Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Rolls Out 500,000th Engine From Chakan Plant

Skoda India

European auto major Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has achieved a new milestone in its India journey. The company recently rolled out the 500,000th Made-in-India engine from its Chakan facility in Maharashtra.

The facility currently has a manufacturing capacity of around 189,000 vehicles per annum. It manufactures vehicles for both Skoda and Volkswagen brands in India and also plays a key role in the Volkswagen Group’s export strategy. The company has invested significantly towards localising the TSI technology for the Indian market.

Andreas Dick, Skoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics, said, "Producing 500,000 engines at our Pune facility is a significant milestone, reinforcing India’s role in our global manufacturing network. Our investments in technology and workforce development continue to enhance our production capabilities, ensuring high-quality and cost-effective powertrains. India’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and skilled workforce play a vital role in meeting global demand with high-quality, efficient powertrain solutions. This milestone reinforces our confidence in India’s ability to support Group’s international operations and future growth."

Piyush Arora, Managing Director & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, added, "This milestone highlights our commitment to localization and innovation in powertrain manufacturing. Since 2014, we have built a strong foundation, evolving to meet market needs with world-class engines. The high-degree of localisation in our made-in-India engines showcases the Groups focus on domestic sourcing and contribution to strengthen the Indian automotive manufacturing and supply ecosystem. We will continue to invest in expanding our capabilities and strengthening India’s position as a hub for world-class automotive manufacturing."

Volkswagen Group has been present in India since 2001 and is currently represented by five brands – Skoda, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini – in the country. The OEM is optimistic about the India growth story, which can be understood with Volkswagen’s India 2.0 strategy that aims to make the country a global manufacturing hub.

Epsilon Advanced Materials - MIETY

Epsilon Advanced Materials has received government approval for its Epsilon C2GR anode material project under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The scheme provides INR 1.45 billion in capital expenditure support, representing 25 percent of the project's capital investment. Epsilon stands as the single manufacturer approved for anode material production in this evaluation round. Across all product categories, the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme has cleared 106 projects representing INR 695.48 billion in total investment.

The sanctioned project focuses on establishing domestic production of graphite anode materials for lithium-ion battery cells used in electric mobility, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics. Epsilon has operationalised a customer qualification facility, EAM-ONE, located in Vijayanagar, Karnataka. The company plans to scale graphite anode manufacturing capacity to 30,000 tonnes per annum by 2028, with a targeted extension to 100,000 tonnes in a subsequent phase.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Group, said, “The project approval under ECMS is an important recognition of Epsilon’s efforts to develop indigenous graphite anode technology and manufacturing capabilities in India. Building a resilient battery ecosystem requires ownership of technology, intellectual property, R&D and process know-how. This support will help accelerate our scale-up and strengthen India’s domestic battery materials value chain. We remain committed to contributing to the Government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by building globally competitive critical battery materials from India.”

Epsilon's research framework incorporates testing across coin-cell, pouch-cell, and multi-layer pouch-cell formats to facilitate material customisation. The company holds 43 patent filings covering process, product, and equipment technologies, with plans for 50 additional intellectual property filings through 2030 to support domestic supply chain integration.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Concludes Environment Month 2026

TKM

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has concluded Environment Month 2026, an initiative focused on resource recycling and emissions reductions across its supply chain.

The programme involved over 13,600 workforce members, suppliers, dealership partners and community members under the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 framework.

The company recorded a reduction of 3,005-tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions, with internal operations contributing 895 tonnes and supply partners accounting for 2,110 tonnes. Water conservation efforts yielded savings of 16,806 kilolitres across operations and suppliers. Waste reduction measures removed 231 tonnes of material from disposal streams, alongside reductions in plastic and paper usage across the dealership network. In addition, manufacturing updates reduced volatile organic compound emissions by 3.19 grams per square metre, while dealership locations recorded 255 megawatt-hours in electricity savings.

