The lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of the transition from fossil-fuelled vehicles towards cleaner alternate powertrain options, but fundamental supply chain changes are needed to eliminate widespread forced labour and child labour abuses.

A recent research by AI supply chain risk platform Infyos has identified that companies accounting for 75 percent of the global battery market have connections to one or more companies in the supply chain facing allegations of severe human rights abuses. Most major battery manufacturers and end batteries applications are exposed including many of the world’s largest automotive, energy storage and electronics brands.

This new industry data is compiled from evidence on Infyos’ AI supply chain risk platform using thousands of government datasets, NGO reports, news articles and social media sources. 

Infyos’ AI technology is developed specifically for the battery industry to automate the gathering, cleansing and classification of unstructured data to identify and assign confidence ratings to allegations of human rights abuses with accuracy and speed that previously was not possible.

The AI-driven platform claims it is working with some of the world’s largest renewable energy and automotive companies to combine open-source data with additional proprietary data sources to identify which companies a customer may be connected to across the supply chain and where there is exposure to or allegations of human rights abuses.

Tony To, Co-founder & CTO, Infyos said: “Our platform is designed to provide users with insights into the complexities of the battery supply chain so they can take proactive measures to identify and mitigate risks. By leveraging AI in our technology we’ve created a system that delivers accurate data despite the complexity of the battery industry and most importantly provides users with simple actionable mitigations to collaborate with their suppliers to address risks and improve the sustainability of the industry.”
The report finds that widespread human rights abuses identified range from people being forced to work in lithium refining facilities under the threat of no or minimal pay to five-year-old children mining cobalt materials out of the ground in hazardous conditions. Severe human rights incidents are occurring globally, especially in resource-rich countries with fragile and corrupt governments like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.

However, most of the allegations of severe human rights abuses involve companies who are mining and refining raw materials in China that end up in batteries around the world, particularly in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China where the battery, automotive and solar industry has already been hit with public allegations of widespread forced labour from journalists, government agencies and non-profit organisations.

Complex supply chain

Electric vehicle and battery manufacturers have a complex supply chain, sometimes with over 10,000 suppliers across their network, from mines to chemical refineries and automotive manufacturers. Human rights abuses frequently occur upstream in the supply chain, notably at the raw material mining and refining stages, making it difficult for companies purchasing batteries to identify their supply chain risks.

The battery industry’s connections to these incidents stem from manufacturers sourcing components or materials from unethical companies in their supply chain network or entering business relationships, including joint ventures or equity investments hidden in complex and changing ownership structures, which conceals the reality of the unethical connections.

Sarah Montgomery, CEO & Co-Founder, Infyos added, “The relative opaqueness of battery supply chains and the complexity of supply chain legal requirements means current approaches like ESG audits are out of date and don’t comply with new regulations. Most battery manufacturers and their customers, including automotive companies and grid-scale battery energy storage developers, still don’t have complete supply chain oversight.”
It is important to understand that sourcing is coming under growing scrutiny, particularly in Europe and the US, where failure to address the issues means companies could be in breach of current and future regulations. 

This is damaging the battery industry’s clean credentials and hampering investment into the global battery market forecast to be worth nearly $500 billion (INR 41,655 billion) in 2030. With more legislation such as the EU Battery Regulation and the US’s Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) being phased in, action must be taken now so companies can still sell their products.

Jeff Williamson, Head of Sustainability, Infyos said: “Companies manufacturing or purchasing batteries are at risk of having their products blocked at the market, further delaying and increasing the costs of renewable energy projects or tarnishing their reputation because of human rights risks.”

The UFLPA prohibits the import of goods made with forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China. The penalties for non-compliance can be extreme: earlier this year inspectors blocked vehicles they found to violate the regulations. The US Senate Finance Committee Chair has accused automotive manufacturers of ‘sticking their heads in the sand’ over forced labour in their supply chains and a subsequent report recommended that the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection take further measures to strength enforcement of the forced labour ban in automotive supply chains, including placing CATL – the world’s largest battery cell manufacturer – on a list of companies banned due to their connection to forced labour. Europe is following suit with its forced labour ban while a proposal has been submitted to increase the fines for non-compliance with the UK’s Modern Slavery Act to 4 percent of global annual turnover.

