futuREady India: Renault’s Largest Product Offensive with 7 Models by 2030

• Renault Group is launching futuREady India, the local rollout of its new strategic plan to drive growth both locally and globally while strengthening engineering and manufacturing capabilities to ensure long-term competitiveness for the Group worldwide.
• With futuREady India, Renault aims to make India one of the brand’s top three global markets by 2030. The Group is entering its largest-ever product renewal cycle in India, with a portfolio expanding to seven multi-energy models by 2030, all designed specifically for local market needs, using a next generation digital and electronic architecture.
• Through its new strategic plan, Renault Group is positioning India as a cornerstone of its global value chain, transforming the country into a technology centre of excellence for local market and worldwide. The Group’s ambition is to generate €2 billion in annual exports by 2030 in vehicles, R&D, and components.

At the end of a one week visit in India, François Provost, CEO of Renault Group, presented futuREady India, an Indian rollout of the futuREady strategic plan unveiled by the Group last March.

“With futuREady, our new Vision, Renault Group is accelerating its international growth by building on high-potential, fast-growing markets where the Group already has a strong presence. India, where we have been established for fifteen years, is a prime example: it represents more than one-third of the growth potential across the markets where the Renault brand already operates.

India is set to become not only a growth market, but also a centre of excellence and an export hub. Thanks to the commitment and expertise of our local teams, it will strengthen the Group’s overall competitiveness.

Thirty years ago, Renault Group began its first wave of international expansion. With futuREady, we are opening a new era in our global growth story – and India will be at the heart of it!” François Provost, CEO, Renault Group. 

“By 2030, we will offer a seven-model portfolio in India, spanning key segments from compact cars to larger SUVs, and featuring a full spectrum of electrified powertrains—from strong hybrids to fully electric vehicles.

Leveraging world-class engineering, competitive manufacturing, and a clear, ambitious product roadmap, India is poised to be a major driver of sustained value for Renault Group.” Stéphane Deblaise, CEO, Renault Group in India

Largest product-driven offensive for Renault Group in India

Mr. Francois Provost, CEO, Renault Group and Mr. Stephane Deblaise, CEO Renault Group in India, posing with new vehicle platform. 

In India, Renault Group remains focused on growing a customer base ready to prioritise vehicles combining attractive design, advanced onboard technologies, and electrified powertrains, with an ambition to be among the top three markets for the Renault brand globally by 2030.

The Renault brand is therefore adopting a higher value-added positioning; driven by incorporating advanced technologies, both within the vehicle's onboard systems and in its powertrain offerings.

Four vehicles are in the line-up to reach a total of seven vehicle portfolio by 2030, including Renault Duster, unveiled in January 2026, and already generating strong enthusiasm among Indian customers. As part of the futuREady announcements, the Group also presented Bridger Concept, which previews a new B-segment compact SUV, a true multi-energy vehicle including an electric version.

Mr. Francois Provost, CEO, Renault Group and Mr. Stephane Deblaise, CEO Renault Group posing with newly launched Renault Duster

The seven vehicles will be based on two complementary platforms, RGEP and RGMP, deployed first on the Indian market and both designed with a multi-energy approach to offer internal combustion powertrains, including hybrids, and electric powertrains depending on needs.

Lastly, the brand also intends to stand out in the market through a strengthened commitment to its Indian customers. Through the Renault Forever initiative, the Group aims to build a lasting relationship based on trust, service quality, and simplified customer experience. Indian customers will notably benefit from a 7-year warranty.

A technology and export hub

Following the launch of futuREady on 10 March 2026, Renault Group is now unveiling futuREady India, aimed at establishing its 15000 employees full-fledged operations as a leading hub for local Indian market and for the world.

In Chennai, the Group has one of its largest engineering centres worldwide, bringing together 6,000 engineers and IT specialists in vehicle architecture, software, simulation, and vehicle lifecycle upgrades. This site is set to take on an elevated role within the Group by now developing platforms, vehicle architectures, and technologies for projects in India as well as for global markets.

On the industrial front, Renault Group now has full ownership of its Chennai manufacturing facility, significantly reinforcing its ability to localise production, deepen supplier integration and optimise end-to-end supply chains. Leveraging India’s strong sourcing competitiveness, this industrial footprint

iPhone Manufacturer Foxconn To Make Electric Cars in India for American EV Startup Fisker

Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturer, Foxconn, that mnufactures Apple's iPhone in India, will reportedly going to manufacture electric cars in the country, for California, U.S. -bsased Electric Vehicle (EV) Startup Fisker Inc., in the next couple of years.

According to a report by Economic Times, Fisker Inc will initially set up a technology centre in Hyderabad, with a roster of over 300 engineers, and within two years, in a manufacturing alliance with Foxconn, make the electric 'global vehicle' Pear in India.

Fisker Inc is an EV startup promoted by Henrik Fisker,  a renowned car designer known for designing luxury car models like BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9. The startup was founded in 2016 by Fisker and his wife Geeta Gupta-Fisker, an India-born veteran financier and biotech PhD holder. 

Fisker is developing the Fisker Ocean, an all-electric SUV made from recycled and vegan materials, with an estimated range of 300-350 miles. The startup had even filed a patent (in 2017) for a car battery that has a range of 500 miles and can be charged in one minute.

Its Ocean model Ocean, is set for a global launch in November and will be imported in India as a completely built unit. The company is in the process of setting up a local entity, starting with the tech centre before it locally manufactures its second model called 'Pear', through its collaboration with Foxconn.

Fisker is Nasdaq-listed public company that raised more than $1 billion in its October 2020 IPO.

With the global electric cars adoption and as the all-electric SUV sector heats up with more competition, Fisker's Ocean SUV will compete with Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E.

4 Cheapest Electric Cars by Indian Manufacturers

Most of the electric cars available in India, however most of them are cars of foreign manufacturing companies whose range is fine but their price goes out of the budget of a common man. In such a situation, people are not able to switch from their fuel-based cars to electric ones. However, the definition of electric mobility within India is going to change in the coming month as Indian automobile companies are now bringing low range high range electric cars. Today we brought to you the details of those cheap electric cars, by Indian auto makers, which are going to be seen speeding up Indian roads in the coming months.

Storm R3

The Strom R3 electric car is going to be launched in India soon. It is actually a three-wheeler car. Let us tell you that this electric car will get a space to sit for two people. However, this electric car is going to be able to give a good range. Let us tell you that this will be the cheapest electric car found in India. Lithium-ion batteries have been used in it, which will be launched in the market with a warranty of 1 lakh kilometers or 3 years. The company has also started booking this car at a token amount of Rs 10,000. It is going to be the cheapest electric car in India that can be launched in the coming months. Let us tell you that this electric car will be able to cover a range of 200 km in a single charge.

Starting price -- 4.5 lakh rupees

Tata Altroz

Tata Motors has developed an all-electric version of the new Altroz hatchback. Tata has made public that the Altroz's lithium-ion battery pack has a 'target range' of 250-300km, and can be charged to 80 percent in 60 minutes with DC fast charging. Altroz's electric model is also one of the cheapest electric cars in India.

Price -- INR 5.26 or 5.65 Lakhs starting price 

Mahindra eKUV100

Being one of cheap electric cars, the Mahindra eKUV100 gives the looks of any stylish SUV as it has been modeled on the company's Mahindra KUV100 mini SUV. The Mahindra eKUV100 has a 15.9 kW liquid cool motor that generates 54Ps of power with 120NM torque. According to the information, due to its powerful battery, this SUV will be able to cover a range of about 147 km. According to the information, it takes only 50 minutes to charge 80 percent due to the fast charging feature of this car. 

Price --  INR 8 - 9 lakh.

Mahindra eXUV300

Mahindra is bringing its popular SUV based on Mahindra XUV300 electric car named Mahindra eXUV300. Let us tell you that this car will be very similar in terms of design to Mahindra XUV300. According to the information, this car can be run up to 375 kilometers in a single charge. Let us know that the eXUV300 is the electric avatar of the company's popular sub-compact SUV. In terms of design, the Mahindra eXUV300 will remain largely the same as the XUV300, although there will be some major updates to the design as well. 