The automaker introduced compressed biogas as a fuel source for cooking facilities, yielding an estimated reduction of 980 tonnes in carbon emissions. Internal programmes included eco-driving sessions for 1,700 employees, community tree planting projects resulting in 89,000 saplings and the ‘Hasiru Santhe’ exhibition showcasing recycling applications such as converting cotton waste into felt and copper scrap into valve components.

B. Padmanabha, Senior Executive Vice-President and Director of Manufacturing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "Environment Month 2026 demonstrated that sustainability thrives through collective action and shared responsibility across the entire value chain. The measurable outcomes we achieved—from carbon reductions to waste elimination—prove that when employees, families, suppliers, and communities align around environmental commitment, transformation is possible. This month was not just about awareness; it was about embedding circular thinking and resource consciousness into how we operate and live."

The initiative forms part of the automaker's ongoing environmental programmes, including the Toyota Green Wave Project, which monitors plant and animal species at company sites and the Ecozone educational programme for schools.

JSW Greentech Partners Dassault Systèmes For Commercial Vehicle Plant

JSW Greentech

JSW Greentech, the electric commercial vehicle division of JSW Group, has selected software company Dassault Systemes to implement a manufacturing execution system at its production facility in India.

The company will deploy Dassault Systemes’ DELMIA Apriso applications to build a digital platform across the plant floor. The system will manage operations for JSW Greentech's line of electric trucks and buses from the start of production.

Headquartered in Mumbai, JSW Greentech is establishing technology development and manufacturing capacity within India's commercial vehicle sector. The deployment of the manufacturing execution system aims to standardise operations management by connecting production execution directly with quality control and material tracking.

Sumit Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, JSW Greentech, said, “As we build a state-of-the-art commercial EV manufacturing facility, it is imperative that we complement it with equally advanced technology systems. Our partnership with Dassault Systèmes and its MES platform brings global expertise and digital capabilities to our manufacturing ecosystem. Together, this will enable us to create a smart, connected and future-ready operating environment, setting a new benchmark for technology-led manufacturing in India’s commercial vehicle industry.”

Deepak NG, Managing Director for India, Dassault Systemes, said, “In India, considering the pace at which the market is moving, it is equally important that we address sustainability during production. Leveraging Dassault Systèmes' systems like DELMIA Apriso is further strengthening our commitment toward technology adoption and sustainable manufacturing standards. The future of sustainable mobility in India depends on how efficiently we can scale clean transportation. By building its production around a connected digital backbone from day one, JSW Greentech is driving this transition. This collaboration underscores Dassault Systèmes' commitment to empowering India's EV ecosystem with virtual twin technology to accelerate innovation, manufacturing excellence, and sustainable growth.”

Daimler Truck North America Announces Plots New Manufacturing Facility To Strengthen Operations

Daimler Truck North America

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has announced plans to construct a manufacturing facility in the United States. The plant aims to expand production capacity for vocational and on-highway trucks while increasing operational flexibility across North America.

The facility will utilise production technologies, manufacturing systems and assembly processes to handle various vehicle configurations. DTNA is evaluating site locations based on supply chain access, workforce availability, logistics infrastructure, and business conditions. Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2026, with production expected to begin in 2029. The project is projected to generate jobs and local economic activity through supplier and community partnerships.

Karin Radstrom, President and CEO, Daimler Truck, said, “This new manufacturing facility supports our long term growth plans for North America. It strengthens our ability to serve customers by responding faster and more flexibly to their evolving needs while unlocking our full potential through growth, scale and efficiency in line with our global strategy.”

John O’Leary, President and CEO, Daimler Truck North America, stated, “Our industry never stands still, and neither can we. This investment reflects our confidence in the future of commercial transportation and the strength of the North American market. We are building for the future by creating a manufacturing network that is more flexible, resilient, and aligned with our customers' evolving needs. This facility will strengthen our ability to deliver industry-leading products while supporting long-term growth in the United States.”

At present, the company operates manufacturing sites across North Carolina and South Carolina, including facilities in Cleveland, Gastonia, Mount Holly, High Point and Gaffney. It maintains its corporate headquarters and engineering development hub in Portland, Oregon.