Sarah Montgomery, CEO & Co-Founder, Infyos said: “We have already seen how forced labour incidents in supply chains for the solar industry have blocked the largest solar suppliers from the US market and slowed down the transition to clean energy: as the battery industry faces the paradigm shift to electrification, the lessons learnt in solar must be applied to the battery industry if the energy transition is to stay on track.”

Battery-specific regulations within Europe are becoming more stringent too. New EU Battery Regulations coming into effect between 2024 and 2036 require much more rigorous supply chain visibility and risk management starting in 2025 with non-compliance leading to products being blocked from the European market. These pressing supply chain requirements, which many in the industry are struggling to comply with, are foundational to the much-talked-about battery passports in 2027. The UFLPA and EU Battery Regulation are widely seen as the battery industry gold standard due to their strict requirements on due diligence and supply chain visibility, and many companies operating outside of the regions are voluntarily aiming to meet their requirements.

By addressing issues within their supply chain, companies not only continue to have a licence to operate and avoid costly fines but can also actively grow their business: Research from PwC found that 89 percent of institutional investors are considering or have already rejected investments in firms with ESG shortcomings. Additional human rights pressure is coming from investors, who are now mandating deeper supply chain risk management and visibility as a condition of lending or investment to minimise their own financial risk. While financial and regulatory pressures are increasing awareness of human rights abuses in battery supply chains, more industry action to address human rights abuses is needed to drive battery applications forward and ensure 2050 net-zero emissions targets don’t face total failure.

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Delhi-NCR-based electric vehicle maker Euler Motors has entered the electric three-wheeler passenger category with the 'Neo by Euler' brand.

The company introduced the first vehicle under this brand, the Neo HiRANGE electric three-wheeler, with an introductory price of INR 309,999. The vehicle is designed for last-mile passenger transport in cities.

The vehicles under the 'Neo by Euler' brand will serve a range of customers, including new EV buyers, drivers for ride-hailing services, fleet operators and self-employed owners. Euler Motors plans to roll out these vehicles across 50 Indian cities over the next three to four months.

Euler Motors states that autorickshaws are a vital part of urban transport in India. Its new EV, the Neo HiRANGE, addresses the need for reliable, long-range and durable vehicles in this sector. The company's two years of research and development, which included conversations with over 10,000 auto-rickshaw drivers, shaped the vehicle's design. The Neo HiRANGE is built for Indian roads, with a rugged chassis and real-time diagnostics.

The vehicle comes in three variants: Neo HiRANGE Maxx, HiRANGE Plus and HiRANGE. The top variant offers a range of over 200 km on a single charge and can be charged in 3.25 hours. It has a skateboard chassis, 65 Nm of torque and hill-assist for stable performance. The vehicle includes a warranty of up to six years or 175,000 km and an anti-theft GPS system.

Saurav Kumar, Founder and CEO, Euler Motors, said, "We are excited to enter the commercial passenger EV segment. 'NEO by Euler' reflects our proven leadership in the commercial EV market. It is the result of deep product learning and on ground engagement with auto drivers across Indian cities. We heard firsthand challenges faced by drivers every day, from long fuel queues and unreliable maintenance to passenger discomfort, and low savings. These insights have shaped every aspect of the brand. Drivers want a solution that offers the highest range in a single charge, supports their livelihood, and gives them the confidence to keep moving. 'Neo by Euler' is our response to those needs; a no-compromise brand built for the realities of commercial passenger mobility in India offering best in class passenger comfort, consistent earning to drivers and overall safe solution."

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle company Ola Electric has announced that it’s Gen 3 e-scooter portfolio has received Certification for Compliance under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the automobile and auto components sector.

The certification granted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will allow Ola Electric to receive incentives from 13 percent to 18 percent of the determined sales value (DSV) until 2028.

