BYD Slashes Vehicle Prices; Launches Revolutionary EV Charging System

With Tesla facing some difficulty due to the geopolitical situation concerned US and its owner, Elon Musk as the man close to US President Donald Trump, it is China’s BYD that has announced lowering of prices of its electric performance passenger vehicles. According to a report in Yahoo News, buyers of BYD electric vehicles will have to spend no more than US$ 10,000 to acquire one for themselves. Not only undercutting domestic competitors BYD seems to be gearing up to undercut its global competitors like Tesla as well. 
Besides announcing that its EVs will start at US$13,688 and feature ‘God’s Eye’ advanced driver assistance system as standard, BYD has also announced a revolutionary charging technology that works nearly as fast as a fill up. The ultra-fast EV charging system includes flash-chargers that can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes. The time taken is similar to the amount of time needed to fill a fuel tank of an ICE vehicle.
Planning to build more than 4,000 new charging stations across China, the electric vehicle maker has been refining its battery and energy storage technology over time. Expanding its auto empire outside China, the company is known to claim that its one-megawatt flash chargers will provide power for up to 400 km in five minutes.
BYD founder Wang Chuanfu is known to have said in a recent statement that ultra-high voltage and a large current are required to maximise charging speeds. To completely solve users' anxiety over charging, our pursuit is to make the charging time for EVs as short as the refueling time for fuel vehicles, he elaborated. 
Its flash-charging system relies on silicon carbide power chips with voltage levels of up to 1,500-volt. Developed in house, the system works to ultra-fast charge the Blade lithium-ion phosphate batteries found in BYD vehicles. The Blade battery technology of the Chinese company is considered to the world's safest and most efficient. Even Tesla is said to have taken to use blade batteries in some of its EVs, acknowledging its benefits over other battery technologies, sources in the EV industry claim. 
BYD reported a sale of over 4.3 million new energy vehicles last year, up 41 percent when compared to the sale of 1.8 million battery electric vehicles and 2.5 million plug-in hybrids in the corresponding period the year prior. 
In India, BYD unveiled the Sealion range of performance electric cars in January 2025 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. It has been steadily expanding its reach in the country’s growing EV market, which is dominated in the passenger vehicle space by players like Tata Motors, JSW MG Motors and Hyundai Motor India among a few others. 
 

MMCM Appoints Prasad S Shetty As Chief Financial Officer

Prasad Shetty

Mumbai-headquartered Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM), a circular economy solutions platform, has appointed Prasad S Shetty as its new Chief Financial Officer. The appointment comes as the company expands its operations across carbon credits, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks and digital Measurement, Reporting & Verification (MRV) systems.

Shetty is a Chartered Accountant with over 13 years of experience in finance, strategy, taxation and governance. Prior to joining MMCM, he served as Associate Director – Finance at Freight Tiger, a logistics technology company backed by Tata Motors. His previous career history includes roles at BARC India, where he managed taxation, reporting and audits, and Allcargo Logistics, where he oversaw group-wide GST implementation. In his new role, Shetty will oversee the finance function, driving financial direction and governance structures.

Nitin Chitkara, CEO, Meta Materials Circular Markets, said, “As India's circular economy and carbon markets ecosystem enters a more active and consequential phase, it is critical that we build a leadership team equipped to match that momentum. Prasad brings deep financial and governance expertise across high-growth, complex businesses, and his experience will be invaluable as we scale our operations, strengthen our financial discipline and continue building credible, high-integrity market infrastructure. This appointment is an important step in future-proofing our leadership as we prepare for our next phase of growth.”

Prasad S Shetty added, “I am excited to join MMCM at a pivotal time for India's circular economy and carbon markets. The opportunity to build robust financial foundations for a company that sits at the intersection of sustainability and innovation is one I am truly looking forward to. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team to drive financial discipline, strengthen governance and partner across the business to support MMCM's long-term growth and value creation.”

At present, Meta Materials Circular Markets provides data platform services for the automotive sector, integrating carbon credits, EPR frameworks and digital MRV systems to support sustainable material recovery.

BGauss Unveils Oowah, Its First EV Pop Scooter For India's Youthful Riders

BGauss Unveils Oowah, Its First EV Pop Scooter For India's Youthful Riders

BGauss has introduced the Oowah, a new electric scooter engineered for India’s emerging generation of first-time EV buyers. Marking the company’s inaugural entry into the EV Pop scooter category, the vehicle blends practical urban commuting with a distinctive, expressive design philosophy tailored to the contemporary Indian rider.

The scooter is powered by a 3.0 kWh removable Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, which facilitates convenient indoor charging for owners without dedicated home infrastructure. Achieving an ARAI-certified range of 145 kilometres, the Oowah is available in four bold colour options – Emerald Shadow, Jamun Punch, Zesty Red and Tangy Toma – and is engineered to balance reliable performance with a striking aesthetic.

Everyday usability has been prioritised through the integration of several rider-centric features. These include reverse assist for effortless parking, a distance-to-empty indicator for journey planning and a side stand sensor to enhance safety. Additional amenities such as USB charging, full LED lighting and generous under-seat storage are intended to make electric mobility more intuitive and convenient for daily use.

