Volkswagen Group Components has announced its commencement of production of electric drives at its Tianjin factory in China. The facility will be producing the APP 310 drive on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). This component will be used in the Volkswagen ID.41 variants produced by the joint venture partners FAW (ID.4 CROZZ2) and SAIC (ID.4 X2). The Group’s future MEB models for China will also be supplied locally. The main factory for electric drives at Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel produces the APP 310 motor for current and future MEB models in Europe and North America.
Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, said, “With the start of production on the APP 310 at our components site in Tianjin, we are accelerating the electric mobility movement not only in the regional market but also for the Group as a whole. Our presence in the key markets enables us to react flexibly and efficiently to the needs of our customers. In this way, Volkswagen Group Components is making a major contribution to the Group’s electrification campaign.”

Automatic gearboxes have been produced at the Tianjin component plant since 2012. Following the ramp-up of the DQ400e hybrid engine and the APP 290 electric drive, the APP 310 represents the next milestone in the transformation to electric mobility. The permanent magnet synchronous machine with the drive and gearbox parallel to the axles has an output of up to 150 kW (204 PS) with a maximum torque of 310 Nm. The two component plants at Kassel and Tianjin are working closely together on the industrialisation process for the new product. At present, the technical capacity installed at both sites corresponds to up to 880,000 electric drives per year. Production is to be expanded by up to 1.4 million electric drives as early as 2023. It will make the company one of the largest producers of electric drives in the world. (MT) 

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Bharatsure, an insurance technology start-up focussing on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solution, has raised INR 60 million from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) and other investors including Capital A and Atrium Angels. The start-up is focusing on providing health security and insurance penetration by partnering with seamless group and embedded insurance distribution solutions firms.

The company has also announced a new partnership with Battery Smart, a leading battery swapping network company focussing on two-wheelers and three-wheelers to provide natural calamity insurance exclusively for its EV station partners. The idea is to provide coverage against incidents such as fires, floods, earthquakes and storms alongside personal accident coverages to individuals.

Bharatsure shared that it has doubled its revenues in FY2025, breaking even at CM3 and is progressing toward EBITDA profitability end-FY206. It is targetting INR 1 billion in revenue by FY2028 and INR 10 billion by FY2034.

Mitesh Shah, Co-founder, IPV, said, “As India moves towards a greener and sustainable future with the widespread adoption of EVs, and the infrastructure that supports it, it is time that we adapt our insurance frameworks to suit the changing needs. Bharatsure’s futuristic mindset and farsight offers financial protection and peace of mind in the face of unexpected events. In a world that doesn’t always go according to plan, insurance doesn’t just offer protection, it also carries the burden of social responsibility.”

Anuj Parekh, Co-Founder & CEO, Bharatsure, said, “These station partners play a frontline role in advancing sustainable mobility, and we’re proud to design coverage that genuinely addresses their needs. The funding allows us to further develop our infrastructure too.” 

Sumi Jain, AVP – Network Strategy and Operations, Battery Smart, said, “Our station partners are at the heart of our operations. This insurance partnership is not just about protecting assets, it’s about empowering the individuals who are driving India’s EV revolution. Together with Bharatsure, we are fortifying the backbone of our network.” 

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JSW Group, a leading business conglomerate in India, is said to have inked a pact with China-based automotive brand Chery Automobile, as per a report by Bloomberg.

The report stated that, as per the agreement, JSW will pay a one-time technology transfer fee and royalties to Chery for its passenger vehicle technology. Furthermore, JSW will utilise the technology and launch a new EV brand in India by 2027.

At present, JSW Group holds 39 percent stake in MG Motor India and has been looking to further raise its stake in the company. It also aims to expand its presence in the automotive industry in not only passenger vehicle and electric vehicle segment, but also enter the commercial vehicle segment.

Bloomberg News further stated that Chery and JSW had disputed the accuracy of the news report but acknowledged that the pact was providing components.

JSW furthermore said that the ‘core technology will be developed in-house with the help of companies such as KPIT Technologies and LTIMindtree.’

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to support startups in the automobile and mobility sectors.

