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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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra has expanded its electric vehicle offering with the new BE 6 Sporteq e-SUV range with updated tech and design at prices starting INR 1.14 million for the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership model, with an additional battery fee of INR 3.75 per kilometre.

The company simultaneously unveiled two specific variants within the lineup, the Launch Edition and the Formula E Freedom Edition. Deliveries for the vehicle range will begin on 26 August 2026.

Offered across eight variants, the SPORTEQ series features technical and design updates. Select variants include a three-screen coast-to-coast display system, while the Formula E Freedom Edition retains a two-screen layout with a central halo structure. The vehicles run on Mahindra’s AI architecture, named MAIA, which powers six technology packages covering voice interactions via Google Gemini, drive modes, safety monitoring and media integration. Software features introduced in the series will be extended to existing BE 6, XEV 9e, and XEV 9S owners via over-the-air updates beginning in January 2027.

Dr Velusamy R, President – Automotive Business, Mahindra & Mahindra and Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile, said, “Electric mobility is entering a new phase. Customers no longer judge an EV simply by its range or acceleration. They expect it to become more intelligent, more personal and more capable throughout its lifetime. Sporteq reflects that shift. Powered by MAIA, it brings together AI, personalisation, performance and entertainment in ways that make every journey more intuitive. As the BE 6 is software-defined, it has the ability to keep evolving long after customers take delivery. The future belongs to vehicles that grow with their owners. Sporteq is designed to do exactly that, delivering an ownership experience that keeps expanding the boundaries of what customers expect from an electric SUV.”

Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative Officer – Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “At Mahindra, design goes beyond styling. It encompasses not just how a product looks or feels but how customers experience it in all its aspects. This is especially true of a software-defined vehicle like the BE 6 Sporteq whose design ensures that every surface, every display and every interaction contribute to how the car makes you feel. With Sporteq, we wanted the cabin to deliver the same sense of theatre as the exterior. The new Racing Tan interior, the coast-to-coast three-screen display and every material choice have been brought together to create an environment that feels immersive, progressive and unmistakably BE 6. It is a space that celebrates technology without losing its emotional connection with the driver.”

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Chief Executive Officer – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra and Executive Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile, said, "The BE 6 has always stood for bold design, sporty character and the courage to do things differently. Sporteq builds on that foundation, combining performance-inspired experiences with intelligent technology to create the next chapter of the BE 6 story. It is about making advanced technology and everyday excitement accessible to more customers than ever before."

The top-spec Launch Edition features a Graphite Storm exterior finish and a tan leatherette interior. The performance-orientated Formula E Freedom Edition incorporates design elements from Mahindra’s Formula E racing division, offering an acceleration capability of zero to 100 kmph in 6.44 seconds alongside an acceleration boost function.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company, part of the TVS VENU group, has launched the TVS iQube electric scooter in Kenya, marking the company's entry into the African electric vehicle market.

The e-scooter is equipped with an electric motor delivering a peak output of 4.6 kW, achieving acceleration from zero to 40 kmph in 4.2 seconds.

Peyman Kargar, President – International Business, TVS Motor Company, said, "The TVS iQube in Kenya marks our entry into the African EV market and reflects our continued focus on expanding innovative electric solutions across international markets. It’s a key milestone in our growth journey.”

The entry into East Africa comes as two-wheeler adoption expands across the continent. According to company figures, global sales of the TVS iQube series have exceeded one million units.

Vijay Gidoomal, Chief Executive Officer of distribution partner Car & General, added, “While the overall African two-wheeler market is growing at 7-10 percent CAGR through 2030, the electric two-wheeler market is growing much faster, with forecasts ranging from 15-25 percent CAGR through 2030-31. EV penetration’s still low relative to the size of the industry and the runway promises to be extremely long.”

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Lucid Group, Inc. has introduced the Lucid Gravity GT-S, a performance variant of its electric SUV model. The vehicle features an electric powertrain delivering 1,070 horsepower and a claimed acceleration from zero to 60 mph (96 kmph) in 3.1 seconds.

The e-SUV features a three-row seating setup for seven adults alongside cargo storage space. Standard equipment includes independent rear-wheel steering and an adaptive three-chamber air suspension designed to alter vehicle height at higher speeds. It will be presented at the Pebble Beach Concours Village during Monterey Car Week.

Derek Jenkins, Chief Creative Officer, Lucid, said, "With Lucid Gravity GT-S, we've created a more expressive and exhilarating interpretation of the Gravity SUV. It combines extraordinary performance with the comfort, space, and versatility that define Gravity, delivering an exceptional experience for our customers that is uniquely Lucid."

The exterior of the model features blue accents and painted brake calipers. On the inside, it features blue stitching, piping and seatbelts across the seating rows, alongside embossed logos on the front headrests.

The Lucid Gravity GT-S is priced from USD 125,900, excluding taxes, registration fees, optional equipment and an USD 1,850 destination charge.

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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.

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