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. 
 

Kinetic Watts And Volts Partners IDFC FIRST Bank For Retail Financing

Kinetic

Pune-headquartered electric vehicle company Kinetic Watts and Volts, a subsidiary of Kinetic Engineering, has entered into a retail financing partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank to provide credit options across its dealership network.

The arrangement enables customers at Kinetic EV dealerships to access loan options, interest rates and instalment plans, subject to eligibility criteria. Ground teams from IDFC FIRST Bank will collaborate directly with dealership staff to process applications at the point of sale. The initiative coincides with the expansion of Kinetic EV’s retail footprint, which currently comprises over 65 operational sales, service and spare parts facilities in India.

Ajinkya Firodia, MD, Kinetic Watts and Volts, said, "For many customers, choosing an electric two-wheeler is not just about selecting the right product, but also about finding a purchase option that works for them. Our partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank gives customers greater choice at the point of purchase and strengthens the support available across our dealership network. With quick financing options, attractive EMI plans and exciting offers for eligible customers, we want to make the overall purchase journey simpler and more convenient. As we continue to expand our presence across markets, we look forward to making the journey towards electric mobility more accessible for more customers."

The tie-up leverages the bank's branch and operational network to support dealership sales in multiple regional markets. The companies are also developing customer schemes and promotional offers that will be announced at a later date.

Gaurav Syal, Business Head – 2W, IDFC FIRST Bank, said, "We are pleased to partner with Kinetic Watts and Volts as an OEM partner for two-wheeler retail finance. The electric two-wheeler segment is witnessing increasing customer interest, and our partnership with Kinetic EV will enable us to extend our financing solutions to a wider set of customers across its dealership network. Through our on-ground presence and customer-focused financing capabilities, we look forward to supporting the dealerships and contributing to a seamless vehicle purchase experience for customers."

TVS Motor Delivers Over 100 iQube MillionR Special Edition In Cuttack

TVS iQube MillionR

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler company TVS Motor Company conducted a single-day delivery event in Cuttack, Odisha, handing over more than 100 units of the TVS iQube MillionR Special Edition electric scooter to customers.

The MillionR Special Edition was launched on 25 August 2026 to mark the cumulative sales milestone of one million TVS iQube scooters. Based on the 3.5 kWh battery variant, the edition features an Aurora Green Dual Tone paint finish, custom seat upholstery and specific graphics alongside MillionR badging.

The e-scooter features a front utility storage compartment that expands overall storage capacity from 32 litres to 35.5 litres, an integrated USB Type-C charging port and over 118 connected features. The 3.5 kWh battery setup provides an Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) range of 145 km on a single charge.

In Odisha, the TVS iQube MillionR Special Edition is priced at INR 131,138 (effective ex-showroom). The standard TVS iQube range starts at INR 105,851 (effective ex-showroom), with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) option pricing starting at INR 59,999.

More Retail Inducts Montra Electric Eviator For Mid-Mile Logistics

Montra Eviator

More Retail, a leading supermarket and hypermarket chain, has expanded its electric mid-mile logistics operations through the deployment of 110 Montra Electric Eviator electric small commercial vehicles across its distribution network, including 25 units in Bengaluru.

The company shared that electric commercial vehicles now account for 150 of its 600 total mid-mile logistics fleet. The 110 Montra Electric Eviator units operate across daily store replenishment and delivery routes, covering a combined minimum distance of 22,000 kilometres per day. The transition from internal combustion engine vehicles aims to lower operational energy expenses and vehicle maintenance requirements while providing driver ergonomics for city traffic conditions.

Saju Nair, CEO of the e-SCV Division, Montra Electric, said, "Electrification of commercial mobility will accelerate when it delivers measurable business value at scale. More Retail’s journey towards 100 percent electrification with our Eviator, is a strong example of that shift, from evaluating EVs as an alternative to deploying them as a core part of everyday logistics. As More Retail moves towards a fully electric mid-mile fleet, our focus is to enable that transition with vehicles and an ecosystem built around uptime, efficiency and long-term profitability."

Prasanna Hegde, National Transport Manager, More Retail, said, "Our mid-mile fleet keeps our stores stocked every day, so reliability comes first for us. The move from ICE vehicles to Montra Electric's Eviator e-SCVs has been smooth across our distribution network. The vehicles have already covered over 8.8 lakh kilometres on our routes, and our drivers have responded well to their comfort, instant torque and day-to-day dependability. Alongside lower operating costs, we are cutting emissions with every delivery run. With 150 of our 600 mid-mile vehicles now electric, we are well on our way to a fully electric fleet, and Montra Electric has been a trusted partner at every step."

The Montra Electric Eviator features a 10.3-foot loading deck and a payload capacity of up to 1,707 kg. The vehicles are integrated with telematics systems that monitor battery status, driver metrics, and route planning data to maintain fleet uptime between distribution centres and retail outlets.

LG Energy Solution Inks MoU With indiGOtech To Explore EV Battery Supply & Tech

LG Energy Solution - indiGOtech

South Korean energy major LG Energy Solution has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with United States-based commercial electric vehicle startup indiGOtech to explore battery supply and technological collaboration.

Under the MoU, the companies will work toward a final agreement for LG Energy Solution to supply 46-series NCM cylindrical battery cells from 2027 to 2030 for indiGOtech’s Flow Ride and Flow Cargo vehicles.

The partnership involves vehicle-battery integration, performance verification, driving range extension, and charging time reduction. The agreement expands LG Energy Solution's client base for its 46-series cylindrical batteries, following a reported 1.5-fold YoY increase in cylindrical battery shipments in the second quarter.

Headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, indiGOtech specialises in commercial van platforms for the North American market, integrating vehicles, charging infrastructure and digital services.

Will Graylin, Chairman and CEO, indiGOtech, said, "Urban ride hail and delivery must electrify and automate at scale, but today’s electric vehicles are not designed for purpose, and are severely limited by the local charging infrastructure – that’s why vast majority of rides and deliveries are still driven by gas vehicles. Working toward a long-term relationship with LG Energy Solution brings together advanced battery technology for durable economic advantage for vehicles, drivers and fleet operators."

Sunghwan Oh, Mobility & IT Battery Marketing Group Leader, LG Energy Solution, said, "Based on LG Energy Solution’s 46-series NCM cylindrical battery technology that boasts high energy density and rapid charging capabilities, we will closely collaborate with indiGOtech, which is successfully building the Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) ecosystem in the U.S. Leveraging this partnership, we plan to enter the diverse commercial vehicle market in the U.S., including logistics, last-mile delivery, and ride-hailing."