Posied to launch an electric two-wheeler during the second half of FY2024-25, TVS Motor Company is eyeing 30 percent share of its sales to come from electric vehicles. In this direction, the Chennai-based company is also working on an electric three-wheeler. 

TVS Motor Company Managing Director Sudarshan Venu opined that the company is gearing up for an aggressive push into the electric vehicle (EV) market with plans to have a large portion of its sales from its electric portfolio in the coming years.

Speaking to Motoring Trends on the sidelines of Indian Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting held in Kolkata, the top official said, “We are incredibly excited about electrification and it’s becoming a central focus for TVS. A significant portion of the company’s future growth will come from its electric line-up. The company has identified electric mobility as a major area of investment and expects that this segment will contribute to around 30 percent of its sales in the foreseeable future.”

The company is currently offering electric scooters like the iQube and X. It is gearing up to introduce another electric scooter this financial year. What is even more interesting is the foray of TVS Motorc Company into electric bicycles. It is in line with its commitment to build a full range of electric mobility solutions.

TVS is heavily investing in research and development with a significant focus on electric vehicle technology. The company, claim sources, employs around 800-900 engineers in research and development. Their expertise, sources add, spans across key domains on the electric vehicle side such as battery management system, motor control unit, cycle control unit and various electronics.

With an emphasis on developing much of the components used in electric vehicles, inclduing the motor in-house, TVS is working to further advance its capabilities in the electric mobility space.

Commenting on the technological focus of the upcoming electric two-wheeler, Venu noted, “The new product is expected to focus on advancements in battery technology, which is continuously improving. TVS, through its global partnerships, aims to offer batteries that are among the best in the market. Additionally, the integrated electrical and electronic architecture, along with significant investments in vehicle software, control systems and physical design, are seen as key strengths. Bringing these elements together is considered a major advantage for the company, setting it apart in the competitive electric vehicle market.”

Answering whether the manufacturer plans to foray into the electric small commercial vehicles market, he said, “TVS is currently focusing its efforts on two and three-wheelers and is not actively pursuing the small commercial vehicles market. The company is prioritising advancements and innovation in its existing vehicle segments rather than expanding into that space at this time.”

Mid-term growth

Looking ahead, TVS anticipates strong growth in the two-wheeler market with the managing director forecasting industry growth in proper double digits. He added that TVS is well-positioned to grow at a faster rate than the overall industry, driven by its investments in both electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

As part of its growth strategy, TVS is also focusing on expanding its presence in the export market. The company has set its sights on increasing its market share in its current export markets while also exploring new opportunities. One key area of focus is Europe, where TVS plans to expand its presence by CY2025. The company is also optimistic about opportunities in Africa, where the market is beginning to recover after a challenging period.

“Africa, which contributes a significant portion of our export revenue, had bottomed out but we’re seeing signs of improvement and expect to capitalise on opportunities there,” the managing director said.

Alluding to whether EVs will outgrow ICE in the two-wheeler category in the near future, Venu remarked, “We recognise the opportunities in the electric vehicle sector and aim to capitalise on them. While the electric two-wheeler market is expected to grow rapidly, partly due to its low starting base, ICE vehicles are still seen as having a significant future. Currently, ICE vehicles account for 95 percent of the industry, and TVS believes consumer preferences will largely dictate the pace of transition. As a result, the company continues to invest in new ICE products, seeing potential for growth in both EV and ICE segments.”

On the alternative-fuel front, he noted that CNG is considered an appealing option due to its emissions-saving potential and affordability. The three-wheeler market, particularly in India and other regions, is experiencing notable growth, presenting opportunities in this segment. TVS is expected to explore this area further. 

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Ohme has announced a new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG, promising easier, smarter and more affordable home charging for electric vehicle drivers across six Volkswagen Group brands. The collaboration extends Ohme’s existing partnership with the Group in UK and Ireland, now offering a dedicated official application programming interface for all Ohme users.

This development allows EV owners to pair their vehicles directly with Ohme home chargers and access near real time readings of the car’s state of charge. Eligible models include those from Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi, ensuring broad coverage across the Group’s portfolio.

Already, more than 100,000 Volkswagen Group customers throughout Europe rely on Ohme to manage home charging. With the new system, these drivers will see their vehicle’s battery status displayed directly in the Ohme app, removing guesswork from the charging process and providing enhanced clarity regarding energy consumption and associated costs.

Lasse Schmidt van Hülst, Lead Sales & Key Account Management, Volkswagen Group Info Services, said, “We’re excited that Ohme is applying Volkswagen Group Charging Data to enhance its charging services. As home electricity tariffs across Europe become smarter and more dynamic, Ohme’s expertise and software means this new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG comes at the perfect time for EV drivers.”

Peter McDonald from Ohme said, “We’re genuinely proud to be extending our partnership with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG in this way. Having direct access to the vehicle state of charge data means our customers get a truly hassle-free charging experience – the app does the hard work, automatically finding the cheapest times to charge. It’s a real statement of where Ohme is heading and underlines its commitment to giving EV drivers the best possible experience.”

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ChargeZone and TATA.ev have launched a co-branded Mega Charging Hub on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, featuring a total capacity of 720 kW. Located at the Khalapur food mall, the facility is designed to support high-speed intercity travel on one of India’s busiest highway corridors.

