Saarloha Advanced Materials Private Limited (Saarloha), a Kalyani group company, launched Kalyani FeRRESTA on Tuesday. Kalyani FeRRESTA is Kalyani group's green steel initiative. The launch was done in the presence of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation.

Saarloha claims that this makes them the first supplier of Made in India green steel. This milestone will enable the company to contribute towards the Government of India’s commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030, over 2005 levels and become a net zero-emission country by 2070.

According to Saarloha, Kalyani FeRRESTA steel products are manufactured in an electric arc furnace using electricity from 100 percent renewable energy sources and over 70 percent recycled scrap material with zero GHG footprint. While Kalyani FeRRESTA PLUS has net zero GHG emissions per tonne of crude steel, Kalyani FeRRESTA has a very low GHG emission of < 0.19 tCO2e per MT of crude steel. Saarloha states that customers purchasing Kalyani FeRRESTA and Kalyani FeRRESTA PLUS steel products will get green steel certificates jointly issued by DNV Business Assurance India Private Limited and Saarloha. The customers receiving these certificates can use them to claim their Scope 3 emissions reduction.

Talking about the electrified manufacturing process, R K Goyal, Chairman, Saarloha Advanced Materials Pvt Ltd, asserted, “Our  process is applicable to any and every grade that we produce. Grade is literally some addition of alloy elements to the steel. The basic process remains the same, and 100 percent of our product will be green." Goyal added that the company manufactures a fairly large amount of components, whether it is for the aerospace, defence, energy or auto components industry.

Speaking at the launch, Scindia said, “A sunrise day for India’s steel sector, as India initiates green steel production using renewable energy. The Kalyani Ferresta specialty steel plant will herald a new path for producing steel sustainably with near net zero carbon emission. The steel sector is the foundational force for the development of the nation. This initiative will help transform the steel sector’s long-standing identity from a carbon emitting ‘hard to abate sector’ to a reduced carbon-emitting green steel-producing industry. It will also be instrumental in materialising the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s, vision of net zero by 2070. My best wishes to the Kalyani Group for the trailblazing initiative, and hope that this would serve as a guiding light in the domain of socially-conscious business”

Sharing his thoughts, Amit Kalyani, Deputy Managing Director, Bharat Forge, said, “We are stepping into the era of sustainable development. At Kalyani group, we are committed to reduce our carbon footprints and Kalyani Ferresta is a significant step towards realising the larger vision of achieving carbon neutrality. Green steel is the future of world economy, and given the vast renewable energy potential of India, we can lead from the front.”

JSW MG Motor India is set to expand its EV portfolio with the MG Windsor Pro, which is set to be introduced on 6 May 2025.

The MG Windsor Pro is expected to offer a higher range, more features, improved safety and minor design tweaks. While technical details are yet to be released, it is safe to understand that the company is looking to further drive sales of its popular EV, targeting a new set of customers.

Launched on 11 September 2024, the company positioned the Windsor as a CUV (crossover utility vehicle) and the most comfortable EV in its segment.

The Windsor EV has already surpassed 20,000 units sales since launch, and has been the highest selling electric passenger vehicle for the last several months in a row.

Gujarat-headquartered electric vehicle maker Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility, the maker of ‘Joy e-bike’ and ‘Joy e-rik’ brand, has reported a consolidated net profit of INR 63.6 million for FY2025, maintaining profitability for the fifth consecutive year despite industry headwinds and a 5.1 percent drop in annual revenue.

The company’s total consolidated revenue stood at INR 3.04 billion, down from INR 3.2 billion last year. However, EBITDA rose 13.9 percent YoY to INR 3.6 billion, and EBITDA margins improved by 222 basis points to 12.11 percent, reflecting strong cost discipline and operational efficiency.

Despite a 52.7 percent YoY dip in PAT, largely due to a high base in FY2024, Wardwizard remained in the black – underscoring resilience amid a challenging EV market environment.

Yatin Sanjay Gupte, Chairman & MD, Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility, said, “While annual revenues saw a slight decline, EBITDA rose 14 percent YoY. Our profitable performance, sustained for five consecutive years, sets us apart and reinforces the strength of our strategy.”

In Q4 FY25 (Jan–Mar 2025), the company recorded a 62.2 percent YoY rise in PAT to INR 64.5 million, with EBITDA nearly doubling to INR 1.8 billion. PAT margins for the quarter expanded to 5.91 percent, and EBITDA margins reached 17.26 percent, reflecting improved product mix and cost optimisation.

During the last fiscal, the company deployed over 400 electric two-wheelers across major cities like Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad as well as the launch of L5 electric rickshaws in Maharashtra. Ongoing partnerships and a USD 1.29 billion EV initiative in the Philippines are expected to drive future growth.

“With continued innovation and targeted execution, we are building a stronger foundation for long-term growth,” Gupte added.

OPG Mobility (formerly Okaya EV) has appointed Ajay Dhiman as the new President – Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead its electric vehicle and EV components business.

In this strategic leadership role, Dhiman will be responsible for operations and technology functions spanning manufacturing, R&D, product development, quality, sourcing, supply chain and business strategy.

He joins OPG Mobility with over 20 years of experience in the automotive and EV sectors. He previously served as Senior Vice-President at Revolt Motors, where he is said to play a key role across CXO-level functions and was instrumental in accelerating product development and delivering high-quality electric mobility solutions. His career includes leadership stints at Honda, Renault-Nissan, Subros and Sonalika Group, contributing across two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and four-wheeler segments.

Anshul Gupta, Managing Director, OPG Mobility, said, “We are delighted to have Ajay Dhiman join our leadership team at a pivotal moment in OPG Mobility's journey. As we step up our presence in the EV ecosystem, Ajay’s deep experience in product development and operations will be invaluable in scaling our EV and components business. His thorough knowledge of both legacy systems and new mobility technologies will drive value, innovation, and faster execution across our transformation journey.”

Ajay Dhiman, added, “It’s an honour to join OPG Mobility at such a transformative time. The brand’s vision of delivering inclusive and innovative electric mobility solutions aligns strongly with my passion for engineering excellence, innovative products and future-focused manufacturing. I look forward to working closely with the leadership and teams to strengthen our product pipeline, accelerate product innovation, strengthen our technological edge, enhance operational excellence, and scale solutions that support India’s evolving mobility needs. We aim to position OPG Mobility as a frontrunner in shaping India’s electric mobility revolution.”

The Maharashtra government has given rolled out the Electric Vehicle Policy 2025 for a period of five years (till 2030) with an estimated outlay of INR 19.93 billion.

The forward-looking policy aims to not only incentivise purchase of electric vehicles, but also aims to boost adoption and real-world usage.

As per the policy, certain EVs plying on highways will be given a toll waiver, EV charging infrastructure strengthened with an ambition have charging facilities every 25km on the national highways.

Electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, private four-wheelers, state transport corporation buses, private buses and transport undertaking under civic bodies will get concession of 10 percent on purchase of an EV on the original cost. For goods carrying three-wheelers, four-wheelers and electric tractors will be eligible to a concession of 15 percent.

The government has also waived off registration fee on EVs. Lastly, electric four-wheelers and buses will also get toll exemption on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Atal Setu, Samruddhi Mahamarg, along with 50 percent concession on state and other national highways.

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, "The state government has approved a new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, under which passenger EVs will be given subsidies. EV manufacturing and their use should increase in the state."