Bengaluru-based electric vehicle battery swapping company Sun Mobility and its joint venture partner Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), one of the leading oil marketing company in India have appointed Anant Badjatya as the CEO of their newly formed joint venture, Indofast Swap Energy.   

This strategic move follows the landmark deal signed by IOCL and Sun Mobility in June 2024 to establish one of India's largest battery-swapping networks by 2030. 

Badjatya, who has over 20 years of experience in the energy and automotive sectors, was till recently leading Sun Mobility as its CEO; and will now lead Indofast Energy's efforts to establish an extensive battery-swapping network by bringing together the might of Indian Oil’s network of over 37,000 fuel stations across India, with Sun Mobility’s battery swapping technology.  

Indofast Swap Energy, with its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model will offer electric two- and three-wheeler owners affordable mobility options, eliminating range anxiety and long charging times.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Swap Energy said, “We would like to be synonymous with India’s mobility revolution and a household name for two- and three-wheeler customers. Our offering of innovative technology with extensive infrastructure is unparalleled and underscores our resolve to provide a practical, accessible, and eco-friendly solution to all.”

The establishment of Indofast Swap Energy aligns with India's broader goals for sustainable development and supports the government's push towards increased adoption of electric vehicles. As part of this commitment, IOCL and Sun Mobility are focused on enhancing battery management systems and charging infrastructure across the country.

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American EV major Tesla has opened its fourth experience centre in India, located in the Whitefield IT hub of Bengaluru. The new facility will showcase the Model Y and the recently introduced Model Y L, a 3-row, 6-seater SUV with prices starting at INR 6.19 million for the latter EV.

The company has also established an aftersales service network in Whitefield to support vehicle owners in the region. The Model Y L is marketed as a family vehicle, featuring a maximum claimed range of 681 km (WLTP) and an acceleration time of zero to 100 kmph in 5.0 seconds. It provides up to 2,539 litres of cargo space and includes a three-row seating configuration intended to maximise interior room.

Both the Model Y and Model Y L have received 5-star safety ratings from organisations including ANCAP, NHTSA, Euro NCAP, and IIHS. The vehicles utilise Tesla’s Supercharging network, which allows the Model Y L to recover 288 km of range in 15 minutes. Tesla is also providing home charging support for customers in India to facilitate daily vehicle use.

The opening of the Whitefield centre follows Tesla's global performance trends, with the Model Y maintaining its position as a high-volume seller between 2023 and 2025.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the launch of its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) finance program for its first ‘Made-in-India’ electric vehicle – the Carens Clavis EV.

Through a dual-loan structure supported by major financiers – including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finance and Kotak Mahindra Prime – customers can now finance the vehicle chassis and the battery through separate accounts.

The BaaS model reduces the upfront ‘sticker price’ of the Carens Clavis EV by over INR 500,000, replacing the battery cost with a usage-based rental fee.

The vehicle body can be financed for up to 60 months, while the battery component offers an extended tenure of up to 96 months.

Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “Sustainability is not limited to introducing electric vehicles, but about creating a complete ecosystem. The BaaS model enables customers to experience advanced EV technology with reduced upfront acquisition costs and greater financial flexibility.”

The Carens Clavis EV, launched in 2025, recently received its MY26 update with refreshed bumpers and new alloy wheels. The Standard range offers a claimed 404 km (MIDC), while the Extended range provides a claimed 490 km on a single charge.

The EV comes with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS with 20 safety features, a 26.62 cm dual panoramic display and 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. Kia Carens Clavis EV customers also get access to the K-Charge platform via the MyKia app, connecting them to over 15,000 charging points across India.

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Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has successfully completed a landmark journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) with its Eicher Pro X EV.

The expedition, titled #XpertHaiTohPossibleHai, saw the electric commercial vehicle become the first and fastest in its category to traverse the 4,100-kilometre route under fully loaded conditions.

Starting from Lal Chowk, Srinagar, and concluding at the southern tip of India in six days, the journey was independently adjudicated by the India Book of Records, resulting in four new national records. The initiative was designed to address industry concerns regarding range anxiety, charging infrastructure and the operational reliability of electric vehicles (EVs) in the B2B sector.

The journey tested the vehicle across India’s most diverse terrains and climates, including the Himalayas, the Deccan Plateau and coastal ghats. The Eicher Pro X EV travelled through temperatures ranging from -2deg Celsius to 40deg Celsius. The EV relied entirely on public charging stations, coordinated through the MyEicher App. The trip was conducted with the vehicle at full load capacity to simulate authentic logistics operations.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, SCV - Sales & Marketing, VECV, said, “The K2K milestone is a strong validation of the Eicher Pro X EV’s engineering capability under real-world operating conditions. The initiative not only builds confidence in electric mobility as an economical source of providing logistical solution but also strengthens trust through proof, not promise.”

Eicher collaborated with commercial vehicle influencer Raman Nayak (Behind The Wheels) and a network of regional creators to document the journey. The multi-episode series focused on the practicalities of EV ownership, such as route planning and terrain management, presented in local languages to reach a broader demographic of fleet operators.

Bhagwan K. Bindiganavile, EVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, said, “In the commercial vehicle industry, trust is built through proof. Taking a production vehicle on a journey of this scale was a deliberate move to move beyond conventional marketing and demonstrate capability in a real, unfiltered and conclusive manner.”

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has announced that its first family electric scooter, the Rizta, has crossed the 300,000-unit sales milestone within just two years of its April 2024 launch.

The e-scooter has become Ather’s primary volume driver, significantly accelerating the company's growth in both its home markets and new regions.

The Rizta reached 200,000 units in December 2025 and added the most recent 100,000 units in just five months, reflecting a rapid surge in demand for family-focused electric mobility.

The Rizta has been instrumental in Ather’s ‘Middle India’ strategy, focusing on states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In these regions, Ather's market share shot up from 4.1 percent (Q1 FY25) to 17.3 percent (Q4 FY26). In Northern states, including Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, market share grew more than threefold during the same period.

In its home base of Southern India, the Rizta helped Ather retain its leadership position, contributing to a regional market share of 23.5 percent in Q4 FY26.

Interestingly, nearly 70 percent of Rizta owners are families with children, moving away from Ather's traditional enthusiast-only demographic. The e-scooter's success is attributed to its 56-litre total storage, spacious seat and safety features like SkidControl. In FY2026, the Rizta accounted for approximately 76 percent of Ather’s total sales volume.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Since its launch, the Rizta was sharply positioned as a family scooter and has resonated extremely well with the family audiences across the country. The Rizta has helped us gain a leadership position in FY2026 in Southern India. Additionally, the Rizta has played a crucial role in expanding our market share in ‘middle India’ by 4X since its launch in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In FY '26 the Rizta constituted about 76 percent of our portfolio and continues to lead our growth.”

Ather has maintained strong customer engagement through its AtherStack software. In September 2025, the company released AtherStack 7 via an over-the-air (OTA) update. This update introduced a touchscreen interface for existing Rizta Z models, pothole alerts & voice commands and advanced safety features including crash alerts, ParkSafe tow-zone detection and LockSafe theft prevention.

This milestone comes as Ather prepares to enter the mass-market segment with its upcoming EL platform and expands production capacity through its Factory 3.0 facility at AURIC, Maharashtra.

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