The hub is the 75th installation under a strategic partnership between ChargeZone and TATA.ev, which aims to deploy over 100 such hubs across the country’s national highways. The Khalapur hub is one of the most powerful public charging installations in India, engineered to minimise wait times during peak travel hours. The facility can charge up to 10 electric vehicles at once. It features five dispensers with 10 charging points. In Boost Mode, it can deliver up to 360 kW for ultra-fast charging.

This launch contributes to ChargeZone’s national footprint of over 15,000 charging points. By positioning the hub at the Khalapur Food Mall, the partners aim to integrate vehicle charging into the existing travel routine.

EV Users will get access to diverse dining options, restrooms and retail facilities while their vehicles charge. TATA.ev customers are eligible for a 25 percent discount on charging tariffs at this station. The hub is open to all EV owners, supporting a wider ecosystem under TATA.ev’s ‘Open Collaboration 2.0’ framework.

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO, ChargeZone, said, “Highway charging is the backbone of intercity electrification, and that backbone needs to be built at scale and built right. The launch of the Mega Charging hub at Khalapur marks a significant milestone in our journey to build a high-power, future-ready EV charging network across India. With a 720 kW capacity, this installation sets a new benchmark for public charging infrastructure in the country. Our focus is on enabling fast, reliable, and seamless intercity EV travel, and this partnership with Tata.ev is a strong step in that direction as we scale across strategic national corridors.”

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, added, “As leaders of India’s 4-wheeler electric revolution, at TATA.ev, we are striving to co-create a charging network that is fast, reliable, and accessible. With over 200 active TATA.ev Mega Charging Hubs live across the country, the launch of this new hub with ChargeZone at the Khalapur Food Mall – one of the most frequented pit-stops on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway – marks a key milestone in enabling seamless intercity travel for EV owners. We are confident that collaborations like these will play a defining role in making long-distance EV journeys dependable and convenient.”

The initiative is part of a broader mission by TATA.ev to introduce 500 Mega Charging Hubs and over 400,000 charging points by 2027. By focusing on high-speed corridors like the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, the collaboration seeks to eliminate range anxiety and accelerate the adoption of electric passenger vehicles in India.

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its Chetak electric scooter lineup, introducing a new ‘C Series’ nomenclature and integrating premium features like Google Maps as standard on its flagship models.

The portfolio is now categorised into three distinct tiers: C 35, C 30 and C 25, with the numbers corresponding to battery capacity (e.g., 3.5 kWh, 3.0 kWh and 2.5 kWh). This strategic move aims to simplify the range while elevating the technological standards of the ‘Fully Lifeproof’ brand.

Bajaj Auto has responded to consumer demand for higher speeds by increasing the top speed across the entire range. The C 35 Series top speed has increased from 73 kmph to 80 kmph, while motor output has also been bumped from 4.5 kW to 4.8 kW.

Similarly, C 30 Series top speed has increased from 63 kmph to 70 kmph. C 25 Series top speed increased from 55 kmph to 60 kmph.

Furthermore, the charging time on the C 30 01 sees a significant reduction in zero to 80 percent, which now takes 2 hours and 55 minutes as compared to approximately 4 hours earlier.

The highlight of the MY 2026 upgrade is the deep integration of navigation and software support. Based on user feedback, Bajaj Auto has integrated Google Maps for a more intuitive navigation experience.

Ride Modes (Sports and Eco) and Hill Hold Assist, which were previously part of the paid ‘TecPac’ add-on, are now standard across the C 35 and C 30 series.

The C 35 models now support Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, allowing for remote performance optimisations and feature additions without visiting a service centre.

Eric Vas, President, Urbanite Business at Bajaj Auto, said, "With the flagship C 35 01, we are delivering the full extent of these advancements — combining stronger performance, more intuitive connectivity through Google Maps, and the added convenience of riding modes and hill-hold now offered as built-in features."

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Hyundai Motor India Limited has introduced the updated IONIQ 5, featuring a larger battery pack and a suite of technological upgrades designed to extend the vehicle's driving range and functional capabilities.

The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 is priced at an ex-showroom rate of INR 5.57 million and is available in four colour options – Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White – all featuring an Obsidian Black interior theme.

The updated model is now equipped with an 84.0 kWh battery, providing an ARAI-certified range of 690 km on a single charge. This update focuses on reducing range anxiety for long-distance travel while maintaining the vehicle's position on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

The updated IONIQ 5 introduces several first-time features for the model in the Indian market, including a Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) and Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, which allow for seamless software improvements. It now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A new in-car payment system enables users to pay for electric vehicle charging directly through the infotainment screen. The EV receives redesigned front and rear bumpers, a new rear spoiler and updated alloy wheels to enhance its aerodynamic profile.

On the inside, the cabin features a redesigned centre console with physical controls for ventilated seats and a revised wireless charging pad location for improved accessibility.

Hyundai has expanded the vehicle's safety suite with the addition of Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Rear (PCA-R) and Side Parking Distance Warning (PDW). These features complement the existing safety architecture to provide better protection during low-speed manoeuvres.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “With the introduction of the new Hyundai IONIQ 5, we are building on this strong foundation by offering meaningful product upgrades that enhance driving range, technology and everyday convenience. These enhancements further strengthen the IONIQ 5’s appeal as a premium, future ready electric SUV.”

The vehicle continues to support ultra-fast charging capabilities, consistent with its E-GMP architecture, aimed at the premium electric SUV segment in India.

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