Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Guidance Tamil Nadu, has unveiled the design for the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre.

The new R&D hub, located within IIT Madras' Discovery Satellite Campus at Thaiyur, Chennai, is set to become a key driver for green hydrogen technology and its ecosystem in India.

The centre's design was unveiled by T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu. He said, “What Hyundai Motor India and IIT Madras’ efforts bring to my mind is the amazing capabilities of India and we are here to celebrate just that. The possibilities that are here in this amazing place and the possibilities that the rest of the world is only now looking up. The Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre is a crucial step towards indigenous hydrogen production.”

This initiative represents the next phase of Hyundai Motor India’s INR 1 billion commitment towards pioneering green hydrogen innovation in the country, with funding partially provided through Hyundai Motor India Foundation's CSR efforts.

Spanning 65,000 sqft, the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre will feature advanced computational and experimental laboratories. It will focus on developing digital twins of hydrogen infrastructure, customised test rigs and fabrication lines for pilot-level evaluation of electrolysers and fuel cells. The centre will also house test zones for containerised pilot demonstrators, aiming to accelerate the readiness and adoption of green hydrogen across the value chain, aligning with India's goal of energy independence by 2047.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai, we believe hydrogen is a key pillar in achieving global carbon neutrality. With the Hyundai HTWO Innovation Centre, we aim to foster an open platform for knowledge exchange by facilitating collaboration between global expertise and the local green hydrogen ecosystem. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to ‘Make in India’ by empowering local innovation, nurturing talent and supporting the development of scalable, affordable and sustainable hydrogen solutions. Our collaboration with IIT Madras and the Government of Tamil Nadu reflects our long-term vision of advancing India’s clean energy future and establishing a strong foundation for a hydrogen-powered tomorrow.”

Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “This Centre will work with all the stakeholders of the hydrogen sector at the global level including academia, national R&D laboratories, industries and policymakers. This will make India Atmanirbhar Bharat in the hydrogen sector. It will greatly contribute to sustainability and provide a boost to the nation’s decarbonisation initiatives that target Net Zero by 2070. This Centre can accelerate the efforts to achieve these targets.”

The HTWO Innovation Centre builds on Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen brand and business platform, HTWO, leveraging its expertise across the entire hydrogen value chain from production to application, with a strong emphasis on localisation and public-private collaboration.

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VinFast Auto India, the subsidiary of Vietnam-based electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, has inducted its first cohort of 200 local professionals at its soon-to-be inaugurated factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The number is expected to gradually scale up to 3,500 workers over the next five years.

Selected candidates in Tamil Nadu are currently undergoing rigorous training, guided by Vietnamese subject matter experts and seasoned Indian professionals. This initiative aligns with Naan Mudhalvan, the Government of Tamil Nadu's flagship skilling programme, which aims to provide industry-relevant competencies to local youth.

Guidance Tamil Nadu's WorkLabs Cell is facilitating this industry-academia collaboration, ensuring a seamless talent pipeline. This follows a large-scale recruitment drive in April, where VinFast India, with support from the District Collector's Office and the Tamil Nadu Industries Department, partnered with local polytechnic colleges to identify, train, and onboard young diploma holders. VinFast's workforce strategy adopts an 80:20 hybrid model, with 80 percent of the plant workforce comprising freshers and trainees from local communities.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “We deeply appreciate the support of District Collector K Elambahavath and the Industries Department, whose collaborative approach has been vital in translating our talent development goals into reality. As we ramp up our operations in India, we are proud to invest in the people and potential of Tamil Nadu. With varied employment opportunities, this facility stands as a catalyst for regional growth as well as in building a resilient, inclusive and high-performance manufacturing ecosystem that can serve both Indian and global markets.”

VinFast India’s Thoothukudi plant is set to play a key role for the company’s Asia growth story. It will have a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles per annum and is set to produce the VF 6 and VF 7 e-SUVs.

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Ampere, the two-wheeler brand from Greaves Electric Mobility, has rolled out a 5-year / 75,000km battery warranty on its flagship electric scooter – the Ampere Nexus.

The Ampere Nexus utilises a Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) battery, which is claimed to have around 110km of real-world range, top speed of 93 kmph.

It features best-in-class suspension, aerodynamics and an industry-fastest charging time of just 3 hours 22 minutes. The Ampere Nexus had undertaken a endurance run of plying over 10,000km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari ride, setting four national records.

The e-scooter is priced at INR 114,900 (ex-showroom) and also comes with lowest down payment and interest rate starting 6.99 percent.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has introduced a new variant of its flagship electric scooter the TVS iQube with 3.1 kWh battery that comes with an IDC range of 123 km, hill hold and dual tone design with prices starting INR 103,727 (Delhi). 

Till date, the TVS iQube has gone home to over 600,000 customers and is available across 1,900 touchpoints. With the latest addition, the TVS iQube family now consists of six variants.

The new variant also gets Hill Hold assist for added safety and a refreshed UI/UX interface for a more intuitive riding experience and four attractive colours: Pearl White, Titanium Grey, and two dual-tone options—Starlight Blue with Beige and Copper Bronze with Beige.

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Vida, the electric vehicle business of Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched the VX2 electric scooter at prices starting INR 59,490 with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model and INR 99,490 (ex-showroom) for outright purchase for the VX2 Go variant.

The higher VX2 Plus variant gets a 3.4 kWh battery and is priced at INR 109,990 (ex-showroom) for outright purchase and INR 64,990 for BaaS model. While the VX2 Go variant comes with a claimed range of 92km with 2.2 kWh battery. Under BaaS, the user will pay approximately INR 0.96 per kilometre of usage. Customers will also get access to over 3,600 charging points and more than 500 sales and service centres.

To provide peace of mind to customers, Vida is offering complimentary battery replacement if the performance falls below 70 percent.

In terms of tech, the VX2 gets seamless smartphone integration for real-time ride statistics, telemetry, and Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA) updates. The VX2 Plus gets 4.3-inch TFT screen, while VX2 Go gets 4.3-inch LCD both offering turn-by-turn navigation.

The company claims that the e-scooters can be charged to 80 percent in just 60 minutes.

The e-scooters sport 12-inch wheels and 33.2-litre boot space (with removable battery) for VX2 Go variant.

With this, the company aims to make the e-scooters one of the most affordable electric vehicle offerings in the country.

Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp

INR 99,490 (ex-showroom price) and 59,490 with BaaS and INR 0.96 per km

Vida VX2 E-Scooter Launched At INR 99,490 And INR 59,490 With BaaS

Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Vida was born from a vision far greater than building electric vehicles—we set out to spark a movement. A movement that puts people and planet first, that redefines mobility as a force for good, and that gives every individual—not just the few—the opportunity to thrive, grow, and live better. Vida means ‘life’—and that is exactly what we aim to bring: cleaner air, better choices, and smarter journeys. A name that reflects our purpose—to drive meaningful progress and create a positive impact, not just in cities, but across every corner of Bharat and the world. On the birth anniversary of our Founder Chairman, Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal, we renew our commitment to build a future that is smart, connected, and conscious. With the Vida VX2 Evooter, we are not simply launching a product—we are delivering an ecosystem that empowers change. This is our promise: to make sustainable mobility widely accessible, to make our products highly affordable, and to always lead with trust, responsibility, and purpose. Backed by Hero MotoCorp’s legacy, Vida will power a better tomorrow – for everyone.”

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