Author: Michael Khan

India’s GST advisory panel has recommended higher taxes on expensive electric vehicles, a move that could impact imported models such as Tesla’s Model Y, BMW’s iX and Mercedes-Benz EQ cars, as well as some domestic offerings, Reuters reported. The panel proposes raising the goods and services tax (GST) on EVs priced between 2 million and 4 million rupees (€19,500–€39,000) from 5% to 18%, and applying a 28% rate on vehicles above €39,000. The recommendations argue that such models cater to the “upper segment” of society and are mostly imported rather than produced in India. “The uptake of electric vehicles is…

Tesla has secured just over 600 orders since launching sales in India in mid-July, a figure that fell short of its expectations, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The U.S. electric vehicle maker plans to ship between 350 and 500 cars to India this year, with the first batch expected to arrive from Shanghai in early September, the report said. Deliveries will initially be limited to Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Gurugram, based on fully paid orders and the company’s delivery capacity in the four cities where it has a physical presence. Tesla introduced its Model…

China’s BYD has delivered its 10,000th vehicle in India, the new energy vehicle (NEV) maker said in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Monday. The announcement, shared via the semi-official account @小迪快报, included a short video of BYD India celebrating the milestone but provided no further details. BYD currently offers four models in India: the all-electric MPV eMax 7, the Seal sedan, the Atto 3 SUV—known as the Yuan Plus in China—and the Sealion 7, also marketed domestically as the Sealion 07. The Sealion 7 began accepting pre-orders in late January and marked BYD’s latest launch in…

Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker, has started production of its first electric vehicle, the e Vitara, at its Hansalpur facility in Gujarat. The electric sub-compact SUV is being manufactured for both domestic and international markets, the company said on Tuesday. The launch was marked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Suzuki President Toshihiro Suzuki, who jointly flagged off the first unit from the production line. Maruti Suzuki described the model as “India’s most globally significant EV to date,” with Hansalpur designated as the global hub for its production. The company said the plant will build both right- and left-hand…

DS Automobiles has announced UK pricing for its upcoming No.4 model, which will be available in hybrid and fully electric versions, with first deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. The No.4 will be offered as a self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric E-TENSE edition. Prices start at £32,200 on the road for the PALLAS+ hybrid, while the E-TENSE models begin at £36,930. Customers will be able to choose between PALLAS, PALLAS+ and ÉTOILE trims, with the hybrid also adding an ÉTOILE NAPPA variant. The E-TENSE version features a 58.2kWh battery pack and a range of around 450…

Macquarie Asset Management has raised $405 million to support Vertelo, a fleet electrification solutions provider in India, marking a significant step toward the company’s target of mobilizing $1.5 billion over the next decade. The funding includes $205 million from institutional investors and $200 million in concessional capital from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which serves as the anchor investor. Additional participants include Macquarie Green Energy Transition Solutions Fund, Allianz Global Investors, and Australian Ethical. “The initiative will provide financing solutions that accelerate India’s development of critical infrastructure and an overall ecosystem in which electric vehicle use grows sustainably,” said Henry…

Indian electric vehicle manufacturer Omega Seiki Mobility has announced plans to establish its first overseas EV assembly plant in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai, aiming to expand its footprint in the Middle East and Africa. The company will develop a 42,000 sq ft facility to assemble two- and three-wheelers, as well as store and distribute components and spare parts. Omega Seiki Mobility expects operations to begin by the end of 2025, with an initial investment of $25 million over the next five years. The project is projected to create more than 100 jobs in its first phase. Uday…

India’s Mahindra has introduced a special edition of its BE 6 electric SUV inspired by the Batman franchise. The limited-run model, called the BE 6 Batman Edition, was developed in partnership with Warner Bros. and will be restricted to 300 units. The Batman Edition features distinctive styling elements linked to the Dark Knight character. Exterior details include themed door graphics, Bat logos on 20-inch alloy wheels, Satin Black paint, and an Infinity Roof marked with the emblem. Wing mirrors are also equipped to project the Bat Signal onto the ground, while rear badging carries a “BE 6 x The Dark…

India’s state-owned miner IREL is in discussions with Japanese and South Korean firms to launch commercial production of rare earth magnets, a person with knowledge of the matter said, as the country looks to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China. The company is exploring partnerships to secure rare earth processing technology, potentially through government-to-government channels, the person said, declining to be named because the talks are not public. IREL aims to seek board approval for a commercial magnet production venture later this year. “India has the raw material, but scaling up to high-purity magnet production needs technical know-how…

India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced amendments to the PM E-Drive scheme, including a two-year extension for certain vehicle categories and adjustments to subsidy allocations. The scheme, initially launched in October 2024, will now run until 31 March 2028 for electric ambulances, buses, trucks, other emerging EV types, and public charging infrastructure. The original end date remains in place for electric two-wheelers, rickshaws, carts, and L5 electric three-wheelers. The ministry cited early-stage market development as a key reason for the extension, particularly for electric trucks, for which full-scale production is still expected to take time. The post-selection process…

Tesla has opened its second showroom in India, located in Delhi’s Aerocity district, alongside its first Supercharger facility in the city, as the electric vehicle maker prepares to begin Model Y deliveries from September. The American EV manufacturer leased an 8,200 square foot space in the Worldmark 3 building to establish the new retail outlet, called the “Tesla Experience Center Aerocity.” The showroom sits near Indira Gandhi International Airport in an upscale commercial zone. Tesla has also secured a 33,000 square foot property in Gurugram, part of the National Capital Region (NCR), for delivery and service operations under a nine-year…

JLR has appointed P.B. Balaji as its new chief executive officer, effective November 2025, following the retirement of Adrian Mardell after nearly three years at the helm. Balaji, currently chief financial officer of Tata Motors Group, has been with the parent company since 2017 and played a key role in its transformation initiatives. “I am delighted to appoint Balaji as the incoming CEO of the company,” said N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Jaguar Land Rover PLC, Tata Motors and Tata Sons. “The search for a suitable candidate to lead JLR has been undertaken by the board for the past few months…