Supplying cars to the Vatican for 94 years, Mercedes-Benz has delivered an electric Popemobile based on the G-Class for the first time. Helping the Vatican go electric in terms of its ‘main’ fleet car, Mercedes-Benz has delivered the vehicle well in time for the 2025 Jubilee event, which takes place every 25 years and with millions of pilgrims visiting. 
Overcoming challenges like adapting the electric drivetrain to low speed travel given the public appearances by Pope Francis, the electric Popemobile is a result of a team that managed the project in Rome. The drivetrain parallelly was developed and adapted to the needs of the Popemobile by a team in Graz. The experts from Sindelfingen produced the bodywork, interior fittings and customised equipment using traditional craftsmanship. 
The electric drivetrain that is engineered to support the vehicle’s slow travel during public appearances is from the Mercedes-Benz G580. Its EQ technology (with a combined energy consumption of 30.4-27.7 kWh per 100 km and a combined CO₂ emissions of 0 g per km) has four near-wheel motors. 
Replacing the bench seat that would be ideally found in the G580, the team that realised the Popemobile replaced it with a centrally positioned and height-adjustable single seat. This swivelling main seat should make it possible for Pope to move around flexibly and address an audience from different angles. 
Behind the single seat, two single seats have been integrated on the left and right for additional passengers. The roof – removed at the B-pillar – meant the B-pillar itself was harmoniously transitioned into the side wall to create an unmistakable side profile. 
In case of rain or bad weather conditions, a separate hardtop offers protection for the occupants. The left rear door was removed and rebuilt by the specialists – in traditional coachbuilding style – from a single piece and seamlessly welded into the bodyshell. On the right-hand side, the hinges of the rear door were relocated to the opposite side.
Like the previous Popemobiles, this one is also painted in classic pearl white on the outside.

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Ecofy, a green-focused NBFC backed by Eversource Capital, has entered a strategic partnership with Ather Energy to provide financing for electric two-wheelers. Under the agreement, Ecofy plans to deploy INR 1 billion in capital to support the purchase and ownership of Ather vehicles.

The collaboration is intended to improve access to green financing and address barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, such as upfront costs and uncertainty regarding asset value.

Ecofy will serve as a preferred financing partner, offering Ather customers a range of options beyond standard vehicle loans:

• Leasing Solutions: Providing alternatives to traditional ownership.
• Assured Buyback: Structures designed to offer certainty on future asset value.
• Battery-as-a-Service: Separating battery costs from the vehicle purchase to reduce initial expenditure.

The partnership combines Ather Energy's manufacturing and technology with Ecofy's retail-focused finance platform. The goal is to stimulate demand across both urban and emerging markets in India by simplifying the purchase journey for first-time EV buyers.

Rajashree Nambiar, Co-Founder, MD & CEO, Ecofy, said, “Clean transportation is critical to India’s green transition, and wider adoption depends on access to the right financing solutions. Our partnership with Ather Energy brings together strong product offerings and specialized green finance, helping customers adopt EVs with greater confidence, affordability, and flexibility.”

Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Financing is an important consideration in the two-wheeler purchase journey, particularly for customers exploring EVs for the first time. Over the years, we’ve worked to build a strong financing ecosystem to make Ather accessible across markets. This partnership with Ecofy further broadens the range of financing options available to customers looking to buy an Ather, making the purchase and ownership journey easier to navigate. It helps simplify the decision-making process and supports broader access to electric two-wheelers.”

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Pune-based Kinetic Watts & Volts (KWV), the electric vehicle division of the Kinetic Group, has received approval for incentives totalling approximately INR 420 million under the Government of Maharashtra’s Electric Vehicle Policy. The benefits will be realised in phases over a 10-year period.

The state policy provides capital-linked support, tax exemptions and incentives for component manufacturing to establish Maharashtra as a hub for electric vehicle production.

The qualification for the scheme was based on the company’s localisation efforts for its Kinetic DX electric scooter. Designed from the ground up, 99 percent of the vehicle’s components are tooled and sourced within India. At present, the company is manufacturing the e-scooter from its Ahilyanagar facility in Maharashtra.

The company stated it has invested approximately INR 700 million in manufacturing infrastructure, which includes establishing production lines for critical subsystems, aiming to reduce supply-chain dependencies.

The Kinetic DX EV features a metal body and 37 litres of under-seat storage. The model includes patented features such as Easy Charge, Easy FLIP and Easy key.

The company has commenced sales and service operations in Pune, Mumbai, Vadodara and Surat, with plans for national expansion. The subsidies will be utilised to scale production of the DX EV range, chassis sub-assembly lines, and the Range-X battery assembly operations.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts, said, “The Maharashtra EV Policy is a progressive step toward building a strong domestic EV ecosystem. The incentive linked to our investment of around INR 700 million, supports our strategy of robotics-led manufacturing and in-house battery assembly. This will help us accelerate localisation, expand production capacity, and deliver durable, safe and accessible electric mobility solutions for Indian families at scale.”

