Author: Michael Khan

Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal as Chief Executive Officer of its Indian subsidiary, Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Limited, signalling a stronger local commitment as the U.S. electric vehicle maker looks to revive momentum in a key emerging market. According to a report by Bloomberg, Agarwal joins Tesla from Mahindra & Mahindra-owned two-wheeler brand Classic Legends, where he served as Chief Business Officer for just over a year. Before that, he led Lamborghini’s India operations for nearly nine years, tripling the luxury marque’s sales during his tenure, and earlier headed sales at Audi India. See also: Tesla Upgrades Model…

Mobileye has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VVDN Technologies to localize and prepare next-generation advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for production in India. The collaboration is intended to strengthen India’s “Made-in-India” automotive capabilities and support export-ready vehicle platforms. Under the partnership, Mobileye will provide expertise in ADAS products and systems, while VVDN will handle local engineering, validation, and manufacturing. See also: Mobileye Moves From Pilots To Scalable Autonomy With EyeQ6H Chips And MaaS Partnerships The focus will be on platforms based on Mobileye’s EyeQ™ chips and associated sensors, with VVDN responsible for production readiness and testing to meet Indian…

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in India more than doubled in the first half of the 2025-26 fiscal year, signaling a rapid expansion of the sector even as growth plateaus in many Western markets. According to The Times of India, citing data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), 91,726 EVs were sold between April and September 2025, up 108% from 44,172 units in the same period a year earlier. The increase in sales has brought India close to surpassing its total EV sales for FY2025, which stood at approximately 110,000 units. See also: India’s CESL to Invite Bids for…

Seyond Holdings, a LiDAR supplier for Nio, is facing a patent infringement lawsuit from rival Hesai Group, potentially complicating its upcoming Hong Kong listing. The case was filed on October 28 with the Ningbo Intermediate People’s Court in Zhejiang province, according to a report by local media outlet Yicai. The lawsuit focuses on Seyond’s Robin E1X LiDAR, unveiled at CES 2025, and Hesai’s AT series products, the source said. Seyond’s flagship Falcon LiDAR is already deployed across all Nio main-brand models. The Falcon uses a hybrid solid-state 2D scanning solution with a 1,550-nanometer wavelength, providing a maximum detection range of…

India’s state-run Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) will issue a tender next week to procure 10,900 electric buses under the National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP), as part of efforts to expand zero-emission public transport across key cities. The tender, set to open on November 6, 2025, will cover several major urban centres including Hyderabad, Surat, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Bengaluru, local media reported. The allocation plan assigns around 2,000 buses to Hyderabad, 1,600 to Surat and Ahmedabad combined, 2,800 to Delhi, and 4,500 to Bengaluru. See also: JBM Ecolife Mobility Secures $100 Million From IFC To Expand Electric Bus Fleet In…

Indian logistics startup SwitchLabs is expanding its electric truck operations with plans to add 52 new heavy-duty vehicles to its fleet by November, as part of a long-term effort to promote low-emission transport solutions for industrial clients. The company will operate the trucks under contracts lasting eight to ten years, serving customers in the cement, power, steel, and chemical sectors. The first batch includes two Tata Prima E.55S electric bulkers, which have already been deployed at JK Lakshmi Cement’s Durg plant in Chhattisgarh to transport fly ash. The Prima E.55S EV, developed by Tata Motors, is a 55-tonne 4×2 electric…

Indian cold supply chain solutions provider Celcius Logistics said it will expand its electric vehicle fleet by adding 350 electric reefer trucks, as part of a new business vertical called “Celcius Green” dedicated to sustainable logistics. The company, which claims to be India’s first large-scale operator of electric reefer trucks, has already deployed 100 units and aims to roll out the remaining 250 vehicles by March 2026. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Switch Mobility, a manufacturer of electric buses and light commercial vehicles, to supply the new trucks. See also: Switch Mobility Begins Deliveries Of 950…

Harbinger, a manufacturer of medium-duty electric and hybrid vehicles, has expanded its operations into Canada, making its full lineup available across all provinces and territories. The move positions the company to support fleet operators in meeting Canada’s increasingly stringent zero-emission vehicle mandates. The initial launch focuses on electric step vans, with additional vehicle variants planned for delivery vans, walk-in trucks, municipal fleets, and emergency response applications. Vehicles are available through Safetek Specialty Vehicles, and federal and provincial incentives through Canada’s iMHZEV program can provide up to CAD 100,000 per vehicle. See also: Harbinger Taps Panasonic Energy as Exclusive Battery Supplier…

DP World has expanded its fleet of electric internal terminal vehicles (eITVs) at Jebel Ali Port from 14 to 146 units, forming one of the largest electric port fleets in the Middle East. The vehicles are used to transport containers between quay cranes, yard stacks and terminal gates. The expansion includes 35 diesel-powered vehicles converted to electric by DP World’s in-house engineering teams, along with more than 100 new units sourced from international manufacturers, the company said. A network of rapid charging stations has also been installed across the port to support the fleet. See also: Australia Post Adds 500…

China has lodged a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against India, alleging that New Delhi’s subsidies for electric vehicle (EV) and battery cell production violate international trade rules. The dispute focuses on India’s PM E-Drive and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programmes, which Beijing claims unfairly favour domestic manufacturers over foreign competitors. The PM E-Drive scheme, launched in 2024, provides tax breaks and subsidies to automakers and suppliers who build EVs and related components in India, spanning two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The PLI programme, introduced in 2020, offers performance-based incentives tied to domestic production volumes…

