Author: Michael Khan

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…

The government of India has issued new operational guidelines for its PM E-DRIVE scheme, which targets the deployment of more than 72,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargers and battery-swap stations across the country. Authorities have allocated roughly €220 million (2,000 crore rupees) in subsidies to support the installations. The subsidies will vary depending on the type of site and may cover both the EV supply equipment (EVSE) and upstream infrastructure, such as cabling, fencing, or transformers. The program is designed to support 22,100 fast chargers for four-wheeled EVs, 1,800 bus chargers, and 48,400 chargers for two- and three-wheelers, which are…