The pre-existing Kona Electric SUV and MG ZS EV in India are expected to compete with Mahindra's new electric SUV. The eXUV300 is built on the Mahindra Scalable and Modular Architecture.

Musk Hands Over Made-in-China Teslas to Early Buyers in Shanghai

Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented the first batch of made-in-China cars to ordinary buyers on Tuesday in a milestone for the company's new Shanghai "giga-factory", but which comes as sales decelerate in the world's largest electric-vehicle market.

The eccentric entrepreneur danced awkwardly, gave out high-fives, and mugged on a stage as sleek Model 3 sedans -- the company's mid-price, mass-market offer -- were driven up one by one and presented to buyers who jumped into the back seats before being driven away at the plant.

The factory is the company's first outside the United States and a key step forward in Musk's strategy of going global. Musk said it was just the start of what will be a growing investment in China by the California-based electric-vehicle pioneer.

"We intend to continue making a significant investment and increasing that investment in China, making the Model 3 and the Model Y, and future models also in China," he said.

Musk, 48, said Tesla also planned to establish "a China design and engineering centre to actually design an original car in China for worldwide consumption."

Tesla has said the multi-billion-dollar plant is producing more than 1,000 vehicles per week. It has already delivered a small batch of Model 3s on December 30 to employees who had pre-ordered them. Those being driven away at Tuesday's event were the first for regular consumers.

The giga-factory is unusual for China, which typically requires foreign automakers to forge manufacturing joint ventures with domestic firms, which means sharing profits and technology with local partners. But amid sustained US pressure on China to open its markets, that requirement was waived for the Shanghai assembly line, which is wholly-owned by Tesla and believed to be the first to enjoy that status.

Musk has said that the plant would eventually have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles, and has billed it as the solution to the company's perennial struggles with production delays and failure to keep up with demand.

Tesla's output woes in the US are easing however, with the company reporting that 2019 deliveries surged 50 percent year-on-year to 367,500. But China's auto market has slowed significantly since plans for the Shanghai factory began to take shape more than 18 months ago. After surging to become the world's largest automotive market, sales fell last year for the first time since the 1990s amid a slowing economy, US trade tensions, and a Chinese credit crackdown that has crimped car-financing channels.

Sales of "new-energy vehicles" such as electric models have particularly suffered, plunging nearly 44 per cent in November, the fifth straight month of contraction, after the government slashed subsidies for such cars earlier last year.

A number of automotive analysts have said Tesla could struggle to measure up to Musk's promises for Shanghai output.

But at more than USD 450 per share, Tesla's stock is at record highs, having more than doubled since June on improving output and earnings.

Morgan Stanley said in late December that Tesla shares were positioned for a "potential surge" through the middle of 2020 due to the Shanghai factory coming on line and other potentially positive catalysts. (AFP)

BMW unveils 'Vision M NEXT' Its Electric Autonomous Car

In future, drivers will be able to choose whether they wish to be driven or do the driving themselves. With the BMW Vision M NEXT, the BMW Group is revealing its take on how driving pleasure might look in future for those who enjoy taking the wheel themselves. It offers a foretaste of the BMW M brand’s electrified future by placing the focus squarely on the actively engaged driver. Intelligent technologies on board provide comprehensive yet carefully targeted assistance to turn them into the ultimate driver.

Hosting the exclusive world premiere of the BMW Vision M NEXT is the new #NEXTGen infotainment platform at BMW Welt. This standalone event concentrating on personal mobility solutions “made by the BMW Group” adds another regular fixture to the calendar of car shows / technology & future-focused trade events around the world which the company already attends. The Group’s latest technological advances in the fields of design, autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and services will be showcased here, alongside spectacular world premieres such as that of the BMW Vision M NEXT.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.indianweb2.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PF0006947_sceneId16364_preview.mp4"][/video]

“The BMW Vision M NEXT provides a glimpse into the future of sporty driving,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “Where the BMW Vision iNEXT illustrated how autonomous driving is set to transform life on board our vehicles, the BMW Vision M NEXT demonstrates how state-of-the-art technology can also make the experience of driving yourself purer and more emotionally engaging. In both models, the focus is firmly on the people inside. Design and technology make the ‘EASE’ and ‘BOOST’ experiences more natural and more intense.”

The EASE and BOOST experience concepts.



The BMW Vision iNEXT and BMW Vision M NEXT Vision Vehicles represent prototype versions of BMW’s future experience concepts “EASE” and “BOOST”. EASE encompasses all the experiences during a journey when the vehicle assumes the task of driving. Here, the vehicle is transformed into a living space on four wheels, where the passengers can feel safe and secure. From rest and relaxation, via talking, interacting and enjoying in-car entertainment, all the way to maximum concentration – the experiences on offer with the EASE concept are as varied as the occupants’ needs. BOOST, meanwhile, stands for the ultimate active driving experience. The EASE and BOOST concepts are underpinned in equal measure by the building blocks for the BMW Group’s future, comprising the innovation areas of Autonomous driving, Connectivity, Electrification and Services (ACES). The Design lends these areas visual expression and makes the underlying technology something you can engage with (D+ACES).

Exterior exudes BMW sports-car DNA.



“The BMW Vision M NEXT is a progressive hybrid sports car that makes a very clear and confident statement, in terms of both appearance and interaction,” says Domagoj Dukec, Vice President BMW Design. The emotion-stirring exterior design clearly announces the BMW Vision Vehicle’s performance potential, borrowing styling cues from both classic and contemporary BMW sports cars in the process. The BMW Vision M NEXT draws its inspiration from the iconic BMW Turbo and groundbreaking BMW i8 plug-in hybrid and adopts a future-focused interpretation of design elements such as the low-slung, wedge-shaped silhouette, gullwing doors and striking colour scheme. The unmistakable sports-car proportions are composed of surfaces characterised by clarity and pared-down styling. The front and rear ends are finished in the matt-neon shade Thrilling Orange, producing a vivid contrast against the exterior’s otherwise silk-matt Cast Silver metallic paintwork. This use of colour blocking gives the Vision Vehicle an added air of modernity and emphasises its inherent dynamism.

The actual driving experience in the BMW Vision M NEXT is every bit as captivating as its exterior looks. The Power PHEV drive system in offers the choice between electric all-wheel drive and pure rear-wheel drive, with either all-electric propulsion or the power of a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. System output of 441 kW (600 hp) produces a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and enables the BMW Vision M NEXT to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just three seconds. There is also a BOOST+ mode that puts extra power on tap at the push of a button. The maximum range when driving in all-electric mode is 100 km (62 miles) – more than enough to complete the majority of journeys purely on electric power. This means the BMW Vision M NEXT is a sports car that would also be suitable for use in city centres where zero-emissions zones may come into force in the future.

Incorporating a modern take on classic design icons: the front end.



The expressive front-end design serves up a confident and modern interpretation of classic BMW icons. The signature BMW kidney grille is flanked on either side by triangular elements in Thrilling Orange, which serve to accentuate the air intakes at the sides and the integral headlights. These elements combine with the blade-shaped air intake below the kidney grille to create a cutting-edge racing aesthetic.

The soft outer curves of the kidney grille openings are reminiscent of a turbine’s air intake and give the front end added dynamic impact, while the colour gradient used for the inside of the two kidney elements creates a sense of depth. The grille openings are each blanked off by a transparent layer with a laser-etched, illuminated pattern that seems to be floating inside – a highly sophisticated touch that gives added emphasis to this section of the car.

The BMW Vision M NEXT headlights are positioned on the outer edges of the front end, higher up than the kidney grille. Arranged one above the other rather than side by side, their constituent elements represent a highly distinctive interpretation of BMW’s classic four-eyed front end. The headlights hand a debut to Laser Wire lighting technology, whereby glass fibres coated with phosphorous are used to produce headlight elements with a new, super-slim and extremely precise form. All of which further underscores the Vision Vehicle’s future-focused character.

