Ola Opens 3,200 New Stores, Expands Network To Over 4,000 Facilities

Ola Electric store

Ola Electric, one of India’s largest pure-play electric vehicle companies, has expanded its physical network to over 4,000 stores nationwide, which it claims is a four-fold increase over its existing network.

The EV maker recently opened over 3,200 new stores co-located with service facilities across the country, which it believes will enable it to make faster inroads in not just urban areas but also rural India.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Chairman & Managing Director, Ola Electric, said, “With our newly opened stores co-located with service centres, we have completely redefined EV purchase & ownership experience, setting new benchmarks with our #SavingsWalaScooter campaign. As we continue to scale, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and accelerating the country’s journey towards #EndICEAge.”

The company also recently showcased the limited edition ‘Ola S1 Pro Sona’ e-scooter, which comes with real 24-karat gold plated elements. The e-scooter will be presented  to the winner of the #OlaSonaContest.

At present, Ola Electric’s product portfolio includes the – Gig and S1 Z scooter range starting at INR 39,999 for the B2B segment and S1 portfolio starting at INR 74,999 for personal commuter segment.

Mahindra Unveils BE 6 Sporteq E-SUV Range With Prices Starting INR 1.14 Million For BaaS Model

Mahindra BE 6

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.

TVS Motor Co Launches iQube E-Scooter In Kenya

TVS iQube

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.”

Lucid Group Intros Gravity GT-S Electric SUV

Lucid Gravity

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.

MMCM Appoints Prasad S Shetty As Chief Financial Officer

Prasad Shetty

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.