The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the apex representative body of the Indian forging sector, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India.

The agreement was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, signifying an important step towards embedding sustainable manufacturing practices within the forging sector. It forms part of the newly launched Assistance for Deployment of Energy Efficient Technologies in Industrial Establishments (ADEETIE) scheme.

The ADEETIE initiative, announced by the Ministry of Power and managed by BEE, is focused on enabling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across 14 energy-intensive sectors – including forging – to adopt advanced energy-efficient technologies. The scheme adopts a comprehensive approach, offering:

• Interest subvention on loans for technology adoption (5 percent for micro and small enterprises, 3 percent for medium enterprises).
• End-to-end support, including investment-grade energy audits, guidance with project execution and robust post-deployment monitoring.
• Establishment of a dedicated project management unit and a nodal banking partner to streamline the process.

With a total budget of INR 10 billion, the scheme aims to unlock more than INR 90 billion in overall investments, including INR 67.5 billion specifically set aside for MSME lending. This allocation is expected to reduce the financial burden for forging units seeking to embrace energy-efficient solutions.

Yash Munot, President, AIFI, said, “This collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency marks a significant step forward for the Indian forging industry. As one of the most energy-intensive sectors, forging stands to benefit immensely from the structured support offered under the ADEETIE scheme. By enabling access to financial incentives and technical guidance, this initiative will empower MSMEs to adopt cutting-edge, energy-efficient technologies. It aligns perfectly with our vision of building a globally competitive, environmentally responsible and innovation-driven forging ecosystem. AIFI is committed to mobilising our members across clusters to take full advantage of this opportunity and contribute meaningfully to India’s broader sustainability and industrial growth goals”.

Deven Doshi, Chairman – Government Interface, AIFI, added, “Energy efficiency is very essential for forging companies, but the MSME sector often faces structural barriers in adopting cleaner and more efficient technologies. The ADEETIE scheme provides a structured framework of support, including technical, operational and financial aspects, that directly addresses these challenges. AIFI is proud to be a partner in this transformative journey. This collaboration not only ensures sectoral compliance with energy norms but also paves the way for long-term industrial modernisation.”

The Indian forging industry, particularly its MSME segment, has been a foundation for the country’s manufacturing and export sectors, supporting diverse areas such as automotive, defence and capital goods. Despite this, the sector has historically faced high energy costs and sustainability challenges. The ADEETIE scheme is set to address these issues directly, equipping forging enterprises with fiscal support and technical know-how to achieve sustainable growth.

Through this MoU, AIFI will actively promote and facilitate the implementation of the ADEETIE scheme across forging clusters nationwide, ensuring that members gain timely access to tools, knowledge, and incentives needed to strengthen both competitiveness and environmental responsibility.

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Chinese automotive major Changan Automobile and CAOA have inaugurated an automated production line in Anapolis, Brazil, marking the start of local assembly for the Changan UNI-T SUV.

The ceremony was attended by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, signaling a phase of industrialisation and mobility investment in Brazil.

The inauguration initiates a USD 950 million investment cycle for 2026-2028, which adds to the earlier USD 570 million invested since 2023. Total investment in the Anapolis facility reaches USD 1.52 billion with the plant now equipped to have an annual production capacity of 90,000 units.

The UNI-T was developed over three years by a team of 200 Chinese and Brazilian engineers. Key technical features include:

• Powertrain: A 1.5 Turbo GDi BlueCore Flex engine, calibrated by CAOA to operate on any ethanol-petrol blend.
• Testing: The vehicle underwent 200,000 km of durability testing across various Brazilian climates.
• Digital Features: A localised Portuguese voice control system and connected cockpit tailored for the domestic market.
• Future Roadmap: Changan plans to introduce hybrid and electrified variants, supported by the federal government's MOVER programme.

The company expects to open over 60 dealerships across Brazil during 2026 to support its expanded sales footprint.

Zhu Huarong, Chairman, China Changan Automobile Group, said, "For Changan, Brazil is not only a place to invest, but a land where we committed to building a long-term future."

Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade Filho, Co-President, CAOA, added, "The UNI-T represents far more than a new model. It demonstrates that Brazil can establish itself as a global hub for high-technology automotive engineering and production."

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a 5-year investment plan to expand its manufacturing operations in Karnataka.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka during the ‘Invest Karnataka’ Conclave in Bengaluru, securing proposed incentive support through the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The EV maker has announced a two-phase expansion strategy to increase domestic production and support global export requirements:

Phase 1: An investment of INR 2 billion to enhance existing capacity and manufacturing at the current Bengaluru facility.

Phase 2: The establishment of a new production plant in Karnataka with an annual capacity of 150,000 units.