Trailblazing dynamism: the flanks.
The low-slung, wedge-shaped sports-car silhouette of the BMW Vision M NEXT, the reward climb of its flank lines and the diagonal splash of contrasting orange colour endow it with dramatic forward-surging intent, even when standing still. The black side skirts made from recycled carbon fibre make the car look even lower on the road. The sports-car silhouette frames a small number of crisp lines running along the clearly sculpted surfaces. The lines of the powerfully contoured shoulders are also used to create the effect of the iconic Hofmeister kink, instead of incorporating it into the window graphic in the usual BMW fashion. The design is broken up by a gill-like aperture that narrows as it sweeps back from the window surface towards the tail, giving the car a more elongated appearance. A second look reveals another highlight in the form of the Air Flow. This opening located just in front of the rear wheels is designed to carefully channel the onrushing air towards the rear end in a way that further improves aerodynamics.

Precisely engineered gaps in the wheels’ intricate, three-dimensional multi-spoke design result in low weight, maximum rigidity and reduced drag and so optimise the transfer of power to the road. The spokes’ open, three-dimensional architecture maximises cooling of the large brake discs at the front, while inserts optimise aero efficiency at the rear. The rear wheels on the BMW Vision M NEXT measure 22 inches in diameter, making them one inch larger than the front wheels (21 inches) and further emphasising the car’s wedge-shaped appearance.

Low-slung, broad and extremely dynamic: the rear end.

The broad, low-slung rear end makes a stylistic statement with its distinctly sporty tone. Its colour scheme divides the car’s sculptural tail into two sections. The top section in Thrilling Orange creates a visual link between the coloured areas of the flanks, further adding to the impression of width. The area below it is made from recycled carbon fibre and incorporates an aerodynamically optimised diffuser. The design of the rear window takes its cue from the BMW M1. The three-piece louvres are made from glass and emphasise the horizontal focus of the rear-end styling.

The rear lights feature the same Laser Wire technology used for the headlights. Their glass lenses frame the rear end in a sweeping flourish on either side, bringing its width and sporting presence to the fore. Inside each light unit, a single wafer-thin glass fibre produces an abstract ECG trace of a heartbeat fashioned with pin-sharp precision. The two-dimensional reinterpretation of the distinctive pair of BMW roundels from the BMW Turbo and BMW M1 – a gift to BMW aficionados – gives them the impression of floating in the rear lights’ transparent lenses.

Focusing on the driver: the interior.



Facial recognition technology allows the car to unlock automatically as the driver approaches. Pressing the touch sensor on the gullwing doors prompts them to swing open, revealing a cabin that merges the driver and vehicle into one. The classy, minimalist interior revolves entirely around the actively engaged driver, both stylistically and technologically. The interior appears as if cut from a single mould, with functional elements such as the air vents integrated almost out of sight. Its geometry is deliberately restrained in nature so the driver can devote their attention entirely to the driving experience. The seat shells form part of a seat sculpture with a flowing design. They are upholstered in a foam material with shape memory properties that moulds itself to, cushions and supports the body to optimum effect. The head restraints seem to hover above both seat shells, increasing the sense of lightness. The extremely comfortable seating position immerses the driver in the driving experience.

Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel: the BOOST Pod.



“The entire interior is focused on the BOOST Pod. The geometry has a deliberately low-key feel so that the driver can concentrate fully on the driving experience,” explains Domagoj Dukec. Taking pride of place in the interior, the BOOST Pod forms the interface between driver and vehicle. It brings together all the control options and information across three distinct visual tiers in the driver’s direct field of view. The first plane is formed by the horizontally arranged steering wheel featuring two small displays. Following this in the driver’s line of sight is a Curved Glass Display, a new addition whose transparent surface stretches around the steering wheel like a visor. The full-surface Augmented Reality Head-Up Display in the windscreen constitutes the third plane. Everything therefore happens directly in the driver’s line of sight. The driving settings can be modified on the steering wheel, while information such as revs, road speed, energy management, the driver’s heart rate and availability of BOOST+ mode is spread among a total of five clusters in the Curved Glass Display behind. BOOST+ mode can be engaged at the touch of a button to release extra power. The car alerts the driver when the ideal moment arrives to activate BOOST+.

Taking driver focus to the next level: focus logic.

“In the BMW Vision M NEXT, intelligent technologies help the driver and deliver the right content at the right time. Operation is clear and intuitive, with all information presented in the driver’s direct field of view. This is a deliberate counterpoint to the BMW Vision iNEXT, which focused on multimodal operation from every seat,” continues Dukec.

The BMW Vision M NEXT therefore shows the way ahead for BMW’s fabled driver focus. The cabin’s geometry and technology have both been devised to help focus attention on the task of driving and prevent distractions. To this end, the information displayed is adapted to the current speed – based on the principles of focus logic. As the vehicle speeds up, the information centres increasingly on driving-related data and moves into the driver’s eye-line. It is possible to communicate with the Intelligent Personal Assistant at all times while driving – if drivers wish to book the visionary Valet Parking Service for their destination, for instance. Here, a concierge is on hand when they arrive to take the vehicle, park it and bring it back again at the desired time. All done simply and seamlessly using the MyBMW App.

Innovative materials for a luxurious ambience and optimum performance.



“We have designed a modern and luxurious interior with the help of innovative materials. Whereas its geometry is clear and restrained, individual details are showcased like top-class accessories,” says Dukec. The pioneering mix of materials employed in the BMW Vision M NEXT, including woven synthetic fibres, anodised titanium and painted surfaces, has never been seen before in a vehicle in this form, which is why it brings out the car’s character to such stunning effect. Use of leather has been kept deliberately to a minimum, which is why it only adorns the design details that the driver’s and passenger’s hands touch directly, such as the steering wheel and door pull handles. Instead, the interior is dominated by a Midnight Blue microfibre fabric whose look and feel are akin to leather, but is also highly distinctive. Judicious use of Thrilling Orange contrasts injects additional sporting flair.

A particularly striking touch here is the accent line in the driver’s area that runs forwards from the seat over the BOOST Pod, indicating the ideal line of sight over the road. A light element in the BOOST Pod further strengthens this line.

The metallic surfaces in Titanium Bronze have a warm, shimmering tone, adding to the exclusive ambience in the car’s interior. Neat design touches such as the barely visible pockets in the door and centre console allow everyday essentials to remain securely stowed away even when cornering at high speed. The gyroscopic cupholder is able to compensate for strong lateral and longitudinal dynamic forces. A glance upwards reveals both the visible roof structure made from recycled carbon fibre and the headliner, whose tone-in-tone paint finish with mild sheen effect blends in perfectly with the rest of the interior’s colour scheme.

The past and future of dynamic driving.

With its enthralling blend of design and driving experience, the BMW Vision M NEXT fuses BMW’s sporting heritage with the possibilities of tomorrow’s world, and illustrates how the D+ACES building blocks for the future will be able to enhance how the driver experiences a car’s dynamics.

~ Business Wire India feed (Images & video from www.press.bmwgroup.com )

Nissan to Hire 550 Tech Pros for its Digital R&D Hub in Kerala for Electric and Driver-less Cars

Japan's automobile major Nissan Motors will open its global digital Research & Development hub for autonomous/driver-less cars at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram of Kerala and for same the company would hire about 550 technology professionals by March 2019.

IndianWeb2.com first reported about Nissan's R&D hub in June this year. The Hub, which is focused on innovation in automated and electronic vehicles will be shared by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, a strategic partnership between French and Japanese manufacturers.

According to Tony Thomas, Corporate VP & CIO of Nissan Motor Corp, "Hiring is on for the cream of innovation talent, as this is not a global offshore centre, but a global team."

The carmaker has already signed up 350-plus professionals in domains such as software development, UI/UX, big data, analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT). The 25,000-sq ft facility at Technopark Phase III can accommodate 200 more engineers and innovative brains, Thomas said.

