Himadri Speciality Chemical, a leading supplier of speciality chemicals and new energy materials, has inked an exclusive technology licensing partnership with Australian battery materials company Sicona.

It may be recollected that it was in June 2023, Sicona had raised AUD 22 million in Series A funding led by Himadri Speciality Chemical.

As per the understanding, Himadri will access, localise and commercialise Sicona’s proprietary Silicon-Carbon (SiCx) anode technology in India for lithium-ion battery tech.

SiCx is claimed to be a transformational product that can seamlessly integrated into existing lithium-ion battery anode formulations, offering a scalable and commercially viable path to significantly improved battery performance.

Under the partnership, Sicona will provide complete technical support, including access to its proprietary know-how, engineering expertise, qualification protocols and quality systems for the establishment of SiCx production plant. Himadri on its part will bring its experience in scaling high-precision chemical and material operations to drive localisation and commercialisation of the technology.

Unlike conventional anode materials, Sicona’s SiCx material, when used in conjunction with traditional graphite (typically in proportions of 5–20 percent) will significantly enhance energy density (around 20 percent) and charging performance (about 40 percent). This simply put means that EV’s using the SiCx battery tech will have higher range and faster charging speed.

Anurag Choudhary, Chairman, Managing Director & CEO, Himadri Speciality Chemical, said, “This partnership marks a turning point in the world’s advanced battery materials journey. Sicona’s SiCx technology, when used alongside graphite, delivers two core advantages – higher energy density for longer driving range and faster charging capability that dramatically reduces wait time for EV users. By integrating Sicona’s technological might with Himadri’s proven operational excellence, global scale and strategic intent, we are creating a blueprint for innovation-led clean energy leadership. This partnership not only enables India to meet domestic EV and energy storage demands, but also makes us an exporter of next-generation battery materials to the world.”

Christiaan Jordaan, CEO & Co-Founder, Sicona, said, “This partnership marks a transformative moment for Sicona and our SiCx technology. It enables us to commercialise our breakthrough technology at an unprecedented speed and scale. Himadri’s world-class manufacturing capabilities and global presence make them the ideal partner for this journey. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering support to our team, our technology, and our mission.”

Revolt Motors, a leading electric motorcycle brand, has achieved the ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management systems.

This milestone places Revolt Motors among a select group of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers that meet stringent international benchmarks across product design, manufacturing, supply chain management and customer service.

Anjali Rattan Nashier, Chairperson of RattanIndia Enterprises, said, “This certification is a proud moment for all of us at Revolt. It is a reflection of our tireless pursuit of quality, innovation and operational excellence. As we expand to new geographies and strengthen our position in the EV segment, this global certification reinforces the trust our customers and partners place in us.”

The ISO 9001:2015 certification highlights Revolt’s structured approach to quality, encompassing product development, manufacturing controls, continuous process improvement and a customer-centric delivery model.

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy has announced its financial results for FY2025. The company claimed its sales grew by 42 percent in FY2025 with a total of 155,394 units sold, as compared to 109,577 units last year. This translates to a total income of INR 23 billion for FY2025, up 29 percent, as compared to INR 17 billion in FY2024. The company’s Adjusted Gross Margin soared to INR 4.28 billion, a 2.7-fold increase from FY2024, reflecting cost optimisation through economies of scale, in-house engineering and strategic sourcing.

The EV maker is also making rapid strides towards profitability, reducing EBITDA losses by around 23 percent in FY2025 from 36 percent in FY2024. The net losses for the year decreased by 23 percent, from INR 10 billion in FY2024 to INR 8.12 billion in FY2025.

The Ather Rizta, launched in Q2 FY2025, accounted for 57 percent of total volumes, driving market share gains in states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The company stated that it maintained a strong 19.7 percent market share in southern states, reinforcing its regional dominance.

To enhance customer experience, Ather introduced Ather Care plans, available at its 210 Service Centres and 231 Experience Centres as of 30 September 2024. Priced between INR 1,130 and INR 2,400, these plans offer benefits worth up to INR 5,900, addressing concerns about EV maintenance costs and ensuring affordability for customers.

Tarun Mehta, Executive Director and CEO, Ather Energy, said, “FY2025 has been a year of robust growth, with strong increases in both volume and profitability, year-on-year. On the back of our new product launches, we saw strong volume growth of 42 percent, and our continued investments in engineering and R&D delivered a strong improvement in margins. Adjusted gross margins doubled, growing by approximately 1,000 bps, and that helped reduce EBIDTA losses by approximately 1,300 bps over the preceding year. Our software sales have continued to trend strongly, with 88 percent of our customers choosing to buy our Pro Pack in FY2025, contributing to improvement of our bottom line. Q4 was a strong quarter for distribution and saw a 32 percent expansion in our pan-India store count.”

Infineon Technologies, a leading provider of automotive semiconductors has partnered Visteon Corporation, a leading supplier for automotive cockpit electronics, to accelerate development of next-generation electric vehicle powertrains.

The partners will work towards integrating power conversion devices based on Infineon semiconductors, with particular emphasis on wideband gap device technologies, which they state provide significant advantages in power conversion applications compared to silicon-based semiconductors. These devices include greater power density, efficiency and thermal performance, which contribute to improved efficiency and reduced system costs for next-generation power conversion modules for the automotive sector.

Going forward, Visteon EV powertrain applications incorporating Infineon CoolGaN (Gallium Nitride) and CoolSiC (Silicon Carbide) devices may include battery junction boxes, DC-DC converters and on-board chargers.

Dr. Tao Wang, Head of the Electrification Product Line of Visteon Corporation, said, “Working with Infineon allows us to integrate cutting-edge semiconductor technologies that are essential in improving power conversion efficiency and overall system capability of next generation electric vehicles. This collaboration will advance technologies that accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and efficient mobility ecosystem.”

Peter Schaefer, Chief Sales Officer Automotive, Infineon Technologies, said, “Visteon is a recognised innovator and an early adopter of new technologies, making them an ideal partner for us. Together, we will push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology and provide superior solutions to the global automotive industry.”

Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Foxtron Vehicle Technologies (hereafter, Foxtron), a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) for developing electric vehicles.

As per the understanding, Foxtron will develop and supply Mitsubishi Motors with an OEM EV model. This model will be manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor Co (Yulon Motor) and introduced in the Oceania region (Australia and New Zealand) in the second half of 2026.

This is part of the earlier announced plan for Australia, extending through 2030, which includes premium driving performance as an EV and an advanced infotainment system, making it optimal for the Oceania region.

The Japanese automaker is making strides in the electrification space with new models along with upgrades to the Outlander PHEV, a plug-in hybrid EV, and the addition of hybrid EV models to the popular Xpander and Xforce models in the ASEAN region.

In addition to exploring collaboration with Foxconn, Mitsubishi Motors plans to enhance its electrified vehicle lineup by leveraging the strengths of the Alliance, such as receiving OEM models from Renault Group in Europe and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in North America.

Going forward, Mitsubishi Motors is also exploring expanding its collaboration with its Alliance partners globally, including in the Oceania region, to strengthen the electrified vehicle lineup.