The plan aims to deepen local manufacturing, create employment and accelerate research and development within the electric vehicle sector. Ultraviolette currently produces the F77 performance motorcycle and the X-47 Crossover, utilising proprietary battery technology.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Ultraviolette intends to expand its Indian retail presence from 40 to 100 cities by the end of 2026. Internationally, the company has entered 12 European countries and has scheduled further expansion into Asian and Latin American markets.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, “Karnataka has been central to Ultraviolette’s vision of Making in India for the World. This proposed manufacturing expansion reflects our confidence in the state’s forward-looking EV ecosystem, talent, and policy support. The combination of infrastructure readiness, proactive governance, and long-term incentive visibility creates a strong foundation for Ultraviolette’s next phase of growth.”

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, added, “Karnataka has been home to Ultraviolette’s R&D journey from the very beginning. The state offers a unique combination of deep engineering talent, strong supplier networks, and close proximity to key industrial and manufacturing hubs. What makes this especially meaningful for us is that we have built world-class products here proving that with the right talent, ambition, and ecosystem, innovation can be created right here in Karnataka.”

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Octillion Power Systems has announced that its India division has manufactured its 100,000th electric vehicle (EV) battery system. The milestone unit was produced on 20 March 2025 at the company’s ‘Pune Two’ facility for a passenger SUV developed by an Indian automotive manufacturer.

Since commencing Indian operations in 2017, Octillion has expanded from a single facility in Pune to three manufacturing sites across Pune and Gujarat. The company currently operates over 300,000 square feet of production space.

At present, the company’s annual energy production is expected to reach 8 GWh by 2026. The division supplies battery systems for passenger cars, trucks, buses and two-wheelers and three-wheelers. The company recently announced the build-out of its third major facility in Halol, Gujarat, to support a domestic supply chain and mass-scale quality control.

Paul Beach, Global President, Octillion, said, “Reaching 100,000 units made in India is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. This milestone reflects the trust our clients place in us to deliver safe, durable, and innovative batteries on time replete with exceptional value. Our position is strengthened as we expand in India and continue driving forward: product innovation, market growth and a more resilient supply chain.”

Nikhil Parchure, Senior Vice-President, Octillion, commented, “Our ambition in India is to enable cleaner, more sustainable transportation to help combat the pollution affecting our cities and communities. Reaching 100,000 packs is proof of our India team’s extraordinary dedication to this mission. We deeply appreciate our customers’ trust and we take pride in knowing that vehicles powered by Octillion batteries reflect the ingenuity and excellence of India.”

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Tsuyo Manufacturing has received Single Window Clearance from the Government of Karnataka to establish a 20-acre electric vehicle (EV) powertrain manufacturing and validation facility in the Hubli-Dharwad region. The project follows a Letter of Intent (LoI) signed during the Bengaluru Tech Summit in November 2025.

The company will invest INR 2.5 billion to develop an integrated campus for the development, production and validation of EV powertrain technologies. The facility will house assembly lines and laboratories for electric traction motors, motor controllers, power electronics and drivetrain systems.

The site will also include a dedicated open test track specifically designed for commercial-vehicle powertrain validation.

The project will be executed in two distinct phases to scale voltage and power capabilities:

• Phase 1: Focuses on powertrain platforms up to 250 kW with voltage architectures up to 650V.
• Phase 2: Expands capacity to develop powertrains up to 1100 kW with high-voltage architectures reaching 850V DC.

This infrastructure is intended to serve a range of sectors, including three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and industrial mobility.

The initiative is expected to create over 500 engineering and technical jobs over the next three years. It aims to support the growth of a localised EV component supply chain in India, reducing reliance on imports for motor design and power electronics engineering.

Vijay Kumar, Founder & CEO, said, “The Hubli–Dharwad facility will be a significant breakthrough in Tsuyo’s mission to build a globally competitive EV powertrain ecosystem from India. With advanced manufacturing, integrated validation infrastructure, and system-level engineering capabilities, this investment will enable us to deliver high-power, high-voltage electric powertrain solutions for both domestic and international markets. Our focus is to develop and manufacture complete electric powertrain systems with world-class engineering and validation capabilities. The new facility will allow Tsuyo to accelerate innovation in motors, power electronics, and integrated drivetrain solutions while meeting the reliability and performance standards required by Indian as well as global OEMs.”

Lalit Baid, Founder & COO, commented, “The facility will be developed in two phases to progressively scale our integrated EV powertrain technology capabilities. Phase 1 will support powertrain platforms of up to 250 kW with voltage architectures up to 650V, while Phase 2 will expand our capabilities to develop powertrains of up to 1100 kW with high-voltage architectures reaching 850V DC. Importantly, the project will also create over 500 jobs, reinforcing our pledge to building advanced EV technologies and strengthening India’s domestic electric mobility ecosystem.”

Vikas Verma, Partner at Avaana Capital, added, “From the outset, what stood out to us about Tsuyo was the team’s rare combination of deep engineering capability, product innovation, disciplined execution, and focus on localized manufacturing to build globally competitive EV powertrain technologies from India. The approval of this facility is a testament to Tsuyo’s rapid progress and its strong trajectory in scaling both manufacturing and technological capabilities. Their continued progress in building advanced EV powertrain solutions in India is closely aligned with our conviction in the long-term potential of the country’s electric mobility ecosystem.”

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