Notably, since July this year, these 350-odd new recruits hired by Nissan for its first Global Digital Centre in India were working at the Infosys campus in Thiruvananthapuram, as Infosys had offered its office space Nissan Digital Hub project till the new facility was set up.

In last couple of years, Kerala has had inked several partnership and MoUs with Tech firms in India as well as abroad. Last MOnth, aircraft maker Airbus Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kerala state government for setting up BizLab Innovation Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

In March this year, the state government had tied up with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for a space tech park and incubator for startups in space technology. Called as 'ISRO-Space Technology Incubation Center (S-TIC)', the space park will be up and running in June next year.

Source - Financial Express

[Top Image - Guardian.ng]

EV Startup E-Trio Becomes India's 1st ARAI Approved Firm To Convert Your Car to Electric

Hyderabad-based E-trio Automobiles, startup focussing on the emerging electric vehicles space, is India's first company to have successfully got approval from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the apex Industry body representing leading vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India and run under Ministry of Industries, Government Of India.

E-Trio has received ARAI approval for retrofitted car kits in Alto and Wagon R, which will allow the startup to convert these models of car into all-electric ones. Retrofitting refers to the addition of new technology or features to older systems. In this case, a "Retrofitted Car" means electric vehicle (EV) conversion in which the car's combustion engine (Petrol/Diesel based) and connected components are replaced with an electric motor and batteries, to create an all-electric vehicle.

Electric Maruti Suzuki Alto and Wagon R developed by E-Trio, and for which the startup has got the ARAI approval, gets an electric motor that does not require any gear and can travel up to 150 Km on a single charge. It also claims higher safety standards and these electric cars can be charged anytime and anywhere and will be low on maintenance than a traditional petrol-powered car.

Beside Alto and Wagon R, which are small hatchbacks, the startup is in process to get kit approvals for other fast moving models in India. They are currently in discussions with some leading car manufacturing companies from Japan and Thailand.

Further, in order to maximize the EV penetration in India, the startup is also working with an R&D team from San Francisco for the faster and more effective role out of its retrofitted electric kits for electric cars.

E-Trio plans to enter the Indian market with a capacity of 1000 cars per month to be fitted with an electric motor and battery kit. These retrofitted electric kits have been sourced from China and Korea while the Controller is built by the startup in-house. The company has been testing cars for the past two years and their immediate goal is to roll out at least 5000 cars in the next year.

Sathya Yalamanchili, founder of E-Trio, said, “Retrofitting is the way to go and need of the hour and these smart cars currently are the most efficient and economical cars compared to our counterparts in the market. Our vision is to create e-Mobility which inspires & nurtures pollution free India. We believe that affordable range is the key to helping electro mobility achieve a breakthrough in the near future.”

Source - Economic Times, Financial Express, E-Trio.in

Porsche to Launch its Electric Car 'Taycan' in India by 2020

Within few days after premium car maker Audi had announced that it will launch its electric SUV, e-tron, by end of next year, an another luxury car maker, Porsche, has just announced to bring its electric car in India sooner than expected. In an official statement shared with clean energy news website, Mercom, Porsche said that it aims to bring electric car 'Taycan' to India by 2020.

Taycan, which is Porsche's first all-electric car globally, will be launched globally by the end of 2019 while in India it will enter by 2020.

Taycan, which can go upto 500 km on a single charge, has two permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) with a system output of over 590 bhp. The Porsche Taycan electric sports car can do a 0-100 kmph sprint in well under 3.5 seconds and to 200 kmph in under 12 seconds. This performance is in addition to a continuous power level that is unprecedented among electric vehicles: Multiple jump starts are possible in succession without loss of performance, and the vehicle's maximum range is over 500 km in accordance with the NEDC.

[caption id="attachment_126386" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Porsche Taycans Driving Dashboard[/caption]

Porche EV rival Tesla's Model S (P100D), on the other hand, does the 0-100kmph stint in 2.5s and also has a claimed range of 500km.

Additionally, Porsche also announced that it is dropping its diesel cars like 'Porche Cayenne' for good, as the company has confirmed there will be no diesel-engined Cayenne for India.

In a reply to an Autocar India query, Peter Vogel, Acting Chief Executive of Porsche Middle East & Africa FZE, said, “Porsche has decided to stop offering diesel models in the current product portfolio, as a result of changing market conditions and increasing interest in hybrid and electric vehicles. This is a global decision and includes Porsche models offered in India.”

Porsche plans to invest massive €6 billion (~ US$ 6.9 billion) in electric mobility by 2022, doubling the expenditure that the company had originally planned. Some €500 million out of this budget of the company will be used for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around one billion euro for electrification and hybridization of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, plus around 700 million euro for new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility.

With India rolling out multiple Electric Vehicle policies lately, Porsche has its eyes set on India . Indian government recently approved a subsidy corpus of ₹55 billion (~$0.78 billion) to be disbursed under the second phase of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) program. The FAME II program will be in force for five years.

Earlier this month, Maruti Suzuki has announced that it will start testing prototypes of its flagship electric vehicles in India by October this year.

[Top Featured Image - AutoExpress.co.uk ]

Cheap Electric Car Maker Strom Motors Raises Funding from Indian Angel Network

Mumbai-based mobility startup, Strom Motors (E14 Technologies Pvt Ltd), that manufactures affordable electric car, has secured undisclosed amount in angel funding from Indian Angel Network (IAN).

The round was led by IAN members Neeraj Garg, Sanjay Bhasin and Anirudh Agarwal, who will also be strategic members to the company’s board.

Strom Motors is building an all electric urban commute, which is a fully air-conditioned 2+1 seater three wheeled reverse trike

In April this year, the startup had unveiled Strom R3, its affordable electric car that would cost mere ₹3 lakh and costs 40 paise per km and can be parked in a space no bigger than 2 bikes.

The funds raised by the startup will be be utilized to strengthen its leadership position in the smart mobility market, boosting product sales, accelerating its geographical expansion, along with increasing consumer base across markets. The funds raised will also be used to set up its assembly plant in Mumbai for Strom-R3 which has already received over 100 pre-orders from the Maharashtra region. The funds will also

Founded in 2011 by Pratik Gupta, Jean-Luc Abaziou and Dr Gilmer Blankenship, Strom Motors aims to redefine urban mobility and re-invent Indias personal transportation through its smart electric car.



Talking about the investment, Pratik Gupta, CEO at Strom Motors said, “We are looking forward to leveraging the expertise and in-depth industry knowledge of IAN members to bring significant developments in the company. Sustainable personal mobility solution in India is still in its nascent stages and there is huge opportunity for electric vehicle segment to grow in the coming years.”

Also Read - Audi’s 1st Electric Car ‘e-tron’ Unveiled; To Launch in India Next Year

He further added, “Our efforts are not only to bring substantial innovation in the EV space, but also solve some of the key challenges faced by the country today such as road congestion and air pollution. The investment will help us to strengthen our roots in India and obtain homologation and begin deliveries of Strom-R3.”

Earlier this year, Strom Motors unveiled its smart electric car StromR3. The startup claims to have already received over 100 pre-orders for its electric car from the Maharashtra region.

Strom Motors has also tied up with what3words, a geo-addressing company based in the UK, to optimize GPS mapping and bring accuracy to navigation in a complex road infrastructure like India.

With the electric mobility space expected to be a multi-billion dollar industry and Indian government pushing towards sustainable solutions, more Indian startups are expected to drive the transition from fossil fuel-propelled vehicles to clean fuel driven vehicles.

According to Start Up team of Invest India, currently there are about 136 startups related to electric vehicles in India.

Earlier this month, Escorts Limited announced it’s unique Automated Farming Solutions with the launch of Automated Concept Tractor touted as India's 1st Automated, driverless tractor.


