Chinese electric vehicle maker Skyworth Auto has begun preparations to enter the Indian electric vehicle market, appointing Hyderabad-based Kaly Emotors Pvt. Ltd. as its local partner, the company said.
Skyworth said it signed a framework cooperation agreement with Kaly Emotors on Nov. 27, under which the Indian firm will support the planning and launch of a new energy passenger vehicle, as well as localisation, technical adaptation and market development.
While Skyworth did not specify the powertrain for its India-bound model, the passenger EV market in India is currently dominated by battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Skyworth has previously entered multiple overseas markets with its EV6 mid-sized electric SUV, which industry observers see as a likely candidate for its India debut.
The partnership was publicly highlighted on Dec. 8 at the Telangana Rising Global Summit, where Kaly Emotors showcased the Skyworth EV6 and arranged a brief test drive for Telangana Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy. Skyworth said Kaly Emotors has outlined an investment plan of around $100 million, including discussions on setting up a completely knocked-down (CKD) assembly facility, potentially in Telangana state.
At the event, the vehicle was displayed without Skyworth branding, suggesting the Indian partner may be considering a rebranded or locally named model. Skyworth has previously adopted similar licensing and rebranding strategies in Southeast Asia, North America and Europe.
Separately, public references by the Telangana government described the vehicle as being linked to Olectra Greentech Ltd., an electric bus maker and subsidiary of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL). Olectra later said it was not directly involved in the passenger car project, though it acknowledged that a related group company had a connection. The precise relationship between MEIL, Kaly Emotors and Skyworth Auto has not been clarified.
The developments come as India continues to attract interest from global EV manufacturers seeking growth in one of the world’s fastest-expanding automotive markets.