UK-based EV battery pack technology start-up Ionetic has unveiled what it claims is a world-first software-accelerated, AI-supported development system, Arc, that delivers multi-million dollar savings in battery pack development costs, and halves time-to-market for custom battery packs.

Launched alongside Ionetic’s refreshed logo, brand, and website, Arc slashes the typical around $30 million investment and four-year development cycle required for bespoke EV battery systems from tier 1 suppliers by automating design and integrating pre-validated components into a fully end-to-end battery pack development system. The Arc system allows Ionetic to rapidly deliver cost-effective, performance-optimised battery solutions that meet OEMs’ customer and commercial needs faster and with less risk.

James Eaton, CEO and Co-Founder, Ionetic said: "As the push for electric vehicle adoption accelerates, OEMs need the right partners to bring competitive electrified vehicles to market as fast as possible. Ionetic’s fully end-to-end, in-house offering firmly establishes our position as a battery technology tier 1 at the forefront of innovation; our Arc system allows us to provide OEMs with pre-validated, tailored solutions – enabling them to remove inefficient development processes, focus on vehicle innovation, and eliminate the usual bottlenecks of cost and time. It’s our mission to help OEMs supercharge the electric transition in a way that is profitable and futureproofed for the next era of mobility – a mission that our proprietary technology is primed to achieve.”

The start-up states that battery pack development is one of the most time- and cost-intensive challenges in bringing an EV to market, on-schedule and at an affordable price-point. OEMs needing between 100 and 10,000 battery packs a year are typically faced with a difficult choice: between expensive and time-consuming, highly bespoke battery packs; or low-performance off-the-shelf solutions – with neither option providing a compelling way for OEMs to launch electrified vehicles.

With 95 percent of the world’s OEMs producing low-volume bespoke platforms such as trucks, buses, and sportscars, Ionetic claims its AI-supported, end-to-end approach effectively unleashes the ability of EV OEMs to access high-performance custom battery packs without the usual costs and complexity.

Arc enables Ionetic to deliver batteries to OEMs that combine the best speed and affordability of off-the-shelf solutions with the flexibility and performance of bespoke designs – which reduces time, cost, and development challenges. The system achieves this by seamlessly integrating three elements:

Software: A network of AI-accelerated design tools which remove manual, iterative human design engineering. Instead, Arc rapidly optimises, conceptualises and brings-to-life the battery pack’s design, facilitating significant time- and cost-reductions.

Hardware: Arc is built around a pre-defined design system, including a number of pre-validated systems and components, all whilst supporting multiple different cell formats. This reduces both programme risk and validation time, whilst remaining highly flexible.

Fabrication: Rather than requiring large up-front investment and bespoke manufacturing lines, Arc utilises an innovative, flexible manufacturing system. More akin to the approach taken by semiconductor fabricators, this allows Ionetic’s production facility to serve multiple different customers, without the time and costs typically required for new-line set-up.  

Founded in 2022, Ionetic is a leading innovator in EV battery pack technology, combining advanced software tools and smart manufacturing systems to deliver high-performance, cost-effective battery solutions for low-volume OEMs.

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Tesla has announced the commissioning of its first in-mall charging location at Nexus Seawoods in Navi Mumbai. This site provides eight chargers, expanding the company’s charging infrastructure to locations where customers spend time, such as retail destinations and highway rest stops.

The new station, located in the B1 parking area of the mall, features a combination of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) charging options:

V4 Superchargers: Four units providing peak charging speeds of 250 kW. A Model Y can add up to 275 km of range in 15 minutes using this technology.

Destination Chargers: Four units providing 11 kW for standard AC charging.

The charging process is integrated with the Tesla app, which allows owners to navigate to stations, precondition vehicle batteries, monitor stall availability, and complete payments. The company reports a claimed global charging uptime of 99.95 percent.

With the addition of the Navi Mumbai site, Tesla now operates five charging locations across India, totalling 20 Superchargers and 14 Destination Chargers.

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Kia has been crowned ‘Best Manufacturer’ at the TopGear.com EV Awards 2026, a significant honour in UK’s electric vehicle calendar. These annual awards, now in their seventh year, celebrate the top-performing EVs on the British market while recognising the manufacturers that truly drive the industry forward. This latest accolade follows closely on the heels of another triumph for the brand at the BBC TopGear.com awards, where the PV5 Passenger was named ‘Family Car of the Year’.

Kia’s electric journey began in 2014 with the first-generation Soul EV, ending its first full year of EV sales with just 149 registrations. By the close of 2025, however, that figure had surged to over 94,500 fully electric vehicles sold in UK, supported by a diverse lineup including the EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, EV9 and PV5. Looking ahead, the EV2 represents the next phase of the brand’s ‘Plan S’ strategy, which started with the EV6 in 2021. Designed and manufactured in Europe exclusively for that market, this compact and affordable model packs premium, segment-above technology into a bold, boxy body.