In this month only, Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, which has "Maruti Suzuki" as its subsidiary in India, announced that its India unit will start road-running tests using a fleet of 50 EV prototype vehicles in India from October this year, in order to develop safe and easy-to-use EVs for Indian customers. Maruti is gearing up to deliver a fleet of electric cars in India by 2020.

Last month, Bengaluru-based electric vehicle (EV) startup, Ultraviolette Automotive Pvt Ltd, which is currently building an electric motorcycle, received an additional investment of ₹6 crore from TVS Motor, which has bought a 14.78 per cent stake in Ultraviolette Automotive, in December 2017.

In May this year, Co-founders of Indian cab hailing firm Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, have together invested $66,810 in Pune-based EV startup Tork Motorcycles.

In the same month, it was reported that government is considering establishing of a venture capital (VC) fund of ₹500 crore in order to support startups related to electric vehicles (EV) in India


Source - MoneyControl

Cheap Electric Car Maker Strom Motors Raises Funding from Indian Angel Network

Mumbai-based mobility startup, Strom Motors (E14 Technologies Pvt Ltd), that manufactures affordable electric car, has secured undisclosed amount in angel funding from Indian Angel Network (IAN).

The round was led by IAN members Neeraj Garg, Sanjay Bhasin and Anirudh Agarwal, who will also be strategic members to the company’s board.

Strom Motors is building an all electric urban commute, which is a fully air-conditioned 2+1 seater three wheeled reverse trike

In April this year, the startup had unveiled Strom R3, its affordable electric car that would cost mere ₹3 lakh and costs 40 paise per km and can be parked in a space no bigger than 2 bikes.

The funds raised by the startup will be be utilized to strengthen its leadership position in the smart mobility market, boosting product sales, accelerating its geographical expansion, along with increasing consumer base across markets. The funds raised will also be used to set up its assembly plant in Mumbai for Strom-R3 which has already received over 100 pre-orders from the Maharashtra region. The funds will also

Founded in 2011 by Pratik Gupta, Jean-Luc Abaziou and Dr Gilmer Blankenship, Strom Motors aims to redefine urban mobility and re-invent Indias personal transportation through its smart electric car.



Talking about the investment, Pratik Gupta, CEO at Strom Motors said, “We are looking forward to leveraging the expertise and in-depth industry knowledge of IAN members to bring significant developments in the company. Sustainable personal mobility solution in India is still in its nascent stages and there is huge opportunity for electric vehicle segment to grow in the coming years.”

Also Read - Audi’s 1st Electric Car ‘e-tron’ Unveiled; To Launch in India Next Year

He further added, “Our efforts are not only to bring substantial innovation in the EV space, but also solve some of the key challenges faced by the country today such as road congestion and air pollution. The investment will help us to strengthen our roots in India and obtain homologation and begin deliveries of Strom-R3.”

Earlier this year, Strom Motors unveiled its smart electric car StromR3. The startup claims to have already received over 100 pre-orders for its electric car from the Maharashtra region.

Strom Motors has also tied up with what3words, a geo-addressing company based in the UK, to optimize GPS mapping and bring accuracy to navigation in a complex road infrastructure like India.

With the electric mobility space expected to be a multi-billion dollar industry and Indian government pushing towards sustainable solutions, more Indian startups are expected to drive the transition from fossil fuel-propelled vehicles to clean fuel driven vehicles.

According to Start Up team of Invest India, currently there are about 136 startups related to electric vehicles in India.

Earlier this month, Escorts Limited announced it’s unique Automated Farming Solutions with the launch of Automated Concept Tractor touted as India's 1st Automated, driverless tractor.


In this month only, Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, which has "Maruti Suzuki" as its subsidiary in India, announced that its India unit will start road-running tests using a fleet of 50 EV prototype vehicles in India from October this year, in order to develop safe and easy-to-use EVs for Indian customers. Maruti is gearing up to deliver a fleet of electric cars in India by 2020.

Last month, Bengaluru-based electric vehicle (EV) startup, Ultraviolette Automotive Pvt Ltd, which is currently building an electric motorcycle, received an additional investment of ₹6 crore from TVS Motor, which has bought a 14.78 per cent stake in Ultraviolette Automotive, in December 2017.

In May this year, Co-founders of Indian cab hailing firm Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, have together invested $66,810 in Pune-based EV startup Tork Motorcycles.

In the same month, it was reported that government is considering establishing of a venture capital (VC) fund of ₹500 crore in order to support startups related to electric vehicles (EV) in India


Source - MoneyControl

Audi's 1st Electric Car 'e-tron' Unveiled; To Launch in India Next Year

German automobile major of luxury vehicles, Audi, has finally unveiled its first all-electric series production car - the e-tron. Starting with price tag of $74,800 (~ ₹54.32 Lakhs), e-tron has been slated for the US and European launch by the end of this year, followed by the launch in other countries in a phased manner, which also include India. People in India can start booking Audi e-tron from next year.



The 5-seater electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) is expected to arrive in the Indian market by the end of 2019 and is speculated to be priced slightly above the Audi Q7 SUV. Which means, prices of the electric SUV can be expected to breach Rs 1 crore line for the higher trims.

The European version of e-tron is 402HP with 95kWh lithium-ion battery having 150 kWh DC high-speed charging. Audi claims that after 30 minutes of 80% charge e-tron can run 160 miles, showing itself ahead of Tesla Model X 100D (~144.5 miles) and jaguar I-PACE (144 miles).





e-tron is powered by two electric motors that are CO2-neutral and claims a combined power output of 360PS. The peak torque output of the system is 561Nm and it also comes with a boost mode, which pushes the maximum power output to 408PS (for eight seconds). A new generation of the quattro drive (Audi's all-wheel drive) comes standard and makes the e-tron capable of doing a 0-100kmph sprint in just 5.7 seconds in the boost mode. Audi said that the model has a top speed of 200kmph.

The company claims that the e-tron has a range of 400 kilometres in a single full-charge which is quite sufficient for most of the markets, including India where the charging infrastructure is is still in nascent stage. The battery is liquid-cooled, via a cooling system below the cells.

Every Audi e-tron battery comes with an 8 year/100,000 mile (whichever occurs first) limited warranty for added peace of mind.

Audi's next electric model in line is the e-tron Sportback, then the e-tron GT in 2021. Audi says the e-tron's regenerative braking is best in class, and together with the aforementioned heat pump, the car maker seems to be taking real-world range issues seriously.

Earlier this month, Maruti Suzuki has announced that it will start testing prototypes of its flagship electric vehicles in India by October this year.

Via - Times of India

India To Offer $759 Mn Incentives to Push Local Manufacturing of Li-ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles

Just a couple of days back we reported that chairman of Japan's Suzuki Motor has warned India that Indian dream of all-electric vehicles on road by 2032 can seriously hamper if India do not start manufacturing batteries used by electric vehicles (EVs) locally in the country. And, it seems that omniscient people at prime minister’s office (PMO) has already started to work out for same.

According to a report by LiveMint, the PMO has asked department of heavy industry to redraft its proposal to offer incentives, which was earlier for EVs only and not for batteries, which is at core of EVS. The PMO has sought reworking of a proposal to offer incentives of as much as $759 million (₹5,500 crore), which will mostly be use to encourage local manufacturing of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in EVs.

Last Week, the PMO returned the proposal and asked the department to redraft the plan, incorporating ways to promote local manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries to reduce their prices, as well as of battery-powered vehicles, said the report citing two people privy to this development.

It is a matter of fact that Li-ion batteries decides the cost electric vehicles and the cost of batteries is one of the major hurdles standing in the way of not just electric cars but household solar batteries as well. However, if these batteries can be manufactured locally then this can bring down the cost of EVs substantially.

Currently, India does not produce Lithium or Cobalt-based batteries and instead imported these from China, South Korea and Taiwan as India does not have any reserves of its own, unlike Latin America and Australia, which have Lithium reserves which can be acquired by India to provide the raw materials for its local battery manufacturing ecosystem.

