JBM Group, a leading player in the commercial vehicle and component manufacturing space, has signed a strategic partnership with Singapore-based Keppel for decarbonisation and green mobility.

The partners will focus on decarbonising urban infrastructure, provide unique and customised solutions for electric mobility and electric waste (e-waste) management. As part of the understanding, Keppel will brings its leading-edge capabilities in integrated clean energy, electric vehicle (EV) charging and resource circularity solutions.

On the other hand, JBM Group will leverage its expertise in electric vehicles, EV aggregates and key auto systems. They will joint develop projects focussing on e-mobility, Battery Energy Storage Systems and e-waste solutions. Furthermore, they will also look at setting up EV charging networks, e-mobility hubs and  resource recovery facilities.

The agreement was done at the 29th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024 in New Delhi, India. The MoU was signed in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India by Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman, JBM Group and Cindy Lim, CEO, Keppel’s Infrastructure Division.

“India and Singapore share a long-standing and robust partnership that was recently elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore in September 2024. This significant step enhances collaboration in sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digital technology and green energy,” said Goyal

“At the 29th CII Partnership Summit, I am pleased to witness landmark agreements between Keppel and leading Indian corporations. These collaborations align with India's priorities, including the energy transition and the India Cooling Action Plan, fostering innovation and paving the way for economic growth and a sustainable future for both nations. This augurs well as our countries celebrate the 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025,” he added.

Nishant Arya said, “This strategic partnership with Keppel marks a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing the global energy transition and decarbonisation goals. The combined synergies of two global leaders joining hands, with JBM’s expertise in e-mobility, renewables and green manufacturing and Keppel’s innovative solutions in infrastructure and sustainability, we aim to deliver transformative outcomes in clean energy and electro-mobility domains. Together, we will pioneer solutions that shall redefine the global sustainability landscape towards creating a zero carbon and resilient future for our communities.”

Cindy Lim added, “India's electricity demand is rapidly rising on the back of its growing economy, urbanisation and electrification. Through forging partnerships with leading partners like JBM Group, Keppel is uniquely positioned to participate in and contribute meaningfully towards India’s sustainable development. We look forward to working with our esteemed partner to deliver differentiated and impactful decarbonisation and sustainability solutions to help meet the net-zero commitments of both India and our customers.”

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Amazon India has announced a partnership with Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), to deploy around 1,000 electric trucks to support its Amazon Now ultra-fast delivery service. The deployment is scheduled to be completed by 2028.

The logistics strategy utilises the Eicher Pro-X, a compact electric truck developed by VECV specifically for high-frequency, intra-city freight movement. These vehicles will transport goods from large fulfilment hubs located on urban peripheries to a network of smaller micro-fulfilment centres (MFCs) situated within residential and commercial zones.

The Eicher Pro-X fleet will ply around 100km to 180km per vehicle, supporting multiple turnaround trips. The e-trucks are fast-charge capable to be fully charged in approximately 50 minutes. The initial rollouts are concentrated in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The green fleet expansion aligns with the growth of Amazon Now, which is expanding to 100 cities via a network of more than 1,000 MFCs. This infrastructure expansion covers regional hubs including Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kochi, Mangalore and Vizag.

Abhinav Singh, VP Operations, Amazon India and Australia, said, “We have always focused on making our operations more sustainable and have steadily expanded our electric mobility efforts, with over 12,000 EVs already deployed across India. We work closely with multiple OEM partners to build solutions suited to our needs, and are integrating electric transportation more deeply as we grow. The planned deployment of around 1,000 purpose-built Volvo Eicher electric trucks is yet another step in that direction.”

SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VECV, added, “The deployment of Eicher Pro X electric trucks marks a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable mobility. What makes this even more meaningful is that the electric small truck from Eicher has been co-created in close collaboration with Amazon, with a sharp focus on addressing their specific operational needs for e-commerce and quick commerce operations. This partnership-led approach ensures that we are not only delivering electric vehicles, but also enabling efficient, reliable, and scalable logistics solutions.”

Amazon and VECV have collaborated on e-commerce transport solutions since 2022. This agreement follows an initial deployment of 50 Eicher trucks, alongside an earlier 2025 pilot involving 100 electric vehicles from multiple automotive manufacturers. Globally, Amazon India has deployed over 12,500 electric vehicles across more than 500 cities to manage middle-mile and last-mile logistics.

