BYD Eyes a large chunk of Indian electric passenger vehicle market

BYD Eyes a large chunk of Indian electric passenger vehicle market

Inaugurating its first vehicle showroom at Kochi in Kerala, BYD India Private Limited (BYD India) is slowly and surely entrenching itself into the Indian electric passenger vehicle space. As it does so, it is eying a big chunk of the growing electric passenger vehicle market. In what is expected as a market place that will spearhead a shift to alternate fuel vehicles in the mid- to long-term, BYD India, a subsidiary of China-based BYD company that specialises in the manufacture of electric buses and passenger vehicles, is looking at getting closer to its target customers by offering the BYD electric MPV and e6. 

Managed by EVM Southcoast in Kochi, the BYD India dealership will facilitate automotive consumers and buyers to seek one of the best electric vehicles available in the market, according to Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, Senior Vice President – Electric Passenger Vehicle Business, BYD India. “Starting from Kochi, we are getting closer to our target customers and are delighted to inaugurate our first showroom in the country with EVM Southcoast. We hope that our customised products and service will spur and accelerate green initiatives in the region,” he added. 

Of the opinion that Kochi is the most densely populated city of Kerala and is also known as the financial, commercial and industrial capital of the state, Shrirang Joshi, National Sales Head – Electric Passenger Vehicles Business, BYD India, mentioned, “Kochi has immense potential for premium passenger cars and we strongly believe that BYD will be the main contributor to EV adoption in the EPV segments in Kerala.” Spreading its wings in the Indian market with a careful study of which products will appeal and which markets are likely to accept them sooner than later, BYD India as the subsidiary of Warren Buffet-backed Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer that overtook Tesla this year is confident that it will find a way to be among the leading electric vehicle manufacturers in the country. 

It is no secret that BYD as a brand is already gathered an amount of visibility in India. The electric buses it produces in India in collaboration with Olectra are a common sight on Indian roads – in cities especially where they form a part of the fleet of STUs. Electric buses made by Olectra-BYD (this company is surprisingly claimed to have connection whatsoever with BYD India) are also found with some inter-city operators – public and private. These e-buses also reflect the fact that BYD is not new to this market as has already done its homework. 

The Chinese company has already gained a good insight into the factors that are driving the shift to electric vehicles. Claimed to be working on a plan to build its own manufacturing facility at Sriperambudur near Chennai, BYD, it is certain has done its calculation. It has learnt from the competition it has in the electric bus space in the country. With years of experience and knowledge in the manufacture of electric vehicles as diverse as buses and passenger vehicles, it is slowly and surely moving forward in a market place that saw the homegrown Mahindra & Mahindra unveiled an electric version of its XUV700 SUV among a few other exciting electric passenger vehicles recently. Currently, it is MG Motors and Tata Motors that are having a good hold in the electric passenger market in India. 

Expected to participate in the upcoming Auto Expo to highlight its commitment towards the Indian market, BYD India plans to sell about 1000 electric vehicles. These, it is said, will be assembled locally in line with the government policies in place for EVs and to take advantage of the PLI scheme, which provides a distinct advantage to those who manufacture locally and leverage the local supply chain. 

Ather Energy Launches 450X Overtones Series And Upgrades

Ather 450X

Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle company Ather Energy has introduced the 450X Overtones Series, featuring a tone-on-tone treatment across three colourways: Still White, Space Grey and Lunar Grey.

Over the years, the company’s e-scooter lineup has received multiple hardware and software updates, including features such as AutoHold, Magic Twist and Multi Mode Traction Control. Ather has also implemented Infinite Cruise, which facilitates speed management across varied terrains.

Ather Energy’s recent rollout of Atherstack 7 includes new safety features such as CrashAlert that detects accidents and notifies emergency contacts. ParkSafe for providing warnings regarding parking zones and LockSafe, which enables motor immobilisation via the app.

Additionally, the company is introducing a 900W charger, which decreases 450 charging times by 30 percent.

Ola Electric Sells 16,144 E2Ws In June 2026

Ola Electric

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has announced that it registered 16,144 electric two-wheelers in June 2026, as compared to 20,697 units for the same period last year.

For Q1 FY2027, the retail sales came to 43,719 units, as compared to 22,252 units sold in Q4 FY2026.

“Q1 FY27 marks a significant milestone in our growth journey, with registrations doubling sequentially and June registering 16,144 vehicles - our strongest monthly performance in recent quarters. The sustained momentum reflects the success of our operational improvements, strong product portfolio and continued customer preference for Ola Electric. We remain focused on accelerating EV adoption through technology leadership, manufacturing scale and delivering a differentiated ownership experience," the company said in a statement.