[caption id="attachment_126137" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Li-ion battery pack of BMW i3 [Image - blog.ucsusa.org][/caption]The import duty on the Li-ion batteries is currently at 20% (increased from 10% in FY-2018 Budget). The cost of these EV batteries are calculated in the '$ per kWh' unit and as of 2018, the cost per kWh of electric car batteries is between $225-$250 (about ₹16,000 to ₹18,000). If manufactured locally, the cost single battery pack can go down by 20-25 per cent, approximately.

Meanwhile, China is rapidly capturing Li-ion battery production, in its latest move to secure its position in the world industry.

According to NITI aayog report, in order to meet India's EV ambitions through 100 percent domestic manufacturing of batteries it would require at least 3,500 GWh of batteries at a wholesale cost of $300 billion (₹20 lakh crore).

In June this year, Indian space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) invited bids from local startups and suitable firms for its in-house indigenously made technology of large-scale production of lithium ion batteries.

It is also to be noted that India also has a local EV Battery Startup called Gegadyne. It has a patent pending battery technology which will enable to recharge batteries in a rapid manner without the need for fast charging. The startup also touts itself as company having "India's Indigenously Developed Fully Electric Vehicle & Energy Storage System".

In a separate report, the cost per kWh is reducing however, in year on year. For example, in 2010, the same cost was rated at $1000 and by 2026, the cost per kWh is slated to dip below the 100$ level, greatly boosting electric mobility by slashing prices overall by a huge margin.

Earlier this year, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and South Korea’s LG Chem announced their plans to collaborate on lithium-ion battery technology.

Maruti Suzuki to Start Testing 50 EV Prototype Vehicles in India from Next Month

Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, which has Maruti Suzuki as its subsidiary in India, will start testing prototypes of electric vehicles (EV) in India by October this year, said its chairman, Osamu Suzuki, at the Global Mobility Summit at New Delhi.

The company, which is gearing up to deliver a fleet of electric cars in India by 2020, will start road-running tests using a fleet of 50 EV prototype vehicles in India from next month in order to develop safe and easy-to-use EVs for Indian customers.

The company would launch EVs in India around 2020 in cooperation with Toyota Motor Corp, Osamu Suzuki added.

The prototype EVs are reportedly developed on an existing model by Suzuki Motor Corporation and will be manufactured at the Maruti Suzuki facility in Gurgaon, exclusively for fleet testing.

According a Friday report by ZigWheels, Maruti Suzuki has also unveiled its first all-electric prototype at the ongoing MOVE Global Mobility Summit in New Delhi. Based on the Heartect platform, it finds its origins in the Japan-spec WagonR which gets the option of a hybrid power-train in its home market. The prototype, on the other hand, was developed in-house at Maruti’s plant in Gurgaon, Haryana.

[caption id="attachment_126085" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Suzuki WagarR Electric [Image - ZigWheels.com][/caption]An another previous report however also suggested that Maruti may launch the Swift Hybrid in India in the run-up to an all-electric future. Maruti showcased Swift Hybrid at the 2018 Auto Expo to gauge interest and they have shown it again at the recently held 2018 Indonesian Auto Show.

[caption id="attachment_126084" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Suzuki Swift Plug-In Hybrid Concept [Image - CarandDriver.com][/caption]Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, "Maruti Suzuki is committed to bringing Electric Vehicle in 2020. The testing in multiple terrains and climatic conditions will help us get valuable insights from real-life driving conditions. With these tests, we are confident that our Electric Vehicle will be well accepted by our valued customers.”

Additionally, Suzuki, the parent of India's top-selling automaker, Maruti Suzuki Ltd, would start production of lithium-ion batteries for automobiles at its plant in western India from 2020. Suzuki said that EVs are expensive due to the high cost of batteries which are still not manufactured in India.

Suzuki also warned India that lack of charging stations could make the concept of "all-electric vehicles in India" unviable.

News via ~ Times of India

[Top Featured Image - Youtube/moteurnature]

Govt of India's EESL to Float Second Tender of 10,000 Electric Cars

Government of India owned energy service company, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), is hoping to get 10,000 electric cars (e-cars) delivered by March 2019 from its first tender it floated in January this year.

Going forward, EESL is about to float the second tender for another 10,000 e-cars very soon. In March, EESL had cancelled its second tender as the government decided to change the specifications for charging facilities, said Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director of EESL, in an interview to Sudheer Singh and Ankush Kumar of ETEnergyworld.

The size of the car depends upon the charging specification. The charging specification that India adopted last year (Bharat DC 001) are meant for level one (basic) charges, explained Saurabh.

The cost of procurement of 10,000 cars is around Rs 1,200 crore which in turn costs Rs 11.8 lakh per vehicle.

In EESL's first tender for procuring 10,000 electric cars, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra qualified the bids under the auction. But, in June, the government rejected the use the electric models supplied by EESL as it was unhappy by the poor performance and low mileage of electric cars made by Tata and Mahindra.

In the first phase of 500 orders, Tata motors were meant to supply 350 e-cars and remaining 150 units were meant to be supplied by Mahindra but as per EESL only 150 units have been delivered by the time of the rejection occured.

In the interview, Saurabh also addressed this issue of low mileage of e-cars, which caused the rejection. He said ,"In the case of one particular manufacturer or OEM, it was said the range was much less than what was promised. This is not based on any scientific testing of these cars. When one buys a car, a certain KMPL is promised. But that comes with a caveat of “under standard test conditions”. And this is certified by ARAI. In a city run, it is difficult to get the certified KMPL? It is the same with electric vehicle. How is the car operated and the traffic conditions play an important role. "

On the speculation that if Tata and Mahindra were asked for change in specifications, Saurabh clarified that the basic conditions, including the range of 130 Km, remain the same. The two auto majors are delivering cars which are actually better than that specification. "We cannot change the 130 Km range. It has been decided," said Saurabh.

With upcoming tender for additional 10,000 cars, India will have 20,000 electric cars through government procurement and these e-cars are expected to save over 5 crore litres of fuel every year leading to a reduction of over 5.6 lakh tonnes of annual CO2 emission in India, which is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change.

Currently, in Delhi around 370 charging points have been set up. Around 153 vehicles are already running. Almost 400 additional vehicles are under various stages of registration. Also, we have demand from AP, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The tender is going on extremely well. All these states combined, we have got demand for 19,000 electric cars. And this is only for government procurement.

In November last year, EESL has partnered and secured $454 million funding from Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the project Creating and Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency, focusing on energy efficiency programmes, and aiming to mitigate CO2 emissions by 60 million tonnes. This was one of the largest funding by GEF.

GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks, and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

EESL further proposed an Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund for sustainable funding of energy efficiency projects in India.

A 100% government owned, EESL is a joint venture of state-owned NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID. EESL was formed under India's Ministry of Power to facilitate energy efficiency projects. Innovative business and implementation models can significantly reduce consumption and costs. EESL also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of state electricity distribution companies, electricity regulatory commissions (ERCs), state-designated agencies (SDAs), upcoming ESCOs, financial institutions, etc.

References - Wikipedia, LiveMint, News18

Top Image ~ Torsten Dettlaff from Pexels

Nissan's First Digital Innovation Hub To Set up in Kerala, India for R&D in Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

Japan's automobile major Nissan Motors will set up Its first digital innovation hub in India in Technocity, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, which will be a research and development (R&D) facility of sorts that will also be shared by the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance.

The main idea to develop the digital hub is to focus on the R&D towards electric and autonomous vehicles. To begin with, the Kerala government Kerala government has allotted space of 30 acres to Nissan in order to setup the hub during the first phase. In the second phase, the government will give Nissan additional 40 acres. Nissan's digital and innovation hub will be called Nissan knowledge city.

Nissan’s digital hub in Kerala will be its first in India, and will function as the nerve centre of the company’s research in electric and automated vehicles. The government of Kerala will sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Nissan on 29 June, 2018.