First examples of the Kia EV2 are due to arrive later in 2026, joined by high-performance GT versions of the EV3, EV4 and EV5. These launches underscore Kia’s continued commitment to expanding its electric footprint with accessible yet advanced vehicles.

Ollie Kew, Deputy Editor, TopGear.com, said, "Whether you’re in an EV3 or the enormous EV9, the sleek EV6 or the boxy PV5, there’s a familiar sortedness running through the e-Kias like the proverbial stick of rock. Reliable range, unfussy performance, pleasing comfort... and the confidence to bookend its EV ranks with an entry-level EV2 alongside a GBP 83,000, 500-bhp super SUV in the shape of the EV9 GT.”

Paul Philpott, President and CEO, Kia UK, said, “We’re honoured to have been named Top Gear’s Best Manufacturer for 2026. This recognition follows a busy year for the Kia brand, with the launch of eight new products in 2025, including EV4, EV5 and PV5. This recognition reflects the strength and breadth of our electric lineup, and our commitment to delivering innovative, desirable and accessible EVs for our customers.”

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VinFast has opened bookings for its new VF MPV 7, a premium 7-seater electric MPV tailored for Indian customers. This third model from the company in India offers a spacious interior, smart technology and strong practicality to meet daily mobility needs. With an outstanding value proposition, the vehicle reinforces VinFast’s long term commitment to building a complete green mobility ecosystem across the country, delivering modern and sustainable transport solutions for Indian households.

Starting 2 April 2026, customers can reserve the VF MPV 7 through the official website or any of VinFast’s 50 authorised dealerships nationwide for a booking amount of INR 21,000, with the official launch and price announcement scheduled for 15 April 2026. Designed with the signature golden ratio proportions of MPVs, the wheels are pushed towards the corners to maximise cabin space.

Measuring 4,740 mm in length, 1,872 mm in width and 1,734 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,840 mm, the VF MPV 7 offers a roomy cabin across all three rows, ensuring consistent comfort for larger families. Its R19 alloy wheels give the vehicle a strong yet sporty presence. Powered by a 60.13 kWh battery, it delivers over 500 kilometres of driving range per full charge, and fast charging technology can take the battery from 10 to 70 percent in about 30 minutes.

Before the VF MPV 7, VinFast launched the VF 6 and VF 7 premium electric SUVs in September 2025, both winning multiple industry awards. The company continues to strengthen its EV ecosystem by expanding showroom and aftersales networks, partnering with local financial institutions, and offering an industry best product warranty. Customer centric policies include a value assured programme, trade in support for switching from gasoline to electric vehicles and free charging within the V Green network until 31 March 2029, making the transition to electric mobility easier.

Tapan Ghosh, CEO, VinFast India, said, “The VF MPV 7 marks another step forward in VinFast’s efforts to win over Indian consumers with modern, practical and accessible electric mobility solutions. We believe this model will help redefine standards in its segment and become an ideal choice for families seeking a clean mobility solution that meets everyday practicality.”

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Pune-headquartered electric vehicle and technology company EKA Mobility has recorded a fivefold year-on-year volume growth for FY2025–26. The company sold 1,143 units and produced 1,344 electric commercial vehicles during this period.

EKA Mobility operates as a Champion OEM under the Automotive Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. The company has expanded its manufacturing footprint with two operational facilities in Pune and a third plant in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, scheduled to commence operations shortly.

The company is setting up a planned annual production capacity of 10,000 buses, 6,000 trucks and 24,000 small commercial vehicles (SCVs). Its order book includes over 6,000 confirmed electric buses for delivery within the next two years.

Interestingly, FY2026 marked EKA Mobility’s entry into the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) truck segment. It’s e-buses are currently deployed across more than 15 states under national programmes including PM e-Bus Sewa and PM E-DRIVE. The SCV sales was driven by the demand for 3S and 6S passenger vehicles and 3-wheeler cargo platforms.

The EV maker also deployed a 9-metre hydrogen fuel cell bus at Cochin International Airport in collaboration with KPIT Technologies and BPCL, with 15 additional units planned.

EKA has also commenced e-bus deployments in Africa through a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) assembly agreement with the Kerchanshe Group. It has also signed an agreement with NBFI Capital to manufacture electric buses in Australia. Domestically, the company plans to add 120 dealerships in FY27 to its existing network across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities.

Dr Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, stated, "FY 2025–26 is a defining year for EKA Mobility. We are not only scaling volumes but also expanding our manufacturing footprint by adding a new plant recently and increasing our planned annual capacity to 10,000 buses, 6,000 trucks and 24,000 SCVs. With the widest range of fully homologated, born-electric platforms – from last-mile to long-haul – we are uniquely positioned as a full-stack EV company. Our growth across electric buses, small commercial vehicles, and now trucks validates both market demand and our execution capability. India’s transition to clean commercial mobility is accelerating, and EKA is at the forefront – driving this shift at scale, with technology, innovation and global ambition."

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