This launch coincides with a significant growth phase in India’s electric two-wheeler market, which recorded over 1.11-million-unit sales in early 2026 and surpassed 11 percent monthly penetration. While current offerings are largely premium or value-focused, BGauss identifies an emerging category centred on design and self-expression. The Oowah represents the brand’s strategic expansion beyond its existing commuter models, directly targeting youthful buyers and first-time owners as the market evolves towards mainstream, high-volume demand.

Hemant Kabra, Founder, BGauss, said, “The Indian two-wheeler buyer is changing faster than most product portfolios have kept pace with. Gen Z wants products that are expressive, contemporary and enjoyable to own. With Oowah, we are introducing a new category that blends bold design with trusted electric mobility. It is a scooter that reflects individuality while delivering the reliability and practicality that riders expect from BGauss.”

Indofast Energy Accelerates Network Expansion Through Strategic GLIDA Collaboration

Indofast Energy Accelerates Network Expansion Through Strategic GLIDA Collaboration

Indofast Energy, India’s leading battery-swapping solutions provider, has entered a strategic collaboration with GLIDA, a major public EV charging infrastructure firm formerly known as Fortum Charge & Drive India. The agreement involves situating Indofast’s Quick Interchange Stations at existing GLIDA sites nationwide, effectively merging swap and charge capabilities into unified energy hubs for diverse electric vehicles.

The initial rollout includes 10 stations across Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with ambitious plans to expand to 50 locations and over 100 swapping points within the next year. By combining GLIDA’s established power infrastructure and prime site network with Indofast’s advanced swapping technology, the initiative aims to offer fleet operators and delivery riders seamless, rapid turnaround services, thereby maximising vehicle uptime and accelerating the deployment of Indofast’s Battery-as-a-Service model in busy markets.

This alliance reinforces Indofast’s role in sustainable urban transit, complementing its existing footprint of more than 1,900 stations across 24 cities. The growing network has already facilitated over two billion kilometres of emission-free travel, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding clean mobility through partnerships with OEMs, fleet operators and infrastructure providers.

Subhash Bhat, Interim CEO, Indofast Energy, said, "Our partnership with GLIDA enables us to rapidly expand our Battery-as-a-Service network by leveraging well-connected, power-ready sites that can be quickly activated for battery swapping operations. This collaboration is about bringing our quick, reliable swapping experience to more riders where they need it most – at accessible, high-utilisation locations across key markets. As we aim to scale to 100+ Quick Interchange Stations across 50 sites within the next year, we are strengthening the energy infrastructure that India's growing electric mobility ecosystem demands. Every new deployment brings us closer to our mission of making battery swapping the most accessible, productive and sustainable energy choice for EV users across the country.”

Deepak Paliwal, Managing Director & CEO, GLIDA, said, "At GLIDA, our mission has always been to deliver advanced, highly reliable and seamless charging solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the EV ecosystem. Over the last decade, we have learned that the hard part is not the technology, it is the site: land in the right location, dependable grid connectivity and operations that run reliably every day. Our charging station locations especially hubs have room for doing more for the benefit of ecosystem. This partnership with Indofast Energy allows us to display future-ready mobility infrastructure where high-power charging and rapid battery swapping coexist to serve different vehicle categories from a single location. This is how we could electrify more vehicles per square foot of urban India, and how we build a more efficient, inclusive and decarbonised transit system.”

Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Posts INR 2.72 Billion Profit Before Tax In Q1 FY2027

Amara Raja Energy and Mobility

Amara Raja Energy and Mobility (ARE&M), a comprehensive energy solutions provider, has announced its financial results for Q1 FY2027. The company’s revenue grew 21 percent to INR 40.41 billion, as compared to INR 33.50 billion a year ago.

The profit before tax came at INR 2.72 billion, up 4 percent YoY, as against INR 2.61 billion last year.

Harshavardhana Gourineni, Executive Director-Automotive and Industrial, Amara Raja Energy and Mobility, said, “We have begun FY27 on a strong note, with broad-based growth across all segments. The Automotive domestic business revenue grew over 20 percent YoY on the back of healthy OEM demand and double-digit growth in the aftermarket. Home Energy grew over 30 percent YoY, supported by a strong summer season, while the Industrial Battery business sustained momentum with UPS segment recording double digit revenue growth.”

He further stated that the company’s international business faced headwinds due to geopolitical situation and shifting trade dynamics.  “We are actively recalibrating our market and channel mix to build a more resilient export franchise," he said.

Vikramadithya Gourineni, Executive Director - New Energy Business, Amara Raja Energy and Mobility, added, "Strong growth in the stationary storage segment drove our volume performance during the quarter. We are steadily transforming into a fully integrated new energy company, with capabilities now spanning the entire value chain-from advanced cells and battery packs to chargers, power conversion technologies and energy storage systems; creating a strong platform for long-term growth."

Jayadev Galla, Chairman and Managing Director, Amara Raja Energy and Mobility, said, "Our Q1 performance demonstrates the strength of our diversified business portfolio and the resilience of our operating model. As India accelerates its transition towards a more energy-secure and self-reliant future, we continue to invest with conviction in technologies and capabilities that will define the next phase of growth. The commissioning of our Customer Qualification Plant and the steady progress of our Battery Energy Storage Systems facility and Giga Factory reinforce our commitment to building a globally competitive energy and mobility enterprise while creating sustained value for all our stakeholders."