Cygni Energy Bets Big on EVs, Alternative Chemistries with INR 2.5 Billion Gigafactory Investment

Cygni Energy Bets Big on EVs, Alternative Chemistries with INR 2.5 Billion Gigafactory Investment

Venkat Rajaram, Cygni Energy, Founder & CEO, along with Vipul and Gautam.

Hyderabad-based Cygni Energy has unveiled Phase I of its fully automated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) gigafactory at E-Mobility Valley in Maheshwaram, Hyderabad, signalling a major leap in India’s electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy manufacturing landscape. The company is investing INR 2.5 billion over two phases to ramp up capacity from 4.8 GWh to 10.8 GWh over the next 12–24 months.

With a sharp focus on electric mobility, energy storage systems, and next-generation battery chemistries, Cygni is positioning itself to meet growing domestic and international demand for sustainable energy solutions. The company is also actively developing sodium-ion and sulphur-based batteries to complement traditional lithium-ion chemistries, alongside investments in thermal safety, recycling and advanced energy management algorithms tailored to Indian conditions.

Venkat Rajaraman, Founder & CEO, Cygni Energy, said, “In the long term, as part of India’s 100 GWh roadmap, we expect to become self-sufficient in cell manufacturing. We are also seeing a convergence of newer chemistries like sodium and sulphur. Sodium-ion batteries, in particular, are expected to play a critical role in India’s EV journey –given their lower cost of USD 6 per kWh versus USD 24 for lithium. While lithium demand currently exceeds sodium by 3x, India’s early-stage advantage allows us to leapfrog.”

“We cater to three markets – BESS, commercial and industrial storage, and electric vehicles. We have been manufacturing EV battery packs for a long time, earlier from a rental facility and now from our own factory. Today, we have a gigawatt-scale order pipeline for two- and three-wheeler EVs and large-scale storage systems. We’re also working with IIT-Madras' Centre of Battery Engineering and Electric Vehicles (C-BEEV) to co-develop future technologies. EVs contributed nearly 50 percent of our revenue till FY2025.”

The new facility spans 160,000 square feet and is engineered with automated Poka-Yoke-enabled lines and end-to-end traceability for high-quality battery module production. Till date, the company has raised USD 6.4 million in 2018 and USD 12.5 million in 2022 to fund its expansion.

The first phase investment of INR 1 billion supports an initial 4.8 GWh capacity. An additional INR 1.5 billion will be invested to reach 10.8 GWh under Phase II. The company expects to generate INR 26 billion revenue from Phase I, which it aims to double post-expansion.

Cygni’s batteries are designed for EV and grid-scale applications. The company has delivered over 500 MWh of batteries and claims to have a confirmed 1 GWh order pipeline, with growing traction in electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and small commercial vehicles (SCVs). Most of the 80-plus components in its battery systems – such as busbars, cell holders, thermal and mechanical elements – are now locally sourced, reflecting India’s evolving EV ecosystem.

Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana and CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the CMO, inaugurated the facility alongside Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Chairman of IIIT-Hyderabad, and Srini Raju, Founder of iLabs Group.

Jayesh Ranjan, said, “The inauguration of Cygni’s battery manufacturing gigafactory in Telangana marks a transformative step toward sustainable energy, manufacturing excellence, and innovation. This facility not only strengthens India’s commitment to clean energy but also creates jobs, fosters local talent, and builds a robust ecosystem for the future of energy storage solutions.”

Cygni expects to create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and is planning additional 2 GWh cell-to-pack automated lines as part of its future roadmap. With government support and rising EV adoption, the company is well-positioned to be a catalyst in India’s energy transition

Stellantis Stamping

European auto major Stellantis has installed a blanking press at its Warren Stamping Plant in Michigan to increase in-house production capacity. This development supports the manufacturing of components for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles in North America.

The Warren Stamping Plant and the Sterling Stamping Plant supply components – including hoods, doors and liftgates – to assembly plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. These operations contribute to the volume growth targets established in the FaSTLAne 2030 strategy.

Ed Daniels Jr., Vice-President of North America injection and stamping operations, Stellantis, said, “When people think about vehicle manufacturing, they usually picture the assembly line. But stamping is where that work begins. Sterling and Warren give our North America operations the scale, speed and flexibility needed to deliver precision parts on time, support key vehicle programs and help drive sustainable, profitable growth. As Stellantis executes its USD 13 billion U.S. investment plans, these plants and the people behind them are critical to strengthening our manufacturing foundation and keeping assembly operations moving.”

The new press at the Warren facility is expected to produce between 4.5 million and 6 million parts annually for the Ram 1500, Wrangler, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee.

