The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) launched the project on development of ‘Motor Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool (Bharat VECTO) for Real Drive Fuel Consumption/CO2 Emissions’, a landmark project in India’s homologation process, at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. ARAI is showcasing its technology and services at stall no H11-04, Bharat Mandapam; stall no H2-02, Yashobhoomi and stall no H1-A14, India Expo Centre & Mart from 17 to 22 January 2025.

Minister of Road, Transport and Highway Shri Nitin Gadkari; Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI; P K Banerjee, Chief Executive Director, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Dr Sukrut S. Thipse, Senior Deputy Director – ARAI and Bharat VECTO Project Leader graced the event.

In accordance with Europe, the United States, Japan, China and other countries, the developed Bharat VECTO will be used to compute the realistic fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) (GVW > 3.5 tonnes) on a driving cycle basis. The BS-VII regulation will include it. Various mission profiles will be created under the Bharat VECTO project to address all HDV classifications, driving styles, road topography etc. Before being finalised for usage, the created tool will be tested on a few vehicle classifications. Along with project partners, ARAI will make every effort to create Bharat VECTO. It will be made available in Bharat Stage-VII and will serve cars powered by internal combustion engines, electric vehicles (EVs), fuel cell EVs and flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) in a phased way.

At Bharat Mandapam, a concept demo of the Over-Head Automated Charging Device (OH-ACD), one of ARAI's projects in collaboration with IIT-Madras, is on exhibit. Fast charging is possible with the 600-kW charging power, 1000V voltage and 600A current, which is made to satisfy the needs of the changing transportation environment. In addition to OH-ACD, the company is showcasing its in-house ADAS Validation Platform, a Light Commercial Vehicle with a 117 HP engine and an E-Axle for European customers and a Training Kit for the Battery Management System.

Stall number H2-02, Yashobhoomi, lists ARAI's specialised service portfolio for certification and support in developmental validation for components, systems and sub-systems. Along with engine models and lightweight components from the ARAI Fatigue Material Centre of Excellence, ARAI is also exhibiting the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) Bike and Battery Management System Kit, which was constructed by ARAI engineers.

Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said, “It is a great pleasure to host Hon’ble Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and have his presence for the launch of Bharat VECTO project. Ministry of Road Transport and Highway has played a significant role in enabling ARAI guide the auto industry towards one direction. Hence, ‘Motor Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool for Real Drive Fuel Consumption/CO2 Emissions’ will be instrumental in accelerating the momentum for industry-wide adoption of green mobility. ARAI, while being a major stakeholder in homologation and developmental testing and standardisation has also been fundamental in innovating technologies for sustainable mobility like Over-Head Automated Charging Device, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain, which are at display at Bharat Mobility Global Expo. We are thrilled to showcase these technologies and drive conversations for greener tomorrow.”

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HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive have released the 2025 edition of the HERE-SBD EV Index, evaluating electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure across 31 Indian states and union territories. The study shows expanding consumer demand alongside widening gaps in public charging network capacity.

The report finds that Chandigarh retains the top position in the national rankings, followed by Karnataka, Goa, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Assam, and Jharkhand occupy the lower positions. Goa recorded the highest battery electric vehicle fleet share at 0.91 percent, while Delhi recorded the highest public charger density with 1 charger per 9 kilometres of road.

Between 2024 and 2025, India added 6,800 public charge points, but the average charger capacity remained unchanged at 33 kilowatts. The ratio of battery electric vehicles to public chargers rose from 12:1 in 2024 to 20:1 in 2025, indicating that vehicle purchases are progressing faster than public charger installations. The index also incorporates survey responses from over 1,000 drivers in India, where the average age of electric vehicle owners is 35 years. The survey noted that 73 percent of electric vehicle owners reported encountering faulty public chargers, with charger availability cited as the primary barrier to vehicle adoption by 47 percent of respondents.

Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director and Head of Business for India and Southeast Asia, HERE Technologies, said, "India’s EV journey is accelerating, propelled by rising consumer interest and progressive state-level policies. As adoption surges, the strain on infrastructure becomes more evident. The 2025 HERE-SBD EV Index highlights both the promise and pressure points of India’s EV ecosystem. These insights can serve as a valuable guide for policymakers and industry leaders to align efforts, close infrastructure gaps, and build a more inclusive and sustainable mobility future for the country."

Robert Fisher, Senior Consulting Manager, SBD Automotive, said, "India’s transport sector stands on the cusp of rapid electrification, yet the challenges ahead are considerable. The nation must navigate the distinct requirements of its diverse mobility landscape, as the needs of two- and three-wheeler drivers differ greatly from those of car owners and public transport operators. Only through rigorous analysis of market dynamics, user sentiment, and charging infrastructure development can India create an electrification strategy that meets the needs of its increasingly mobile population."