At present, the company’s Gen 3 portfolio comprises of S1 Pro 3 kWh, S1 Pro 4 kWh, S1 Pro+ 4 kWh, S1 X 2 kWh, S1 X 3 kWh, S1 X 4 kWh and S1 X+ 4 kWh.

 “Securing PLI certification for our Gen 3 scooters, which form the bulk of our sales, is a critical step towards profitability. This will directly strengthen our cost structure and margins, enabling us to deliver sustainable growth. With our auto business targeted to turn EBITDA positive, the certification acts as a strong catalyst to achieve that goal while ensuring our customers continue to get the best-in-class EVs at highly competitive prices,” said a Ola Electric spokesperson.

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German luxury automotive brand BMW Group India has cemented its leadership in the luxury electric vehicle (EV) market by becoming the first in the segment to deliver over 5,000 EVs in the country. To mark this significant milestone, the company has inaugurated a new high-power charging corridor spanning 4,000 kilometres from North to South, offering charging access to all EV brands.

The new corridor features charging stations every 300 kilometres, effectively linking major cities and highways from Jammu to Madurai. The route covers key locations including Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai, aiming to eliminate range anxiety for EV drivers.

Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “BMW Group India is immensely proud to become the first luxury carmaker to cross the remarkable milestone of 5,000 electric vehicle deliveries. This achievement is not just a number, it represents our unwavering commitment to e-mobility and pioneering spirit in the premium EV landscape. At BMW, luxury and performance is delivered seamlessly with sustainability, and our electric products embody this philosophy. In this journey, we will continue to delight our customers with the most electrifying products and services that provide complete peace of mind. To mark this milestone, we are happy to introduce our high-power charging corridor. Across the length of the nation, from Jammu to Madurai, EV customers can now just sit back and enjoy Sheer Driving Pleasure without a second thought.”

In a move to encourage broader EV adoption, BMW Group India has made these new charging stations accessible to all EV owners, regardless of their vehicle's brand. The stations, with capacities ranging from 120kW to an impressive 720kW, are a part of a larger network of over 6,000 charging points across the country, accessible via the myBMW app. The company is collaborating with charging operators like Statiq and Zeon to manage these new stations.

The sales milestone has been attained by the company’s expansive portfolio of EVs compromising the flagship BMW i7 to the popular BMW iX1 Long Wheelbase, which was the highest-selling BMW EV in the first half of 2025.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has launched a new electric three-wheeler, the ‘TVS King Kargo HD EV’ at INR 385,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), which it believes will transform urban and semi-urban logistics. The EV is engineered for performance, durability and connectivity in the last-mile delivery sector.

The King Kargo HD EV is designed to improve safety and comfort for operators. It features several segment-first innovations, including LED headlamps and tail lamps for better visibility and a spacious cabin with fully rolling windows. For enhanced performance, it has a dedicated Power Gear Mode that provides higher torque when carrying heavy loads.

The new three-wheeler is also India's first Bluetooth-enabled cargo three-wheeler. It comes equipped with TVS SmartXonnect, offering 26 smart features, along with twin-axis rear-view mirrors for safer navigation through congested city streets. The vehicle’s connected features are managed through TVS Connect Fleet, a web-based platform that gives fleet operators real-time tracking, remote control and advanced analytics for efficient fleet management.

Rajat Gupta, Business Head of Commercial Mobility at TVS Motor Company, said, “The launch of the TVS King Kargo HD represents a transformative moment in the evolution of cargo mobility, aligned to our ‘Re-Imagine 2030’ vision. This three-wheeler will set new benchmarks by delivering an unmatched combination of smart features, high load capability, comfort, ergonomics and safety. Coupled with the TVS Connect Fleet, the vehicle will empower businesses and also improve the everyday life of operators. With the TVS King Kargo HD EV, we are confident of redefining customer expectations and enabling them to achieve more, every day, effortlessly.”

In its initial phase, the TVS King Kargo HD EV will be available in key markets, including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan and Bengaluru. The company also showcased a CNG variant, which is scheduled for release later this year.

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