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle start-up Oben Electric has announced that its new e-motorcycle – the Oben Rorr Evo – has received more than 25,000 bookings within 15 days of its launch.

The Oben Rorr Evo was launched on 30^th April at an introductory price of INR 99,999 (ex-showroom) for the first 10,000 units, which would later be hiked to INR 124,999 (ex-showroom). The deliveries for the e-motorcycle are scheduled to begin in June 2026.

The e-motorcycle features a proprietary IPMSM motor delivering a claimed peak power output of 9 kW and 250 Nm of wheel torque. The motor is IP68-rated and does not use heavy rare-earth elements. It uses a 3.4 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery providing a claimed Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) range of 180 km. The battery comes with an eight-year warranty. A zero to 40 kmph is said to happen in 3 seconds with a top speed of 110 kmph.

The Oben Rorr Evo is fast charge capable, which allows it to go from zero to 80 percent in a claimed 90 minutes.

At present, Oben Electric operates a retail network of 150 showrooms and service centres across 100 cities in 18 states, with plans to add 200 showrooms by the end of FY2027.

The Rorr Evo is manufactured utilising vertical integration at the company's facility, which has an annual capacity of 100,000 motorcycles. Oben Electric designs and produces core components in-house, including the motors, vehicle control units (VCU), chargers, and software systems.

Madhumita Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Oben Electric, said, “With India actively accelerating its transition towards electric mobility, the response to the Rorr Evo shows that the shift is now extending meaningfully into the electric motorcycle category as well. Crossing 25,000 bookings in just 15 days is not merely a strong product milestone for us, but a larger consumer signal that Indian riders are now ready to adopt electric motorcycles that deliver uncompromised performance, everyday practicality and ownership confidence. We believe the electric motorcycle segment is at the forefront of India’s next EV growth wave, and with our vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities and 150+ showrooms across 18+ States, we are fully geared to deliver this demand at scale.”

The motorcycle is equipped with a five-inch colour TFT display and utilises the ARGUS connected technology platform, which supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, navigation, geo-fencing and fall detection with emergency SOS. The vehicle also features SmartIQ, an AI-powered software system designed to manage energy consumption and increase the riding range.

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American EV major Tesla has opened its fourth experience centre in India, located in the Whitefield IT hub of Bengaluru. The new facility will showcase the Model Y and the recently introduced Model Y L, a 3-row, 6-seater SUV with prices starting at INR 6.19 million for the latter EV.

The company has also established an aftersales service network in Whitefield to support vehicle owners in the region. The Model Y L is marketed as a family vehicle, featuring a maximum claimed range of 681 km (WLTP) and an acceleration time of zero to 100 kmph in 5.0 seconds. It provides up to 2,539 litres of cargo space and includes a three-row seating configuration intended to maximise interior room.

Both the Model Y and Model Y L have received 5-star safety ratings from organisations including ANCAP, NHTSA, Euro NCAP, and IIHS. The vehicles utilise Tesla’s Supercharging network, which allows the Model Y L to recover 288 km of range in 15 minutes. Tesla is also providing home charging support for customers in India to facilitate daily vehicle use.

The opening of the Whitefield centre follows Tesla's global performance trends, with the Model Y maintaining its position as a high-volume seller between 2023 and 2025.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the launch of its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) finance program for its first ‘Made-in-India’ electric vehicle – the Carens Clavis EV.

Through a dual-loan structure supported by major financiers – including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finance and Kotak Mahindra Prime – customers can now finance the vehicle chassis and the battery through separate accounts.

The BaaS model reduces the upfront ‘sticker price’ of the Carens Clavis EV by over INR 500,000, replacing the battery cost with a usage-based rental fee.

The vehicle body can be financed for up to 60 months, while the battery component offers an extended tenure of up to 96 months.

Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “Sustainability is not limited to introducing electric vehicles, but about creating a complete ecosystem. The BaaS model enables customers to experience advanced EV technology with reduced upfront acquisition costs and greater financial flexibility.”

The Carens Clavis EV, launched in 2025, recently received its MY26 update with refreshed bumpers and new alloy wheels. The Standard range offers a claimed 404 km (MIDC), while the Extended range provides a claimed 490 km on a single charge.

The EV comes with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS with 20 safety features, a 26.62 cm dual panoramic display and 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. Kia Carens Clavis EV customers also get access to the K-Charge platform via the MyKia app, connecting them to over 15,000 charging points across India.

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