The policy environment transitioned following the conclusion of the FAME II program in September 2024, with the PM E-DRIVE initiative prioritizing two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and commercial vehicles. Four-wheeled electric passenger vehicles continue to receive support via sales tax incentives and the Production Linked Incentive scheme for domestic manufacturing.

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Chennai-headquartered electric vehicle company Raptee.HV has opened an electric mobility Centre of Excellence at Rajalakshmi Engineering College, establishing an industry-academia partnership focused on electric vehicle technology.

The new facility, inaugurated on World EV Day, is spread across 3,000 square feet and will operate under the Raptee.HV Academy initiative will introduce industrial exposure and prototyping tools to academic institutions.

The project represents an INR 5 million investment and accompanies a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Raptee.HV and Rajalakshmi Engineering College. The agreement covers industrial training, site visits, guest lectures, internships, academic courses and research projects.

It is designed for students across electrical, electronics and automotive engineering; the laboratory contains a Raptee.HV T30 motorcycle, core electric vehicle components, a stripped motorcycle fitted with digital twin technology and equipment for testing battery packs, electric motors, power electronics, charging systems, vehicle communications and diagnostics.

Dinesh Arjun, Co-Founder and CEO, Raptee.HV, said, "The next generation of mobility will be built by engineers who understand the machine from the cell to the software. But you cannot build that understanding from a classroom alone. You have to get your hands dirty, take systems apart, question how they work, experiment and build again. The HV Lab is our attempt to bring that experience into engineering education. If even a few students walk out of this lab wanting to build the next great EV technology, we have done our job."

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Zuno General Insurance has launched Fuel Guard, a car insurance add-on offering financial protection against component damage caused by manufacturer-approved blended fuels.

The policy addition targets private motor vehicles in India as alternative and blended fuel adoption expands across the country. The coverage applies to specified engine and fuel-system parts in cases of accidental or unforeseen damage arising directly from approved blended fuel use.

At present, the insurance cover eligibility is restricted to private cars registered on or after 1 April 2023, provided the vehicle manufacturer has endorsed the specific fuel blend used. Vehicle owners must adhere to the manufacturer's prescribed maintenance schedule without making unauthorised modifications to the engine or fuel system. Fuel Guard can be added to private car package policies, standalone own-damage coverage, bundled options and three-year long-term policies.

Shanai Ghosh, Managing Director and CEO, Zuno General Insurance, said, "At its core, Fuel Guard is built around a simple idea: as the mobility ecosystem evolves, insurance protection needs to evolve with it. At Zuno, we continuously look at how changes in mobility are shaping customer expectations and ownership experiences. Fuel Guard reflects our effort to translate those insights into simple, practical solutions that make protection more relevant in everyday life."

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JSW Group and Volkswagen Group have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a proposed 51:49 alliance involving JSW Green Mobility Limited and Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd. No official statement or press release has been issued by either the JSW Group, Skoda/Volkswagen yet regarding the development. 
“The signing of the non-binding MoU has actually taken place,” claimed an industry source. Pointing at the news in Economic Times, he said, “The non-binding MoU paves way for further negotiations between the two organisations in terms of valuation and other factors.” 
“The non-binding MoU would explore setting up of a strategic joint venture in India that would develop, manufacture and sell passenger vehicles for the domestic as well as international markets,” he added. 
Stating that the nature of vehicles would include ICE, electric and hybrid powertrain ones, the source averred, “The non-binding MoU would pave the way for internal approvals, regulatory clearances and other nitty-gritties such as sourcing, manufacturing, technology, localisation, management etc. before a concrete structure is engineered by both the companies and the groups that control them by the end of this year or early next year. 
Entering India is 2000, Skoda, the Czech passenger vehicle arm of the Volkswagen Group has been driving activities for Volkswagen and Skoda brand of vehicles in India. While the Chakan (Pune) plant has been under Volkswagen, the Shendre MIDC (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar) plant has been under Skoda. The Volkswagen Group premium luxury vehicles of the Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi brand are assembled at the Shendre MIDC facility. It has been some time that the Volkswagen Group is looking to turn the Indian operations into a regional hub catering to the immediate neighbouring markets among others. 
Holding a 35 percent stake in JSW MG Motor India, which involves SAIC Motors and is separate from JSW Green Mobility, the JSW Group has presence across steel, infrastructure, energy, cement, paints and automobiles. While there have been reports indicating plans to increase its holding to 45 percent in JSW MG Motor India, the Group has committed up to USD 3 billion over five years in investment in its automotive arm, which includes the building of a greenfield manufacturing footprint at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. 
The development about the non-binding MoU between JSW Group and Volkswagen Group, the source claimed, has taken place at around the same time the CEO of Skoda Auto, Klaus Zellmer, and the CEO of Volkswagen, Thomas Schäfer, were visiting India. 
 

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