VinFast Auto India, the subsidiary of Vietnam-based electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, has inducted its first cohort of 200 local professionals at its soon-to-be inaugurated factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The number is expected to gradually scale up to 3,500 workers over the next five years.

Selected candidates in Tamil Nadu are currently undergoing rigorous training, guided by Vietnamese subject matter experts and seasoned Indian professionals. This initiative aligns with Naan Mudhalvan, the Government of Tamil Nadu's flagship skilling programme, which aims to provide industry-relevant competencies to local youth.

Guidance Tamil Nadu's WorkLabs Cell is facilitating this industry-academia collaboration, ensuring a seamless talent pipeline. This follows a large-scale recruitment drive in April, where VinFast India, with support from the District Collector's Office and the Tamil Nadu Industries Department, partnered with local polytechnic colleges to identify, train, and onboard young diploma holders. VinFast's workforce strategy adopts an 80:20 hybrid model, with 80 percent of the plant workforce comprising freshers and trainees from local communities.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “We deeply appreciate the support of District Collector K Elambahavath and the Industries Department, whose collaborative approach has been vital in translating our talent development goals into reality. As we ramp up our operations in India, we are proud to invest in the people and potential of Tamil Nadu. With varied employment opportunities, this facility stands as a catalyst for regional growth as well as in building a resilient, inclusive and high-performance manufacturing ecosystem that can serve both Indian and global markets.”

VinFast India’s Thoothukudi plant is set to play a key role for the company’s Asia growth story. It will have a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles per annum and is set to produce the VF 6 and VF 7 e-SUVs.

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Pune-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has signed an MoU with Kerchanshe Trading, a diversified business group in Ethiopia, to establish distribution, assembly and aftersales operations for EKA vehicles across East Africa.

The agreement was signed in Dubai by Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman of EKA Mobility and Dr. Israel Dejene, CEO and Chairman of Kerchanshe Trading.

EKA Mobility brings expertise in electric buses, small commercial vehicles and three-wheelers. Kerchanshe Trading PLC, which works across agriculture, construction and automotive sectors, has experience in industrial operations and vehicle assembly.

The collaboration includes plans to establish a local CKD assembly plant for EKA vehicles in Ethiopia, launch distribution and service operations across Ethiopia and surrounding markets and introduce a range of electric mobility products tailored for the region.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, said, “Our partnership with Kerchanshe Group is a proud milestone in EKA’s journey to democratise sustainable mobility across global markets. Ethiopia, with its growing industrial base and focus on clean energy, is the ideal hub for our East African operations. Together, we aim to create not just vehicles, but a cleaner, more inclusive future for mobility in East Africa.”

Israel Degefa, CEO and President, Kerchanshe Group, added, “With this collaboration, we are laying the groundwork for a new era of electric mobility in East Africa. By combining EKA’s innovative electric vehicle technology with our local expertise in assembly and distribution, we are creating a robust ecosystem that supports green mobility, industrial growth, and job creation.”

The partnership aims to position Ethiopia as a central hub for vehicle manufacturing and clean transport in the region.

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Ather Energy, a leading electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India, has announced the Ather Service Carnival, a nationwide service initiative for its customers. The initiative is scheduled from 9^th October to 18^th October.

The carnival includes benefits across all Ather service centres to encourage customers to prepare their scooters for the festive season.

Customers receive a free 15-point vehicle health check-up, which reviews brakes, tyres, suspension and electronics. The company is also offering discounts: 10 percent off on paid labour and brake pads, 15 percent off on painted body parts and 20 percent off on polish services. Ather has over 400 service centres across the country as of 30 September 2025.

The automaker has introduced initiatives to make scooter ownership simple, including Ather Care service plans and Ather ExpressCare. The company also launched Gold Service Centres, which are facilities that provide quicker service at no extra cost to owners.

Ather Energy is also expanding its retail network. Last month, the company exceeded 500 Experience Centres (ECs) nationwide and plans to reach 700 ECs by the end of FY2026.

The company recently produced its 500,000th vehicle from its manufacturing plant. Ather operates two plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, for vehicle assembly and battery production, and is setting up a third facility, Factory 3.0, in Bidkin, Maharashtra.

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Indofast Energy, a provider of battery-swapping solutions, has partnered e-Sprinto, an electric two-wheeler brand, to deploy 20,000 electric two-wheelers across India by 2026.

The collaboration will integrate e-Sprinto’s vehicles with Indofast Energy’s battery-swapping network. This synergy offers delivery partners a two-minute battery swap solution, removing charging downtime. The deployment will focus on quick commerce, e-commerce and food delivery sectors by establishing infrastructure along high-demand corridors.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Energy, said, "We are thrilled to partner with e-Sprinto, an OEM that shares our vision for a sustainable and accessible electric future. Having established ourselves as the default choice for fleet operators in battery swapping, this collaboration demonstrates our readiness to transition from B2B to B2C segments, showcasing the strength and scalability of our infrastructure. By integrating e-Sprinto's high-quality vehicles with our network, we are expanding our reach across diverse customer segments and accelerating our ambitious EV deployment targets, further solidifying our leadership in India's electric mobility revolution.”

Atul Gupta, Co-Founder and Director, e-Sprinto, said, "Our collaboration with Indofast Energy is nothing short of a game-changer for e-Sprinto and the broader EV market. Indofast Energy's extensive battery-swapping network perfectly complements our vehicles, offering customers the unparalleled convenience and efficiency. By deploying 20,000 vehicles with Indofast Energy in 2026, we are confident this partnership will make electric mobility the preferred choice for both commercial and personal transportation across India, delivering reliable, sustainable, and economically viable solutions for all."

The alliance is a step in Indofast Energy’s plan to deploy 2,750 swap stations and support 1.5 lakh vehicles by March 2026. The company’s mission is to establish 10,000 swapping points across over 40 Indian cities in the next three years. Indofast Energy has over 1,000 battery-swapping stations in 10 states and 22 cities.

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Montra Electric, the clean transport brand from the Murugappa Group, has launched the updated Super Auto electric passenger three-wheeler.

The vehicle features LED headlamps to increase visibility, and radial tubeless tyres to provide better grip, stability and lower maintenance costs. A re-engineered suspension system also aims to ensure a smoother drive.

The Super Auto now comes with Montra Electric’s in-house developed ‘One Montra Electric’ (1M) connected software platform. This provides drivers with access to vehicle performance data, charging station locations and digital features.

The vehicle offers a range of 160 km per charge and is supported by the company’s 3S (Sales, Service, Spares) network across over 120 markets. Till date, the company has sold over 13,000 units of the Super Auto in India.

Deependra Sharma, CEO (Designate), Montra Electric Last Mile (TI Clean Mobility), said, “Every new product at Montra Electric is created with a clear goal, to make electric mobility more efficient, reliable, and valuable for drivers. The all-new Super Auto reflects our engineering focus on comfort, safety, and durability, while keeping affordability intact, making clean mobility both practical and profitable for drivers and fleet operators.”

The Super Auto is available in White, Blue, and Green, and a Black Edition with decals.

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