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. 
 

Fiat Launches Topolino Micro EV In The United States

Fiat Topolino

Fiat has introduced the Topolino to the United States market, marking the entry of Stellantis into the country's micromobility segment. The EV is available in two body styles, the Topolino and the Topolino Dolcevita, through select dealers with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of USD 13,995, excluding destination fees.

The Topolino is a low-speed electric vehicle with a 5.4-kWh battery and a range of up to 46 miles (75 km). It has a speed of 19 mph (30.5 kmph), though owners can install a conversion kit by the end of summer 2026 to increase the speed to 25 mph (40 kmph), making it a street-legal low-speed vehicle (LSV) for roads with speed limits of 35 mph (56 kmph) or less.

Olivier Francois, CEO, Fiat, said, "Topolino represents a new chapter for the brand in the U.S. – defined not just by size, but by purpose. With Topolino, we bring a feeling, a lifestyle, a reminder that mobility can be joyful, expressive and beautifully simple. FIAT continues to stand apart by embracing its legacy in small cars, redefining mobility, and anticipating evolving customer needs. With the introduction of Topolino, FIAT brings its unmistakable Italian design and iconic character into this fast-growing segment, offering a fresh, stylish alternative that reimagines urban and neighborhood mobility."

The vehicle is part of the Stellantis FaSTLAne 2030 strategy, which focuses on providing mobility options. Fiat has also collaborated with Motori & Customs to offer customisation services for the Topolino.

Maruti Suzuki Commissions 1 MWh Battery Energy Storage System At Kharkhoda

Maruti Suzuki India - BESS

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commissioned a 1 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at its manufacturing facility in Kharkhoda. The company installed a 20 MWp solar power project at the site in 2025.

The BESS stores electricity generated by the solar plant during periods of low demand or holidays for use when needed. The system is also intended to assist with grid stability and has been integrated into the facility's electricity distribution network as a pilot project.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Maruti Suzuki is strongly aligned with India’s focus on building self-reliant energy ecosystems. The introduction of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at our Kharkhoda facility is part of these continued efforts. With a lifecycle of about 15 years, BESS will help to reduce nearly 54 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.”

“Going forward, our production volumes will increase from current levels. Despite this, we remain committed to lower Scope 1 & 2 emissions not only in terms of CO2 intensity but also in absolute CO2 emission in manufacturing. Our approach is in line with our parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation’s environmental vision, which has set an intermediate target to reduce Scope 1 & 2 CO2 emissions by 42 percent by FY 2030-31 compared to FY 2022-23,” he added.

Oben Electric Begins Deliveries Of Rorr Evo E-Motorcycle

Oben Rorr Evo

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer Oben Electric has commenced deliveries of the Rorr Evo motorcycle with an initial delivery event in Bengaluru.

The company plans to roll out deliveries across its 150 showrooms nationwide in the coming weeks.

The launch follows 25,000 bookings received within 15 days of the motorcycle's launch in May 2026. Oben Electric stated that it is scaling production to meet this demand, supported by a facility with an annual capacity of 100,000 units. The company operates a retail and service network across 90 cities in 18 states.

The Rorr Evo is priced at INR 124,999 (ex-showroom) and features a 9 kW motor, a 3.4 kWh battery and has a claimed top speed of 110 kmph with a range of 180 km. The vehicle includes a 5-inch TFT display, navigation and connectivity features. Oben Electric designs and manufactures its batteries, motors, and software in-house.

Madhumita Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Oben Electric, said, "Building demand is one milestone but consistently delivering on that demand is what builds enduring customer trust. The commencement of Rorr Evo deliveries marks an important milestone for us as strong customer demand now translates into real motorcycles on the road, and we are deeply grateful to the customers who placed their faith in us. India is a motorcycle-first nation, and the next phase of electric mobility will be defined by electric motorcycles that fit seamlessly into everyday riding. As manufacturers, our responsibility is to bridge the gap between aspiration and adoption by building electric motorcycles that deliver uncompromised performance, reliability, safety and ownership confidence. Every delivery is a step towards making electric motorcycles a practical and trusted choice for millions of Indian riders."

EMotorad Inks MoU With Andhra Pradesh To Setup Electric Cycle Factory

EMotorad

EMotorad, a leading bicycle brand, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh government to establish a manufacturing facility in Kuppam. The company has been allocated a 7-acre site for the plant, which will be part of the region's Green City Initiative.

The project is a collaboration with the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA) and IIT Kanpur. EMotorad expects the facility to produce electric cycles for markets in Andhra Pradesh and across India, while providing employment for the community.

Kunal Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, EMotorad, said, "Kuppam holds a special place in EMotorad's journey. It's where we set our world record earlier this year, and that moment stayed with us. It made us want to put down roots here, not just pass through. Setting up this facility is just an indication of our intentions for a city that has given us so much. Beyond manufacturing, this is about building something lasting for the people of Kuppam, real jobs, real infrastructure, and a stake in India's clean mobility future. We're deeply thankful to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Garu for his leadership behind the Green City Initiative and for trusting us to be part of that story."

The Green City Initiative aims to develop Kuppam as a hub for sustainable development. Other organisations involved in the initiative include Mother Dairy, Adidas and Hindalco.