The partnership aims to leverage Maruti Suzuki's industry expertise and infrastructure to help startups recognised under DPIIT's 'Startup India' initiative. Selected startups will gain access to mentorship, business insights and a platform to validate their technologies. They will also be connected with incubators, accelerators and investors to help them scale their solutions.

This collaboration is a significant step towards reinforcing the government’s 'Startup India' and 'Make in India' initiatives.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “India is home to a vibrant and growing startup ecosystem. Through this partnership with DPIIT, we will be able to further accelerate our efforts to support promising startups to create technology-led solutions in the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. This collaboration is a step forward in our commitment to the Government’s ‘Startup India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives. We thank DPIIT for partnering with us in this initiative.”

Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, said, "Maruti Suzuki’s legacy of innovation, scale and deep industry knowledge makes it a vital partner for India’s startup ecosystem. This MoU is a step towards creating a robust platform for startups to transform ideas into market-ready mobility and manufacturing solutions, reinforcing India’s leadership in next-gen industrial innovation."

Md. Alam Ansari, Deputy Director, Startup India, DPIIT, said, "Our partnership with Maruti Suzuki reflects DPIIT’s commitment to nurturing high-impact startup engagement in the mobility and manufacturing space. We look forward to enabling startups with the support they need to succeed at scale, both in India and globally."

Maruti Suzuki has been actively engaged in the startup ecosystem for six years, screening over 5,220 startups and partnering with 28 to date through its various innovation programs.

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Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM) has launched what it claims is the world’s first carbon credit methodology for recycling end-of-life vehicles (ELVs)in partnership with global certification body Cercarbono. The methodology was unveiled during the Asia Climate Summit.

The new framework, titled Recovery and Recycling of Materials from End-of-Life Vehicles, enables carbon credit generation through structured dismantling and recycling of materials such as metals, plastics, and glass. The recycled outputs replace virgin raw materials, reducing emissions and promoting circularity within a certified climate finance structure. The formula was unveiled in association with Cercarbono, a leading global environmental project certification standard during the Asia Climate Summit.

MMCM is a joint venture between NCDEX e-Markets (NeML) and MTC Group. The methodology forms part of Cercarbono’s Carbon Programme and covers eligible materials such as aluminium, steel, copper, plastics (ABS, PET, PP, etc.) and container glass cullet.

Nitin Chitkara, CEO, MMCM, said, “his milestone is deeply personal for all of us at MMCM. What started as a bold idea, rooted in Indian innovation was shaped and strengthened by the many hands and minds who believed in its potential. As we converge efforts towards building circular and low-carbon economies, this is a pivotal moment for us to present Made-In-India as a standardised methodology on a global forum, carrying the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose. Our partners, Cercarbona, played a crucial role in refining every layer of the methodology, making it not just technically sound but globally relevant and ready to implement. With the launch of the ‘Recovery and Recycling of Materials from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs),’ we’re introducing a formula that is a practical, proven path to circularity.”

Yashodhan Ramteke, Carbon BU Head at MMCM, said, “The official release of the ELV Carbon Credit Methodology marks a breakthrough for the automotive industry. These credits are not just high-integrity, they come directly from the OEMs’ own end-of-life vehicle value chain. By enabling measurable emission reductions from the recovery, dismantling and recycling of vehicles, this methodology empowers auto companies to take real ownership of their Scope 3 emissions. It’s a practical, circular and scalable climate solution built for the sector – by the sector.”

Alex Saer, CEO of Cercarbono, said “This methodology delivers a concrete response to the growing challenge of vehicle waste. By enabling carbon finance for regulated recycling systems, we not only reduce emissions but also prevent the environmental harm caused by uncontrolled scrapping practices. It’s a climate solution rooted in circularity and equity.”

The methodology applies to Climate Change Mitigation Projects (CCMPs) operating in Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and supports both greenfield and expansion initiatives. It calculates emissions reductions by comparing recycled material emissions with baseline emissions from virgin production. Only materials transformed into chemically and functionally equivalent substitutes are eligible.

It includes conditions for compliance, traceability, monitoring, exclusion of informal-sector practices, and certification under Cercarbono’s EcoRegistry platform.

ELVs are a rising source of industrial waste, often dismantled in informal scrapyards lacking proper infrastructure, which can lead to pollution from hazardous substances. The new approach provides a regulated, accountable alternative.

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