The reason that Nissan chose Kerala to set up its first digital innovation hub are; existing talent pool in IT and engineering, airport connectivity, cost effectiveness, quality of life, social amenities and the lack of traffic problems, among other things.

The upcoming digital and innovation hub will act as a talent pool of people who will be working on new-age technologies that can be utilized in automobiles such as cognitive analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning and so on. Once the hub is up and running, Nissan will be creating approximately 3,000 direct jobs along with few thousand indirect jobs as well.

Nissan along with its auto making partners Renault and Mitsubishi, is aiming at launching 17 electric models to achieve an annual vehicle sales of 14 million units by 2022.

Nissan's digital hub in Kerala will be company's fifth digital hub globally after having centres in Japan, China, France and USA. To start off with, the company will occupy the Technopark Phase III campus and a part of the co-developer space as well. The Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance is betting big on electric vehicles and aims to not only launch 17 new electric models by 2022 but also rake in annual electric vehicles sales to the tune of 14 million units as well.

Also Read - Kerala To Have India's First Online Clearance System for Startups

Notably, Indian automobile major Bharat Forge has also been working on its R&D and technology strategy in the Electric Vehicle space over the last few years. The company has recently made a strategic investment of $13.5 million (£10 million) or about Rs.90 crores in Tevva Motors, a British and Israeli electric truck company.

Speaking about Kerala, the state has been a front-runner when it comes to adopting new-age technologies. In April, Kerala Blockchain Academy (KBA) of state-run Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management (IIITM-Kerala) has become the first Indian Institution to get membership of Hyperledger Project hosted by Linux Foundation.

In March, Kerala tied up with Indian space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to incubate and promote startups in the satellite and space technology sector.

Via - auto.ndtv.com

[Top Image - reports.nissan-global.com]

Nissan's First Digital Innovation Hub To Set up in Kerala, India for R&D in Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

Japan's automobile major Nissan Motors will set up Its first digital innovation hub in India in Technocity, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, which will be a research and development (R&D) facility of sorts that will also be shared by the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance.

The main idea to develop the digital hub is to focus on the R&D towards electric and autonomous vehicles. To begin with, the Kerala government Kerala government has allotted space of 30 acres to Nissan in order to setup the hub during the first phase. In the second phase, the government will give Nissan additional 40 acres. Nissan's digital and innovation hub will be called Nissan knowledge city.

Nissan’s digital hub in Kerala will be its first in India, and will function as the nerve centre of the company’s research in electric and automated vehicles. The government of Kerala will sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Nissan on 29 June, 2018.

The reason that Nissan chose Kerala to set up its first digital innovation hub are; existing talent pool in IT and engineering, airport connectivity, cost effectiveness, quality of life, social amenities and the lack of traffic problems, among other things.

The upcoming digital and innovation hub will act as a talent pool of people who will be working on new-age technologies that can be utilized in automobiles such as cognitive analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning and so on. Once the hub is up and running, Nissan will be creating approximately 3,000 direct jobs along with few thousand indirect jobs as well.

Nissan along with its auto making partners Renault and Mitsubishi, is aiming at launching 17 electric models to achieve an annual vehicle sales of 14 million units by 2022.

Nissan's digital hub in Kerala will be company's fifth digital hub globally after having centres in Japan, China, France and USA. To start off with, the company will occupy the Technopark Phase III campus and a part of the co-developer space as well. The Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance is betting big on electric vehicles and aims to not only launch 17 new electric models by 2022 but also rake in annual electric vehicles sales to the tune of 14 million units as well.

Also Read - Kerala To Have India's First Online Clearance System for Startups

Notably, Indian automobile major Bharat Forge has also been working on its R&D and technology strategy in the Electric Vehicle space over the last few years. The company has recently made a strategic investment of $13.5 million (£10 million) or about Rs.90 crores in Tevva Motors, a British and Israeli electric truck company.

Speaking about Kerala, the state has been a front-runner when it comes to adopting new-age technologies. In April, Kerala Blockchain Academy (KBA) of state-run Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management (IIITM-Kerala) has become the first Indian Institution to get membership of Hyperledger Project hosted by Linux Foundation.

In March, Kerala tied up with Indian space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to incubate and promote startups in the satellite and space technology sector.

Via - auto.ndtv.com

[Top Image - reports.nissan-global.com]

Mahindra Electric Cars Now Available on Rent in Delhi Via Zoomcar

Domestic automobile major Mahindra's electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary Mahindra Electric announced that it would deploy a fleet of 100 units of its small electric car Mahindra e2o in Delhi to be available to consumers on rent in partnership with Bengaluru-based self-drive car rental firm Zoomcar.

Both the companies have extended their collaboration to Delhi post similar collaboration in Mysuru, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

The initiative is aimed at promoting connected, shared and electric mobility as a model, in line with the recommendations in the NITI Aayog report on the government’s 2030 vision.

It is to be noted that Mahindra had picked up a 16 percent equity stake at Rs 176 crore in Zoomcar in February this year.

"Mahindra Electric has been a pioneer in the EV space and continuously explores associations to increase adoption of Electric Vehicles in the country. Today, we are happy to extend our association with Zoomcar and introduce our EVs on the shared mobility platform in Delhi," said Mahesh Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric. "The government of Delhi has been very supportive, and is in fact one of the only states to offer additional financial incentives to promote adoption of EVs amongst its citizens. We are confident that this move will help more people adopt EV as a technology and will contribute in the India's journey towards a greener future for the country."

The vehicles under this initiative are financed by LeasePlan. In addition to this, Zoomcar has a larger financing arrangement with Mahindra Finance, which will see Zoomcar obtain customised EV financing.

"As the national capital, Delhi has consistently shown visionary leadership on various sustainable initiatives such as the Metro, Odd-Even, and CNG infrastructure," said Greg Moran, Co-Founder and CEO, Zoomcar. "Today's roll out of 100 EVs coupled with best-in-class fast charging infrastructure is an extension of the Delhi government's vision for a cleaner, greener India. Zoomcar is pleased to partner with the Mahindra Electric team once again to lead the transition to an all-electric urban mobility model."

This is not the first time that Mahindra, after acquiring Reva Car Company the erstwhile owner of e2o in 2010, has tried to push the e2o in the taxi cab market. In September 2013, it had tied up with India's largest cab company Carzonrent to offer self drive options with the car in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. It was then available for Rs 100 per hour or Rs 800 for the entire day. The experiment fizzled out as it failed to enthuse consumers.

The above development was first reported in Business Today.

Electric Mobility Activities in India

Few days back, a Mumbai-based startup called Strom Motors has unveiled an electric car that would cost mere ₹3 lakh. The electric car however is of compact segment and unlike other e-cars has three wheels instead of four.

In January, IndianWeb2 reported that Hriman Motors, a Delhi-based startup, is working on building a 2-Seater electric car which one can rent for 50 Paise per kilometer. The electric car will have a battery that will never need to be replaced and will be IoT-enabled. The car is expected to launch in mid of this year.

A draft of India’s 10-year energy blueprint has revealed that the government is expecting as much as 57 percent of the country’s total electricity capacity to come from non-fossil fuel sources by the year 2027 -- a significant increase over the India's Paris agreement targets, which has asked the member countries to reach 40 percent non-fossil fuel electricity by the year 2030.

Last May, Indian government established policy think tank, Niti Aayog, released a report called Transformative Mobility Solutions for India wherein it revealed India's plan for electric cars and charging stations infrastructure.

In the same month, India’s home-grown cab hailing firm, Ola had launched - Ola Electric, India’s first multi-modal electric platform that includes electric autos, cars, and buses in Nagpur. Ola and Mahindra have had partnered with the Government of India in a first-of- its-kind programme to build an electric mass mobility ecosystem in Nagpur which will bring about a transformational change in the automotive and transportation landscape in the country.

[Top Image - News18.com]

Mumbai Startup Launches Cheapest Electric Car in Compact Segment

Tesla has yet to launch its electric car in India while homegrown automobile makers - Mahindra and Tata have heavy price tags of anything between ₹8-12 lakhs, for its electric cars range.

