Kia Corporation has opened the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, which is Hyundai Motor Group’s first dedicated EV manufacturing facility globally.

Located at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, the new facility has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units and started production of the Kia EV3 in the first half of this year, to be followed by the EV4 in the first half of 2025.

In his welcome address, Jun Young Choi, Executive Vice-President and Head of Domestic Production Division, Kia said, “The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant solidifies Kia’s first step as an EV leader following the company’s brand relaunch in 2021. With the goal of providing sustainable mobility solutions, we will lead innovation in the EV market and fulfil our responsibilities in helping to deliver a sustainable future.” 

Seung Won Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City added, “The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant will help Gwangmyeong City to establish itself at the centre of the EV industry in Korea. Through this we will strive to promote sustainable development of the local economy and create more jobs."

The Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is a dedicated EV facility, with an investment total of KRW 401.6 billion (USD 304.2 million) over approximately 60,000 square meters and will serve as an outpost for production of Kia’s popular EV models.

The Korean automaker states it spent approximately one year transforming Gwangmyeong Plant 2, which was completed in 1987 to produce small internal combustion engine vehicles such as the Kia Pride, Avella and Stonic. The Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is also meaningful in that it is the Group’s first dedicated EV plant and a facility that has been completely rebuilt on an existing plant site to become a hub for next-generation vehicle production.

The plant has been constructed with a full-scale conversion to electrification in mind, focusing on ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘worker-friendly’ processes.

The body shop is now a high-tech logistics factory thanks to the introduction of automated guided (AGV) forklifts, and the green credentials of the paint shop have been increased by applying the water-based 3C1B method instead of the previous oil-based 3C2B method. New equipment has also been introduced to improve wellbeing and reduce the workload of plant employees, including machinery which can automatically install high-voltage batteries, wheels and tires on the vehicles.

Following the completion ceremony of the Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, Kia will ramp up EV production. Mass production of the EV3, a compact all-electric SUV, began in the first half of this year. The EV3 is Kia's third dedicated EV model after the Kia EV6, the all-electric crossover SUV launched in 2021, and the Kia EV9 all-electric flagship SUV launched in 2023.

In the first half of 2025, Kia plans to introduce the EV4, the brand’s mid-sized electric sedan.

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

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has announced its financial results for FY2025. The company reported a record revenue of INR 362.51 billion, up 14 percent YoY, as against INR 317.76 billion a year ago.

The operating EBITDA came at 12.3 percent, while the net profit grew by percent at INR 27.11 billion, as against INR 20.83 billion last year.

During the year the company sold a total of 4.74 million vehicles, up 13 percent, as against 4.19 million vehicles last year. This includes 2.19 million motorcycles and 1.90 million scooters, clocking a growth of 10 percent YoY and 21 percent YoY respectively.

Electric vehicles sales grew by 44 percent to 279,000 units, as against 194,000 units last year. Three-wheeler sales came at 135,000 units, as against 146,000 units last year.

Hindustan Zinc, the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, is marking World Corrosion Awareness Day on 24 April with a nationwide campaign titled #ZungKeKhilaafZinc, aimed at raising awareness about corrosion and promoting zinc galvanisation as a preventive solution.

The company shared that corrosion costs India around 5 percent of its GDP annually –over USD 100 billion – in infrastructure and asset damage. The company’s campaign included social media outreach, public demonstrations and a consumer survey to highlight the economic and structural impact of corrosion.

As part of the initiative, the company undertook a demonstration in Udaipur, where galvanised and non-galvanised two-wheelers were displayed side by side to show the visible difference in corrosion resistance. The initiative targeted general consumers, especially in the automotive and infrastructure sectors.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said, “Corrosion poses a serious threat to our infrastructure and the nation’s economy at large. At Hindustan Zinc, we believe awareness is the first step toward real change. While it’s essential for manufacturers to adopt galvanisation, consumers also play a vital role by asking the right questions – especially when it comes to long-term investments like homes and vehicles. Through #ZungKeKhilaafZinc, we’re committed to educating industries and individuals alike about the critical value of zinc protection.”

India’s climate makes it especially vulnerable to corrosion, but global examples such as Japan and Australia show that losses can be reduced with protective measures. In the automotive industry, galvanised steel is increasingly used in vehicle structures to improve durability and reduce maintenance costs.

Hindustan Zinc had recently introduced EcoZen, a low-carbon zinc product made using renewable energy, and continues to supply to over 40 countries. The company holds about 75 percent of India’s primary zinc market.

Tata Motors, one of India’s leading automobile manufacturers, has joined forces with Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power, for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to co-develop a 131 MW wind-solar hybrid renewable energy project.

The initiative is expected to generate around 300 million units of clean electricity annually and offset over 2 lakh tons of CO2 emissions each year. The strategic move is set to provide a reliable supply of green, cost-effective energy exclusively to Tata Motors’ six manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, supporting production of both commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles.  

The move is part of Tata Motors’ clean energy transition for achieving its RE-100 commitment ahead of the 2030 target.

Vishal Badshah, Vice President – Operations, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, said, "As a key driver of India’s mobility and logistics ecosystem, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles is proud to lead by example in sustainable manufacturing. This project reinforces our commitment to integrate renewable energy into our operations and reducing our carbon footprint while meeting our RE-100 goals. It also reflects our broader purpose of delivering mobility solutions that are sustainable at every stage –from production to performance."

Pramod Choudhary, Vice President – Operations, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, added, “We are committed to transition to clean energy for building a future ready automotive business. With this PPA our plants in Maharashtra and Gujarat will take a significant leap in our journey towards Green Manufacturing, complementing India’s green transition. It’s a defining step towards making our Passenger Vehicle Operations greener, smarter and more resilient on sustainable basis.”