Author: Michael Khan

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…

Tesla has opened its first Supercharger station in India at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, coinciding with the inauguration of its first showroom and the official market entry of the Model Y. The facility includes four V4 Supercharging stalls, each capable of delivering up to 250 kW, and four AC Destination Chargers. The V4 hardware can provide approximately 267 km of range to the Model Y in around 15 minutes. Supercharging is priced at ₹24 per kWh, while AC charging is available at ₹11 per kWh. Based on current energy rates and vehicle consumption, a full charge for the Model Y…

Indian electric scooter manufacturer Ather Energy reported a narrower first-quarter loss on Monday, supported by strong demand for its vehicles, while projecting only a brief disruption from China’s rare-earth magnet export restrictions. The company said it expects a one-week supply gap in the second quarter due to the Chinese export ban, though it plans to mitigate the impact using existing inventory. Ather is also exploring the use of light rare earth magnets, which remain exempt from current restrictions. China, which supplies approximately 90% of the global rare-earth magnet market, implemented the export ban in April, prompting automakers globally to consider…

Chinese automaker BYD has introduced its Shark plug-in hybrid pickup truck to the Pakistani market, extending its global presence in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector through a partnership with local distributor Mega Motor Company (MMC). Launched in Karachi on July 25, the Shark 6 is offered in a single Premium variant and priced at 19,950,000 Pakistani rupees ($70,420). The model features BYD’s DMO platform, which combines dual-mode hybrid technology with off-road capability. It is the first hybrid pickup truck to be made available in Pakistan. The Shark 6 follows the local debut of three other BYD models in August…

Tamil Nadu has unveiled plans to install 500 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as part of its ongoing push toward sustainable transportation. The project, spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL), will expand the state’s public charging network to nearly 2,000 locations, according to a report by The New Indian Express. The initiative is being supported through a technical collaboration with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). Teams from TNGECL and ITDP recently visited New Delhi to study the capital’s EV ecosystem and gather insights for local implementation. Based on their findings, the state…

Mahindra & Mahindra said it is well-insulated from China’s rare-earth magnet export restrictions, with supplies secured through March 2026, as the Indian automaker moves to reduce reliance on critical imports by turning to substitutes such as light rare-earths and ferrites. The comments were made by Rajesh Jejurikar, CEO of Mahindra’s Auto and Farm Sector, during a post-earnings call following the company’s better-than-expected quarterly results. “We have taken a variety of actions to de-risk supply,” Jejurikar said. “We are comfortably covered through March 2026.” The announcement comes amid rising concern over China’s move in April to restrict exports of rare-earth magnets,…

India’s Tata Motors will acquire Italian truckmaker Iveco Group in a €3.8 billion ($4.36 billion) all-cash deal, the companies announced on Wednesday, following a separate agreement for the sale of Iveco’s defence business to Leonardo. Tata Motors will launch a tender offer for Iveco shares at €14.1 per share, conditional upon the completion of the defence unit divestment. Iveco’s largest shareholder, Exor—the investment holding of Italy’s Agnelli family—has agreed to tender its 27% controlling stake in the offer. “The offer would bring together two businesses with highly complementary product portfolios and capabilities and with substantially no overlap in their industrial…

Indian electric mobility firm BluSmart has entered insolvency proceedings following a tribunal order issued July 28, after a financial creditor alleged the startup defaulted on payments and regulators accused its co-founder of misappropriating funds intended for vehicle leases. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) formally admitted the insolvency petition filed by Catalyst Trusteeship, which claimed BluSmart failed to repay dues totaling 12.8 million rupees (about $147,400). The order marks the start of a formal resolution process, including asset assessment, creditor claims, and potential restructuring or liquidation under India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The development follows BluSmart’s suspension of operations in…

China’s BYD is struggling to expand its presence in India due to ongoing political tensions that have restricted key business activities, Bloomberg reported. Following a 2020 border clash, Chinese firms including BYD have faced difficulties obtaining visas for executives. BYD has held board meetings in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Singapore due to the inability of senior staff to operate locally. See also: India Signals No Approval for BYD Investment Plans, Cites National Interest Ketsu Zhang, BYD’s India chief, remains unable to obtain a work permit and now oversees operations from Tokyo. “An on-the-ground presence is particularly important for manufacturers,” a…

India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has earmarked ₹5 billion (approximately €50 million) to subsidise electric trucks under the recently launched PM E-Drive scheme, marking the country’s first direct incentive programme for the sector. The allocation represents nearly five percent of the scheme’s total ₹109 billion (€1.1 billion) budget and is expected to support the deployment of 5,643 electric trucks during the 2025-26 fiscal year, including 1,100 units in Delhi, which faces persistent air quality challenges. To qualify for the subsidy, electric trucks must have an ex-factory price of no more than ₹12.5 million. The incentive amount will be calculated…

Kia has introduced its first mass-market electric vehicle in India, the Carens Clavis EV, marking a strategic shift from its earlier limited EV offerings in the country. Orders for the new electric MPV will open on July 22, with deliveries to follow shortly after, the company said. The Carens Clavis EV is based on the fourth-generation internal combustion engine (ICE) Carens platform, which was originally designed for India and other emerging markets. Comparable in size to the EV5 compact SUV launched in Europe earlier this month, the Clavis EV features design elements such as Star Map lighting and geometric wheel…

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has begun accepting pre-orders in India for its VF 6 and VF 7 models, marking its official entry into the Indian market. The company plans to launch both electric SUVs in August, with customer deliveries expected to begin shortly after. Starting July 15, customers across India can reserve either model by placing a fully refundable deposit of 21,000 rupees (approximately 211 euros), either at VinFast showrooms or through the company’s Indian website. The VF 6 and VF 7 are set to be VinFast’s first offerings in the country and will include features such as Level…