In what is termed as the Netherland-headquartered automotive group’s long-term vision for India, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares was in India recently to see the operations of Jeep and Citroen. These two are among the leading automotive brands within the group that is home to 14 well regarded automotive brands in the world including Chrysler and Fiat. They are present in India – Jeep since 2016 approximately and Citroen since 2021 – and have been making in roads into India with new launches and facelifts. 
Paying visit to the group’s Ranjangaon (Pune) plant where the Jeep products are made besides that of Tata Motors since Stellantis has a JV with Tata Motors in India, Tavares is known to meticulously audit the Jeep as well as Citroen offerings. He is also known to have engaged with the local leadership team, select dealer partners and a few others in his effort to gather valuable market feedback that should help put in place a successful strategy for growth. 
Tavares has been increasingly under pressure post the less encouraging financial results the Stellantis Group recorded in the first half of the current calendar year. He is being criticised for cutting too deep in terms of his 'lean' strategy. 
In the past one year roughly, Stellantis has been battling falling sales, shrinking profit margins and a slew of executive departures. The dealers seem to be frustrated. The investors and union workers don’t seem to be happy either, according to a news report by Nora Naughton in Business Insider. 
Created from the merger of FCA Automobiles and the PSA Groupe, Stellantis is claimed to be struggling in USA with Jeep and other brands facing criticism over issues concerning reliability and abrupt discontinuation of models that have been central to the image of a brand simply to keep costs low. A household brand for over 40 years, Stellantis almost abruptly discontinued the Fiat brand in India just before the BS 6 norms came into force. 
The two brands in India – Jeep and Citroen – have also seen a change of charge often in the last few years, which does not imply well in terms of customer assurance and market commitment. 
While the Citroen Basalt has been well-received, Jeep as a brand has not launched an entirely all-new next generation model of any of its offerings for some years now. In a highly competitive market like India, this may not work in favour of the brand named after the iconic Ford and Willys Jeeps of World War II.  

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Volkswagen-backed German battery company PowerCo has commissioned its factory in Salzgitter and produced the initial Unified Cells. This start of production allows the Volkswagen Group to design and produce battery cells in Europe.

The cells will be delivered to Volkswagen Group brands for road tests, which are expected to be utilised in the Electric Urban Car Family of Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat/Cupra next year.

PowerCo intends to provide 50 percent of the demand for Unified Cells within the Volkswagen Group, with the remainder coming from suppliers. The architecture allows for use across brands and regions. It supports technologies including lithium iron phosphate (LFP), nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and solid state.

The version produced in Salzgitter uses NMC technology. This cell provides an increase of 10 per cent in energy density compared to previous models. It is designed for use with the cell-to-pack system.

Oliver Blume, CEO, Volkswagen Group, said, "The PowerCo Gigafactory in Salzgitter sends a strong technological signal for Europe and serves as a cornerstone on our path to becoming a global automotive tech leader. We are the first European carmaker to establish our own battery cell development and production. This step strengthens our position and independence in the global competition."

Production in Salzgitter will increase during the coming year. The facility has an initial capacity of 20 GWh, with the potential to reach 40 GWh. Salzgitter serves as the lead plant for factories in Valencia, Spain and St. Thomas, Canada. These sites follow a factory concept that allows for the exchange of knowledge.

The Research & Development centre in Salzgitter is also expanding. A test field is under construction and will begin operation at the start of 2026.

Thomas Schmall, Group Board Member for Technology, Volkswagen, said, "With PowerCo, we are consistently expanding our know-how in battery technology. In combination with the new battery system, the Unified Cell ‘made in Salzgitter’ brings a real technological leap for our customers. This puts us in the driver’s seat when it comes to a key technology for e-mobility."

Production involves automation and data analysis. Data points from machines and buildings provide traceability and assist quality control.

Frank Blome, CEO, PowerCo, said, "In just three years, we have built an entirely new company, developed a competitive product, and completed a cell factory along with its upstream supply chain. At the same time, we are already constructing the next cell factories in Spain and Canada. In short: we deliver. This achievement is the result of an outstanding team effort by many colleagues at PowerCo and Volkswagen – and I’m deeply grateful for that."

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Ford and Renault Group have announced a landmark strategic partnership that will expand Ford’s electric vehicle offerings to European customers, significantly enhancing competitiveness for both automakers in a rapidly evolving European automotive landscape. 
A cornerstone of the partnership is an agreement for the development of two distinct Ford-branded electric vehicles based on the Ampere platform, leveraging Renault Group’s strong EV assets and competitiveness. These two e-vehicles will be produced by Renault Group in the North of France, illustrating Ampere ‘ElectriCity’s’ modern manufacturing capabilities and expertise.
Designed by Ford, developed with Renault Group, the two cars will feature distinctive driving dynamics, authentic Ford-brand DNA and intuitive experiences. They mark the first step in a comprehensive new product offensive for Ford in Europe. The first of the two vehicles is expected in showrooms in early 2028.
In addition to collaborating on EVs, Ford and Renault Group have also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for a European light commercial vehicle collaboration. Under this LOI, the partners will explore the opportunity to jointly develop and manufacture Ford and Renault branded selected light commercial vehicles (LCVs).
François Provost, CEO Renault Group said: "Renault Group is proud to announce a new strategic cooperation with Ford, an iconic car manufacturer. This partnership shows the strength of our partnership know-how and competitiveness in Europe. In the long term, combining our strengths with Ford will make us more innovative and more responsive in a fast-changing European automotive market."
Jim Farley, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company said: "The strategic partnership with Renault Group marks an important step for Ford and supports our strategy to build a highly efficient and fit-for-the future business in Europe. We will combine Renault Group’s industrial scale and EV assets with Ford’s iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable, and distinctly Ford in spirit."