Tesla has quietly introduced a range upgrade for the Model Y in India less than two months after its local launch, keeping the price unchanged. The improvement affects the Long Range RWD variant, extending its WLTP-rated range from 622 to 661 kilometres. According to a report from Autocar Professional, the 6.3% or 39-kilometre increase in range comes from a new 84.2 kWh battery pack equipped with higher energy-density cells supplied by LG Energy Solution. The previous version used a 79 kWh battery pack, while the vehicle’s motor and performance figures — including a 0–100 kph acceleration time of 5.6 seconds…

Mahindra Racing has unveiled its striking new livery for the 2025/26 FIA Formula E season, marking what the team calls “the evolution after the revolution.” The new Mahindra M12Electro was revealed at an exclusive event in London attended by Anand Mahindra, Chairperson of Mahindra & Mahindra, featuring an eye-catching combination of metallic red, gloss white, and carbon black. The design includes 12 stripes representing Mahindra’s 12 seasons in Formula E, along with the Indian flag — celebrating its heritage as the only Indian team competing at World Championship level in motorsport. See also: Porsche Promotes Nico Müller to Factory Formula…

Indian e-mobility-as-a-service company BillionE has partnered with Hindalco Industries to launch the country’s first heavy-duty electric freight corridor in Gujarat, deploying ten electric trucks with plans to add five more in the coming months. The initiative aims to decarbonize industrial logistics and boost operational efficiency across one of India’s key manufacturing regions. The corridor connects Hindalco’s copper smelting facility in Dahej with its continuous cast rod plant in Asoj, covering a 160-kilometre route. The trucks—believed to be Ashok Leyland Avtr 55T Electric models—each have a 55-tonne capacity, a 300 kWh battery, and a 220 kW motor, offering a range of…

Tesla’s much-anticipated entry into India appears to be off to a slow start, with the electric vehicle maker delivering only 60 units of its Model Y in the first month of sales, according to government registration data. The figures suggest a subdued reception compared with both mass-market and premium EV competitors. Data from India’s Vahan portal, cited by Autocar Professional, shows that Tesla’s September deliveries were significantly lower than those of BYD, which sold 541 EVs, and BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which registered 307 and 95 electric cars respectively. Unlike its rivals, Tesla currently offers only the imported Model Y—subject to…

Tesla has officially launched sales of its Cybertruck in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as the electric vehicle maker seeks to offset weaker demand in its core U.S. market by expanding into new regions. Initially restricted to North America during its first year of production, the Cybertruck has fallen short of expectations. Tesla once touted more than 1 million reservations and aimed for annual output of up to 250,000 units, with potential to double that capacity. See also: Tesla Files Patent for Inflatable Deflector to Boost Cybertruck Towing Efficiency https://twitter.com/teslaeurope/status/1974023844168970455 However, higher-than-expected prices and shorter driving ranges…

Indian electric vehicle charging solutions provider ThunderPlus has inaugurated a mega charging hub near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, designed to cater to both private EV users and commercial operators. The new facility, located in Mutthugadahalli on the city’s outskirts, spans 28,000 square feet and is equipped with one megawatt of installed capacity. It offers charging options ranging from 7.4 kW AC to 240 kW DC, making it suitable for entry-level and premium cars as well as light- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. ThunderPlus said the hub can simultaneously charge more than 100 cars and over 10 buses. See also: ChargeZone…

India has commissioned its first fleet of battery-swappable heavy-duty electric trucks at the Nhava Sheva Distribution Terminal in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), creating the country’s largest electric truck fleet at any port. JNPA has deployed 50 trucks and plans to expand the fleet to 80 by year-end, before replacing 90% of its roughly 900 heavy-duty trucks with electric models by 2026. The port authority will also create dedicated EV lanes across all terminals. “We are taking a major step towards sustainability by deploying these trucks and ensuring smooth movement with a dedicated lane for EVs,” said Unmesh Sharad Wagh,…

Kia Corporation and Saudi developer Red Sea Global (RSG) have launched a pilot program to test next-generation electric vehicles at luxury tourism destinations on the Red Sea coast, the companies said on Monday. The trial involves Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) line, starting with the PV5 Passenger model, which will be used for transfers between airports and resorts as well as inter-resort transport. The companies said they plan to study the use of larger PBV models, including the PV7 expected in 2027, and explore cargo variants for resort logistics. The pilot is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which…

Tesla Inc. has delivered its first electric car in India, launching the Model Y in two variants as the company begins operations in the country after years of postponements. The move comes as Tesla expands into a market with high import tariffs that have made vehicles significantly more expensive than in neighboring regions. The rear-wheel drive Model Y is priced at 5.989 million rupees ($69,000), while the long-range rear-wheel drive version is listed at 6.789 million rupees ($79,000). All vehicles in the initial delivery batch were manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. Tesla’s Global Vice President, Grace Tao, announced the deliveries…

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are exploring the use of amorphous materials in magnesium batteries, a development that could improve energy storage beyond the limits of conventional lithium-ion systems. Lithium-ion batteries, which power most consumer electronics, are limited by their energy density, meaning they can store only a fixed amount of energy per unit of mass or volume. “In order to store even more energy with the same mass or volume, you will have to explore alternative energy storage technologies,” said Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, Assistant Professor at the Department of Materials Engineering at IISc. Magnesium batteries theoretically…