Curtis Booth, Vice-President and Plant Manager, Warren Stamping Plant, Stellantis, added, “The new press has the capacity to produce between 4.5 million and 6 million parts annually for vehicles, including the Ram 1500 and three Jeep models – the Wrangler, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee. Together, the Hellcat line and the new blanking press give WSP the ability to both prepare and form critical vehicle components within a highly integrated manufacturing operation.”

Quality control is maintained using the Automated Body Inspection System, which validates geometry and precision during production.

Greg ‘Butch’ Bauer, Vice-President and plant manager, Sterling Stamping Plant, Stellantis, said, “Our workforce is what makes an operation like this possible. There’s a level of ownership and pride across every shift that ensures we’re delivering the same quality and performance at all times.”

TVS Motor Company Celebrates One Millionth iQube Rollout

TVS iQube

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has reached a new production milestone with the rollout of the one-millionth TVS iQube electric scooter from its manufacturing facility in Hosur.

This achievement, reached six years after the model's 2020 launch, highlights the adoption of electric two-wheelers in the Indian market.

The company said that the iQube community has achieved significant metrics since the model’s introduction, including covering 14.94 billion kilometres, 522,969 tonnes of CO2 saved, which translates to nearly plantation of 20.9 million trees.

The iQube portfolio has expanded since 2020 to include various battery capacities, range options and connectivity features. TVS Motor Co has supported this growth through a service and sales network consisting of more than 3,300 touchpoints across 3,000 cities.

Sudarshan Venu, Chairman, TVS Motor Company, said, “The rollout of one million TVS iQubes reflects the scale at which electric mobility is becoming part of everyday life in India. The milestone is built on years of investment in engineering, innovation and manufacturing capabilities that have enabled us to build world-class electric mobility solutions designed and manufactured in India for the world.”

The company credits this milestone to its focus on in-house R&D and manufacturing, noting that the iQube serves as a central element of its strategy to support India's transition to sustainable, self-reliant mobility.

Solaris Opens New Assembly Hall In Sroda Wielkopolska

Solaris

Solaris, a leading European bus manufacturer, has opened a production hall in Sroda Wielkopolska, which further supplements the company’s manufacturing operations, including a welding plant established in the area in 1998.

The 7,000-square-metre facility is dedicated to the assembly of city buses. Previously, this stage occurred only in Bolechowo, but production will now take place at both sites. This development increases production capacity by 500 vehicles per year, bringing the firm closer to a target of 2,000 vehicles annually. The project has created 300 jobs, with additional roles generated in the supply chain.

In 2025, Solaris delivered 1,631 vehicles, of which 86 percent were battery-electric, hydrogen or trolleybus models.

The company is supplying the buses to its customers in the United States and Canada and plans to further expand its intercity bus range in Europe.

Agata Standa, CEO, Solaris, said, “We are investing in expanding our production capacity and product portfolio to meet the growing demand for sustainable transport in Europe and in new markets.”

Solaris has secured 47 hectares of land in Sroda Wielkopolska for a second facility dedicated to intercity buses, which is scheduled to reach operational status in 2029.

NIO

Chinese new energy vehicle company NIO has announced that on 22 June 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) officially designated NIO Factory Two (NIO F2) as a member of its Global Lighthouse Network (GLN). This recognition highlights NIO’s success in deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies at scale.

The WEF selection process, conducted in partnership with McKinsey & Company, evaluated NIO F2 on its ability to integrate advanced digital and AI-driven systems. NIO was specifically recognised for:

  • Integrated Ecosystem: Developing a real-time, closed-loop system that connects in-vehicle AI, battery swap networks and a digital twin platform.
  • Operational Efficiency: The factory manages over 3.6 million vehicle configurations, which has successfully accelerated speed-to-market by 44 percent.
  • R&D Automation: The implementation of advanced systems has allowed for the automation of 90 percent of R&D workflows.
  • AI-Driven Decision Making: Approximately 80 percent of manufacturing scenarios at the facility are now supported by AI-driven decision-making, leveraging a mix of industrial AI algorithms and in-house developed foundation models.

NIO F2 is a fully digitalised smart factory located in the Xinqiao Industrial Park. Prior to this international recognition, the site earned several domestic accolades, including the National Green Factory awarded by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Super Automotive Factory designated by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC).

Beyond its technical achievements, the factory maintains an open-engagement policy. Since 2018, NIO’s assembly plants have hosted nearly 300,000 global visitors, aiming to showcase the advancements in China’s intelligent manufacturing ecosystem.

NIO intends to use the GLN standards as a benchmark for its future manufacturing systems, continuing the integration of AI to set new standards in intelligent EV production.