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Euler Motors and Jio-bp have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across logistics hubs in India. The agreement aims to improve charging accessibility for commercial fleet operators and users.

The partnership was formalised on 6 February 2026 by Rubin Pather, Jio-bp Head of Electric Mobility and Ashish Tandon, Global Head of Customer Excellence at Euler Motors.

The collaboration focuses on supporting Euler Motors’ recently launched models, the Euler TURBO EV 1000 and Euler Storm EV. Jio-bp, which operates nearly 7,000 charge points across 1,000 locations, will work with Euler Motors to:

• Identify Business Hubs: Use data to locate fleet-heavy areas with high charging demand for infrastructure deployment.
• Facilitate Site Hosting: Euler Motors will introduce Jio-bp to fleet customers interested in hosting charging stations.
• Energy Transition: Jio-bp will utilise its Trans-Connect platform to introduce its fleet customer base to Euler Motors’ vehicle offerings.

Jio-bp currently operates 480 kW chargers equipped with liquid-cooled guns. The partnership is designed to align this charging network with cargo mobility solutions to improve vehicle uptime and asset utilisation for operators.

Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Jio-bp, said, “India’s transition towards sustainable mobility requires strong collaboration between vehicle innovation and energy infrastructure. Our partnership with Euler Motors represents a shared commitment to accelerating the electrification of commercial logistics, a segment that will play a decisive role in reducing urban emissions and improving freight efficiency. By combining Jio-bp’s growing EV charging ecosystem with Euler Motors’ purpose-built electric cargo vehicles, we aim to support India’s evolving mobility needs while contributing meaningfully to the country’s low-carbon future.”

Akshay Wadhwa, CEO, Jio-bp, added, “At Jio-bp, we are focused on building a dependable, high-performance charging network that supports the operational realities of commercial EV fleets. Our collaboration with Euler Motors allows us to align Jio-bp pulse charging infrastructure with specialised electric cargo mobility solutions that are rapidly scaling across urban logistics. Together, we are enabling fleet operators to transition confidently to electric mobility by delivering reliable charging access, optimised uptime, and enhanced operating efficiency, further strengthening India’s EV ecosystem.”

Ashish Tandon, Global Head of Customer Excellence, Euler Motors, added, “This MoU brings together two committed partners focused on addressing key challenges of charging accessibility for commercial EVs. Through shared insights and coordinated efforts, we aim to deliver impactful business solution for our customers and contribute to strengthening EV ecosystem.”

Gaurav Kumar, Director - Board, Euler Motors, said, “Scaling electric mobility in the commercial vehicle segment requires charging infrastructure to grow in step with vehicle deployment. For fleet operators, access to fast, reliable charging at high-demand logistics hubs directly impacts uptime, asset utilisation and operating economics. Our partnership with Jio-bp reflects a shared focus on building this critical infrastructure backbone, enabling fleet operators to transition to electric mobility with greater confidence and efficiency across India.”

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Greaves Electric Mobility (GEML) has been recognised by the Asia Book of Records as the first electric two-wheeler brand to ascend Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu. The route consists of 70 hairpin bends and is utilised as a testing ground for vehicle endurance and gradient performance.

The record attempt took place on 7 January 2026 with the Ampere Nexus e-scooter completing the ascent from Belukurichi to the summit in 22 minutes and 10 seconds. Asia Book of Records officials validated the achievement on the same day.

The ascent was used to validate the company's engineering for diverse riding conditions, including steep gradients and sustained load cycles.

• Battery Technology: Utilises LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistry, designed to operate in temperatures ranging from –40deg C to 60deg C.
• Chassis: Constructed from high-tensile steel with a dual-frame design for balance during continuous cornering.
• Powertrain: Features a motor tuned for instant torque on climbs and regenerative braking for descents.
• Software: Includes traction control systems to manage slippery surfaces.

Greaves Electric Mobility currently operates in India and Nepal, with an emerging presence in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Africa. The company stated that the Kolli Hills milestone demonstrates the capability of electric two-wheelers to perform beyond urban environments.

Vikas Singh, Managing Director, Greaves Electric Mobility, said, “India’s riding conditions are among the most demanding in the world, and our approach has always been to engineer electric vehicles that are built for Bharat, not just for ideal test environments. The Kolli Hills ascent is a real-world validation of that philosophy. The Ampere Nexus combines safe and durable LFP battery technology with a robust dual-frame chassis that is designed to handle steep gradients, repeated cornering, and sustained load conditions. Achievements like this reaffirm our focus on building electric mobility solutions that can perform reliably across tough terrains.”

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