Combining strengths
The companies will take advantage of the proven capabilities and competitiveness of Renault Group’s Ampere platform, EV manufacturing ecosystem and industrial capacities in the North of France (ElectriCity) to produce two all-new Ford-branded electric passenger vehicles.
By joining their expertise as major players in Europe, in innovation, design, software, and service delivery, Ford and Renault Group will aim to address industry challenges and better serve customers in both the retail and commercial vehicles segments.
The Ford and Renault Group strategic partnership will combine decades of experience in the light commercial vehicle segment, as well as the industrial scale and extensive supply base of both companies, creating a formidable force poised to drive innovation and efficiency in the European market.
 

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Gujarat Fluorochemicals (GFL), a fluorochemicals company, announced a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The IFC is investing approximately USD 50 million in GFL’s subsidiary, GFCL EV Products (GFCL EV), through the subscription of compulsorily convertible instruments.

The investment will be utilised towards what is claimed to be India’s first integrated battery materials facility. The project is intended to drive high-value manufacturing, create jobs, strengthen India’s position in global supply chains and advance national priorities of energy security, transport electrification and local value creation.

GFCL EV aims to reinforce India’s emergence as a competitive player in the global battery-materials value chain. The company has integrated manufacturing capabilities for battery chemicals with backward integration into key raw materials.

GFCL EV’s current product portfolio, catering to both electric vehicle and energy storage sectors, includes:

• Battery chemicals – electrolyte salt LiPF6, electrolyte formulations, additives for enhanced performance.
• Cathode active materials (LFP).
• Binders (both PVDF and PTFE).

Vivek Jain, Chairman, INOXGFL Group, said, “We are delighted to welcome IFC as a partner in GFCL EV. This milestone reinforces our vision for a greener future supported by IFC’s global expertise and commitment to sustainable development, aiding in accelerating India’s energy transition. IFC has a history of investing in sustainable businesses demonstrating long-term value creation. Their investment in GFCL EV is an endorsement of our differentiated model and growth trajectory. This partnership underlines our global leadership in battery materials and shall create long-term sustainable value for existing shareholders.”

Dr. Bir Kapoor, DMD and CEO, Gujarat Fluorochemicals, added, “This is IFC’s first investment in a battery materials company in India, marking a major milestone for India’s battery materials ecosystem. This capital raise enables us to scale up our manufacturing capacity for advanced battery materials strengthening India’s position in the global supply chain. GFCL EV stands among the few large-scale integrated battery materials manufacturers worldwide, with a portfolio that covers more than 50 percent of the LFP battery cell bill of materials”.

Imad N Fakhoury, IFC Regional Division Director for South Asia, said, “We are happy to partner with GFCL EV on this milestone initiative to advance value‑added manufacturing in India. As the country scales its electric vehicle and energy‑storage sectors, India has a clear opportunity to strengthen domestic capacity in key battery materials, set new benchmarks for high‑performance supply chains, and secure its place in the global market for advanced energy technologies. This investment forms part of IFC’s programmatic efforts to strengthen India’s e‑mobility value chain, and is enabled by a One WBG approach that builds the market and localizes global value chains, advancing the Make in India initiative. It will enable first‑of‑its‑kind greenfield battery manufacturing and build the capabilities India needs to play a larger role in high‑value components worldwide.”

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Vietnamese automotive company VinFast has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu to expand its existing facility in the SIPCOT Industrial Park in Thoothukudi. The expansion targets the production of electric buses and e-scooters, alongside electric cars.

The Government of Tamil Nadu will allocate approximately 200 hectares (around 500 acres) of land adjacent to VinFast’s existing facility. The state will also provide support for securing permits and establishing infrastructure connections such as electricity, water and road access.

As the second phase of its existing USD 2 billion commitment, VinFast will invest USD 500 million in Thoothukudi to develop dedicated workshops and production lines for electric buses and e-scooters, covering manufacturing, assembly, testing and related operations. The Government of Tamil Nadu will apply all applicable incentives and financial support measures for this proposed investment.

The existing Thoothukudi facility covers 400 acres and has an initial annual capacity of 50,000 electric vehicles, which is being expanded to 150,000 units.

The initiative is expected to increase supply chain localisation, create additional employment opportunities and support workforce skill development in the region. Since entering the Indian market, VinFast has expanded its comprehensive EV ecosystem spanning manufacturing, distribution, charging infrastructure, aftersales services and battery recycling.

Pham Sanh Chau, Asia CEO, VinFast, said, “The proposed expansion of the Tamil Nadu plant will enable us to broaden our product lineup in India, from electric cars to electric buses and e-scooters, allowing us to meet a wider range of customer needs. We also expect this initiative to create new job opportunities, advance localization and strengthen the skills of the local workforce. VinFast believes that Tamil Nadu will continue to serve as a strategic hub in our global expansion journey and will play an important role in supporting India’s green mobility goals in the years ahead.”

Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister of Industries of the Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “We welcome VinFast’s next phase of planned development of the electric cars in Tamil Nadu and the new introduction of electric bus and e-scooters production will generate additional momentum for the green transportation strategy of both Tamil Nadu and India. The state government is committed to working closely with VinFast and ensuring favourable conditions throughout the implementation process to deliver lasting benefits for the community and the regional economy by ensuring that Vingroup thrives in Tamil Nadu and their flourishing ecosystem provides jobs for Tamil Nadu.”

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