Ramachandra Puttanna Appointed New Business Head For Greaves Retail EV Business

Ramachandra Puttanna - Business Head - EV Solutions & New Businesses of Greaves Retail division

Greaves Cotton, a leading diversified engineering company, has announced the appointment of Ramachandra Puttanna as the new Business Head for EV Solutions & New Businesses within Greaves Retail.

In his new role, Puttanna will be responsible for driving the strategic growth plan for Greaves Retail’s electric vehicle (EV) components and new verticals. He will report to Narasimha Jayakumar, CEO, Greaves Retail, as Greaves continues to advance its strategy in sustainable mobility solutions across India.  

Greaves Retail is focussing on being a fuel-agnostic provider, delivering comprehensive sales, service, and spare parts solutions across three-wheelers (3W), two-wheelers (2W), small commercial vehicles (SCVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and construction equipment.

The company specialises in ensuring high vehicle uptime and maximised asset productivity, positioning it among the top three in the aftermarket segment. 

Puttanna come with over 35 years of extensive experience and has worked with companies such as Fenner India, Bosch India, Oman Trading, Magneti Marelli, and ZF Group.

Most recently, he served as Vice-President of the Aftermarket business at ZF Group, where he managed operations across India and the SAARC regions.

He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Mysore University, Puttanna has furthered his education with a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (Marketing) from Bangalore University and an Advanced Program in Business Management from IIM Bangalore.  

“I am honoured to join Greaves Cotton at this pivotal stage in the company’s journey towards sustainable mobility. I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive the growth of Greaves Retail’s new businesses and enhance our offerings for a broader range of customers,” said Puttanna.

Narasimha Jayakumar, CEO, Greaves Retail, said, “We are thrilled to have Ramachandra join us. His proven track record aligns well with our commitment to customer-centric, innovative solutions. Ramachandra’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing Greaves Retail’s new businesses.”

Delhivery And Bajaj Auto Partner To Electrify Last-Mile Logistics

Bajaj - Delhivery

Delhivery and Bajaj Auto have signed an agreement to deploy electric three-wheelers across Delhivery's last-mile delivery network. The partnership begins with the deployment of 200 Bajaj RIKI eCarts (model C4005) in the first phase, with a second phase planned for 2026–2027 that aims to reach a total of approximately 1,500 electric vehicles.

The initiative aims to improve operational efficiency in both metropolitan areas and Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The Bajaj RIKI eCart (C4005) offers a claimed range of over 100 km per charge. The vehicle features an electric powertrain and a two-speed automatic transmission. Delhivery plans to pair the vehicles with its automated route optimisation software to increase drop-offs per trip and reduce operating costs per kilometre. The EVs are designed with ergonomic seating to protect riders from weather conditions and reduce physical fatigue.

Prashant Gazipur, Chief Operating Officer, In-City Operations at Delhivery, said, "Our collaboration with Bajaj Auto addresses the economic well-being of our delivery partners while advancing both our environmental goals and those of our clients. By combining our intelligent routing systems with highly efficient cargo EVs, we are creating a more profitable model for our riders and offering our clients a cleaner, lower-carbon supply chain."

Samardeep Subandh, President, Intra-City Business, Bajaj Auto, added, "This partnership with Delhivery has the potential of transforming last-mile cargo transport, with Delhivery’s scale and technology and Bajaj Auto’s expertise in 3-wheeler electric mobility. The Bajaj Riki C4005 offers 100+ kms of range on a single charge, excellent reliability and durability along with better comfort and ergonomics for drivers."

The deployment is part of Delhivery’s broader strategy to reduce its Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions and meet its environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.

Ultraviolette Launches UV Space Station In Aizawl

Ultraviolette Automotive - MSS Motors

Ultraviolette Automotive has opened its new UV Space Station in Aizawl, Mizoram, marking the company’s entry into Northeast India. The centre, established in partnership with MSS Motors, provides sales, service, test rides and accessories for the F77 and X-47 Crossover electric motorcycles.

At present, the EV maker’s ‘Kill the Petrol Bill’ campaign valid until 30 June 2026, will see customers purchasing an F77 or X-47 receive cashback based on the kilometres covered on their previous two-wheeler over the past two years.

The benefit is calculated at INR 1 per kilometre, with a maximum value of INR 30,000. Buyers must visit a space station for verification of their previous vehicle registration and odometer reading to claim the incentive.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, "The Northeast is home to one of India's most passionate riding communities, with a strong culture of motorcycling and adventure. We have seen growing interest for Ultraviolette from customers across the region, making Aizawl a natural choice for our first experience centre in Northeast India."

Switch Mobility Displays EiV12 Bus At Best Of Bharat & Mauritius Expo

Switch EiV12

Switch Mobility, a manufacturer of electric buses and light commercial vehicles and part of the Hinduja Group, showcased an international variant of its Switch EiV12 electric bus at the Best of Bharat & Mauritius Expo. The event took place from 17 June to 21 June 2026.

The EV maker has an operational presence in Mauritius, having completed the delivery of 100 electric buses to the Government of Mauritius earlier this year. These vehicles have been deployed by the National Transport Corporation (NTC).

The EiV12 displayed at the expo, operated by Triolet Bus Service, uses a Permanent Magnet Synchronous AC Motor with a peak output of 235 kW, paired with LFP battery chemistry. Supports DC Fast Charging via a CCS-2 interface with dual-gun capability. The e-bus is built on a 12-metre modular platform featuring 48 seats, front and rear air suspension, and a floor-mounted battery configuration. It offers a range of up to 300 km.

The e-bus comes with Switch iON, a platform for remote diagnostics, vehicle health monitoring, predictive maintenance and fleet performance optimisation. It is equipped with a Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS).

VinFast India Partners Shriram Finance To Expand EV Financing

VinFast - Shriram Finance

Vietnamese automaker VinFast India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shriram Finance (SFL) to improve consumer access to electric vehicle (EV) financing solutions. The partnership aims to accelerate EV adoption by leveraging Shriram Finance's extensive branch network and expertise in vehicle financing.

The partnership will see Shriram Finance provide up to 100 percent on-road funding on VinFast vehicles, with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment options. The facility will be available across urban, rural, and semi-urban markets via Shriram Finance’s network of over 3,000 branches.

Tapan Ghosh, CEO, VinFast India, said, “India’s transition to electric mobility will be shaped not just by strong products, but by the strength of the ecosystem that supports them. Our partnership with Shriram Finance reflects VinFast’s continued focus on removing barriers to EV adoption by improving financing accessibility and enabling a smoother ownership experience for our customers across markets.”

Nandagopal R., President & National Business Head, Shriram Green Finance, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with VinFast through this strategic MOU, which marks an important step towards strengthening sustainable mobility solutions in India. This association reflects our shared vision to accelerate EV adoption and support the development of a stronger green mobility ecosystem across the country.”

This partnership follows VinFast's recent entry into the electric MPV segment with the launch of the VF MPV 7. In addition to financing, VinFast is focusing on other initiatives to support EV ownership, including assured resale and structured buyback programmes.