIFI President Munot cited as a testament to the commitment to global competitiveness.

A dynamic panel discussion on ‘Current Industry Scenario - Trends, Opportunities & Challenges,’ moderated by S Muralishankar, further reinforced the importance of resilience, innovation and collaborative growth in tackling current industry trends and governmental policies.

The convention concluded with a reaffirmation of AIFI's mission to strengthen the sector’s role as a vital contributor to India’s economic growth, aligning actively with national priorities such as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the transition towards sustainable mobility.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has reached a new production milestone with the rollout of the one-millionth TVS iQube electric scooter from its manufacturing facility in Hosur.

This achievement, reached six years after the model's 2020 launch, highlights the adoption of electric two-wheelers in the Indian market.

The company said that the iQube community has achieved significant metrics since the model’s introduction, including covering 14.94 billion kilometres, 522,969 tonnes of CO2 saved, which translates to nearly plantation of 20.9 million trees.

The iQube portfolio has expanded since 2020 to include various battery capacities, range options and connectivity features. TVS Motor Co has supported this growth through a service and sales network consisting of more than 3,300 touchpoints across 3,000 cities.

Sudarshan Venu, Chairman, TVS Motor Company, said, “The rollout of one million TVS iQubes reflects the scale at which electric mobility is becoming part of everyday life in India. The milestone is built on years of investment in engineering, innovation and manufacturing capabilities that have enabled us to build world-class electric mobility solutions designed and manufactured in India for the world.”

The company credits this milestone to its focus on in-house R&D and manufacturing, noting that the iQube serves as a central element of its strategy to support India's transition to sustainable, self-reliant mobility.

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Solaris, a leading European bus manufacturer, has opened a production hall in Sroda Wielkopolska, which further supplements the company’s manufacturing operations, including a welding plant established in the area in 1998.

The 7,000-square-metre facility is dedicated to the assembly of city buses. Previously, this stage occurred only in Bolechowo, but production will now take place at both sites. This development increases production capacity by 500 vehicles per year, bringing the firm closer to a target of 2,000 vehicles annually. The project has created 300 jobs, with additional roles generated in the supply chain.

In 2025, Solaris delivered 1,631 vehicles, of which 86 percent were battery-electric, hydrogen or trolleybus models.

The company is supplying the buses to its customers in the United States and Canada and plans to further expand its intercity bus range in Europe.

Agata Standa, CEO, Solaris, said, “We are investing in expanding our production capacity and product portfolio to meet the growing demand for sustainable transport in Europe and in new markets.”

Solaris has secured 47 hectares of land in Sroda Wielkopolska for a second facility dedicated to intercity buses, which is scheduled to reach operational status in 2029.

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Chinese new energy vehicle company NIO has announced that on 22 June 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) officially designated NIO Factory Two (NIO F2) as a member of its Global Lighthouse Network (GLN). This recognition highlights NIO’s success in deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies at scale.

The WEF selection process, conducted in partnership with McKinsey & Company, evaluated NIO F2 on its ability to integrate advanced digital and AI-driven systems. NIO was specifically recognised for:

• Integrated Ecosystem: Developing a real-time, closed-loop system that connects in-vehicle AI, battery swap networks and a digital twin platform.
• Operational Efficiency: The factory manages over 3.6 million vehicle configurations, which has successfully accelerated speed-to-market by 44 percent.
• R&D Automation: The implementation of advanced systems has allowed for the automation of 90 percent of R&D workflows.
• AI-Driven Decision Making: Approximately 80 percent of manufacturing scenarios at the facility are now supported by AI-driven decision-making, leveraging a mix of industrial AI algorithms and in-house developed foundation models.

NIO F2 is a fully digitalised smart factory located in the Xinqiao Industrial Park. Prior to this international recognition, the site earned several domestic accolades, including the National Green Factory awarded by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Super Automotive Factory designated by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC).

Beyond its technical achievements, the factory maintains an open-engagement policy. Since 2018, NIO’s assembly plants have hosted nearly 300,000 global visitors, aiming to showcase the advancements in China’s intelligent manufacturing ecosystem.

NIO intends to use the GLN standards as a benchmark for its future manufacturing systems, continuing the integration of AI to set new standards in intelligent EV production.

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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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