The foundation stone for four manufacturing units was laid today by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Electronics, IT and Information & Broadcasting, at the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Divitipally, Mahabubnagar Dsitrict, Telangana. The Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Divitipally was set up under the EMC-2.0 Scheme by the Telangana Government to promote electronics manufacturing in the state.

As part of the event, Amara Raja laid the foundation stone for its upcoming Giga Factory-1, while Altmin laid the foundation stone for its first LFP-CAM Giga Factory, Lohum held the groundbreaking ceremony for its battery recycling and critical minerals refining and Scell Energy held the groundbreaking ceremony for its cell casing manufacturing.

The Honourable Minister of Information Technology, Electronics, Industries, and Commerce, Legislative Affairs in the Telangana Government, D Sridhar Babu, the Honourable Member of Parliament from Mahbubnagar Constituency, Aruna D K, and the Legislative Assembly Member, Y Srinivas Reddy, graced the occasion. Jayadev Galla, the Chairman and Managing Director of Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Ltd, was also in attendance, as were senior state government officials and business executives.

In 2022, ARACT and the Telangana Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Amara Raja Giga Corridor, wherein the business will establish facilities for the production of lithium cells and battery packs with capacities of up to 16 GWh and 5GWh, respectively, for both the Indian and foreign markets. The project is anticipated to significantly contribute to the socioeconomic growth of the area once it is operational, providing 4,500 direct jobs and a comparable number of indirect jobs in the state.

"The battery technology is as essential for India’s economy as steel and chemical, and It is heartening to see Amara Raja taking a lead in this space. The Union government is committed to the all-round growth of the sector and Divitipally region and will contribute further through modernisation of railway station and establishing allied infrastructure. The Centre has committed over INR 50 billion for State’s railway development,” said the Union Minister.

"Telangana is committed to be the Industrial hub and has been a leader in adopting sustainability. The state government is committed to extending support to manufacturing initiatives such as these, and we look forward to Giga Factory’s inauguration,” said the State Minister.

Galla said, "The Foundation Stone laying ceremony is a big step forward for our Company and the Group. We are grateful to the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to the Hon’ble Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for being proactive and pro-industry. We are also thankful to the Telangana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and State Minister D Sridhar Babu for their tremendous support and encouragement in this endeavour. As we step forward, we are looking to be amongst the first companies in India to present an indigenously manufactured Lithium-Ion cell to the nation.”

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.”