Ola Electric attributes its performance to improvements in retail execution and product availability.

Kazam And AEEE Launch Report On EV-Ready Residential Infrastructure In India

Kazam And AEEE Launch Report On EV-Ready Residential Infrastructure In India

EV charging and energy management company Kazam, in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), has unveiled a report emphasising residential charging infrastructure's role in India's net-zero journey. Titled ‘The Net-Zero Transition Starts at Home’, the document was released at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The launch was attended by Amal Sinha from BSES, Sameer Pandita of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Irfan Ahmad from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and other energy regulators.

The findings draw from Kazam's dataset of over 80,000 residential charger installations, gathered through field surveys and consumer interviews across 5,000 pin codes, including high-adoption states like Assam, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The analysis examines how EV adoption is altering household electricity consumption patterns nationwide.

India's EV transition diverges from global markets, driven by light electric vehicles, with two-wheelers and three-wheelers comprising roughly 90 percent of 2025 sales. These vehicles are typically charged overnight at home, yet nearly half of potential buyers lack access to formal residential charging infrastructure.

The report identifies three primary obstacles to safe residential charging. Prolonged overnight cycles strain grids not designed for sustained loads, causing overheating, socket melting, voltage fluctuations and inadequate earthing. Structural challenges persist in urban areas, where 70 to 75 percent of residents live in apartments, facing issues like lack of dedicated parking and resistance from housing associations.

Kazam and AEEE convened a roundtable with government bodies, utilities and real estate firms, proposing a four-layer framework defining EV readiness across sanctioned load, metering, earthing, wiring and awareness. Kazam also launched an online quiz for buyers to assess home preparedness. The report notes that for India's growing gig workforce, home charging is vital, as public stations can triple or quadruple electricity costs.

Akshay Shekhar, Co-Founder & CEO, Kazam, said, “Creating safe and EV-ready homes will be critical to sustaining long-term confidence in electric mobility and ensuring the benefits of EV transition are available to all. EV-readiness must become a core component of how residential projects are planned, approved and built, not as an afterthought. From affordable housing to redevelopment projects, charging infrastructure should be embedded into building approvals and occupancy certificates as a fundamental requirement. At the same time, schemes such as PM E-DRIVE and state EV policies can play a critical role in supporting residential electrical retrofits, particularly for low-income households and rental-heavy communities where dependence on electric two- and three-wheelers is the highest.”

Sumedh Agarwal, Director, Smart and Resilient Power and Mobility, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), said, “India has made significant progress on EV adoption being increasingly driven by people who use their vehicles to earn a living, but our residential infrastructure remains unprepared for the transition at scale. Charging access at home directly shapes the economics of vehicle ownership, particularly for delivery partners, commercial drivers and small entrepreneurs who depend on their vehicles for daily earnings. EV-readiness must now be built into our buildings, electricity networks and urban planning frameworks. The next phase of India's EV transition will be won or lost in our residences, and it must be safe, inclusive and capable of delivering long-term economic and environmental benefits at scale."

Drivn Partners BillionE Mobility To Deploy 200 Electric Trucks

Drivn - BillionE Mobility

Drivn, an EV leasing platform for commercial fleets, has formed a partnership with BillionE Mobility to lease and deploy 200 electric trucks. This collaboration aims to advance freight operations in India through fleet deployment, route electrification and charging infrastructure.

The first phase involves the deployment of 22 trucks for a cement industry customer under a long-term contract. This initiative establishes an electrified freight corridor. The partners project that this deployment will reduce CO2 emissions by 4,500 tonnes annually compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks.

Alpna Jain, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Drivn, said, "Electric trucks scale only when the right ecosystem is in place. Reliable charging infrastructure, alignment across partners, and disciplined on-ground execution are all critical to making large-scale deployments successful. Through our partnership with BillionE Mobility, we are focused on ensuring high vehicle uptime, operational consistency, and efficiency across every trip. This deployment demonstrates that EV freight is not just about replacing diesel trucks, but about building a logistics model that delivers both environmental and operational benefits."

Kartikey Hariyani, Founder, BillionE Mobility and Sanjeev Kulkarni, CEO, BillionE Mobility, added, “At BillionE Mobility, we’re not just imagining the future of mobility – we’re building it. Electrifying India's freight sector is a collaborative effort. By partnering with Drivn, we are combining technology, operations, and financing to remove key barriers to EV adoption. Together, we look forward to helping customers transition to cleaner, more efficient logistics.”