Breaking this cost barrier and bringing the affordability of electric cars closer to middle class Indians, a Mumbai-based startup called Strom Motors has just unveiled an electric car that would cost mere ₹3 lakh. The electric car however is of compact segment and unlike other e-cars has three wheels instead of four, thus its not as big as its bigger brand counterparts.

The car name is Strom R3 and has two-doors, single wheel at the rear and two wheels up front. It is available in three variants - R3 Pure, R3 Current and R3 Bolt, and two range options - 80 km and 120 km.

At the price range of ₹3 Lakhs it is truly the electric car that will appeal to every city dweller.

Founded in 2011 by Pratik Gupta - an ex-software intern at Motorola Mobility, Strom Motors aims to offer a fully air-conditioned 2+1 seater three wheeled reverse trike that is the perfect vehicle for today's urban youth, working professionals and young moms. The car costs 40 paise per km and can be parked in a space no bigger than 2 bikes.
The car's first two variants -- R3 Pure and R3 Current, come with a standard range of up to 80 km, which are upgradable, while the last and top-variant R3 Bolt offers a range of up to 120 km as standard.

[caption id="attachment_123879" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Image - Carandbike.com[/caption]

Notably, Strom R3 has charger of two kinds -- a normal charger that can charge Strom R3 in about 6-8 hours, and a fast charger that can charge the car with 80% power in 2 hours. The car, as Mahindra's Reva also uses electronic regenerative braking technology. Additionally, like the Nissan's electric car 'Leaf', the Strom R3 also uses a single pedal as the brake and throttle.

In terms of dimensions, the Strom - R 3 measures 2 , 907 mm in length, 1 , 450 mm in width, and 1 , 572 mm in height, with a 2 , 012 mm wheelbase.

Bookings for Strom R3 electric cars are already underway and the car is expected to officially go on sale by November 2018.

Strom Motors also claim that the R3 will be equipped with a remote assisted parking system which lets the driver park the car in tight spots using their phones.

The above news was first reported in NDTV Auto.

Earlier this January, IndianWeb2 reported that Hriman Motors, a Delhi-based startup, is working on building a 2-Seater electric car with a battery that will never need to be replaced and will be IoT-enabled. The car is expected to launch in mid of this year.

Elon Musk famed Tesla Electric cars are long awaited in India and though its not expected to be launched anytime soon, last December, someone in India had decided to privately import the Tesla X model to India. And, this marks the entry of India’s first Tesla vehicle.

In 2016, it was speculated that Tesla would launch its cars in India soon and even setup a manufacturing plant in India. Government of India did a lot to persuade Elon Musk but he remain unmoved with India's offers. In May 2017, he then finally revealed and announced (via Twitter) as why Tesla is not launching in India.

Speaking about India's plan for electric vehicle and infrastructure in India, the country unveiled 'National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020' in 2013 to address the issues of National energy security, vehicular pollution and growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities. Reiterating its commitment to the Paris Agreement, the Government of India has plans to make a major shift to electric vehicles by 2030. However, a draft of India’s 10-year energy blueprint has revealed that the government is expecting as much as 57 percent of the country’s total electricity capacity to come from non-fossil fuel sources by the year 2027 -- a significant increase over the India's Paris agreement targets, which has asked the member countries to reach 40 percent non-fossil fuel electricity by the year 2030.

Last May, Indian government established policy think tank, Niti Aayog, released a report called Transformative Mobility Solutions for India wherein it revealed India's plan for electric cars and charging stations infrastructure.

In the same month, India’s home-grown cab hailing firm, Ola had launched - Ola Electric, India’s first multi-modal electric platform that includes electric autos, cars, and buses in Nagpur. Ola and Mahindra have had partnered with the Government of India in a first-of- its-kind programme to build an electric mass mobility ecosystem in Nagpur which will bring about a transformational change in the automotive and transportation landscape in the country.

Mumbai Startup Launches Cheapest Electric Car in Compact Segment

Tesla has yet to launch its electric car in India while homegrown automobile makers - Mahindra and Tata have heavy price tags of anything between ₹8-12 lakhs, for its electric cars range.

Breaking this cost barrier and bringing the affordability of electric cars closer to middle class Indians, a Mumbai-based startup called Strom Motors has just unveiled an electric car that would cost mere ₹3 lakh. The electric car however is of compact segment and unlike other e-cars has three wheels instead of four, thus its not as big as its bigger brand counterparts.

The car name is Strom R3 and has two-doors, single wheel at the rear and two wheels up front. It is available in three variants - R3 Pure, R3 Current and R3 Bolt, and two range options - 80 km and 120 km.

At the price range of ₹3 Lakhs it is truly the electric car that will appeal to every city dweller.

Founded in 2011 by Pratik Gupta - an ex-software intern at Motorola Mobility, Strom Motors aims to offer a fully air-conditioned 2+1 seater three wheeled reverse trike that is the perfect vehicle for today's urban youth, working professionals and young moms. The car costs 40 paise per km and can be parked in a space no bigger than 2 bikes.
The car's first two variants -- R3 Pure and R3 Current, come with a standard range of up to 80 km, which are upgradable, while the last and top-variant R3 Bolt offers a range of up to 120 km as standard.

[caption id="attachment_123879" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Image - Carandbike.com[/caption]

Notably, Strom R3 has charger of two kinds -- a normal charger that can charge Strom R3 in about 6-8 hours, and a fast charger that can charge the car with 80% power in 2 hours. The car, as Mahindra's Reva also uses electronic regenerative braking technology. Additionally, like the Nissan's electric car 'Leaf', the Strom R3 also uses a single pedal as the brake and throttle.

In terms of dimensions, the Strom - R 3 measures 2 , 907 mm in length, 1 , 450 mm in width, and 1 , 572 mm in height, with a 2 , 012 mm wheelbase.

Bookings for Strom R3 electric cars are already underway and the car is expected to officially go on sale by November 2018.

Strom Motors also claim that the R3 will be equipped with a remote assisted parking system which lets the driver park the car in tight spots using their phones.

The above news was first reported in NDTV Auto.

Earlier this January, IndianWeb2 reported that Hriman Motors, a Delhi-based startup, is working on building a 2-Seater electric car with a battery that will never need to be replaced and will be IoT-enabled. The car is expected to launch in mid of this year.

Elon Musk famed Tesla Electric cars are long awaited in India and though its not expected to be launched anytime soon, last December, someone in India had decided to privately import the Tesla X model to India. And, this marks the entry of India’s first Tesla vehicle.

In 2016, it was speculated that Tesla would launch its cars in India soon and even setup a manufacturing plant in India. Government of India did a lot to persuade Elon Musk but he remain unmoved with India's offers. In May 2017, he then finally revealed and announced (via Twitter) as why Tesla is not launching in India.

Speaking about India's plan for electric vehicle and infrastructure in India, the country unveiled 'National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020' in 2013 to address the issues of National energy security, vehicular pollution and growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities. Reiterating its commitment to the Paris Agreement, the Government of India has plans to make a major shift to electric vehicles by 2030. However, a draft of India’s 10-year energy blueprint has revealed that the government is expecting as much as 57 percent of the country’s total electricity capacity to come from non-fossil fuel sources by the year 2027 -- a significant increase over the India's Paris agreement targets, which has asked the member countries to reach 40 percent non-fossil fuel electricity by the year 2030.

Last May, Indian government established policy think tank, Niti Aayog, released a report called Transformative Mobility Solutions for India wherein it revealed India's plan for electric cars and charging stations infrastructure.

In the same month, India’s home-grown cab hailing firm, Ola had launched - Ola Electric, India’s first multi-modal electric platform that includes electric autos, cars, and buses in Nagpur. Ola and Mahindra have had partnered with the Government of India in a first-of- its-kind programme to build an electric mass mobility ecosystem in Nagpur which will bring about a transformational change in the automotive and transportation landscape in the country.