India and South East Asian countries are being considered for Volvo's new EV manufacturing plant.

Volvo is evaluating the possibility of setting up a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Asia, with India being among the main contenders.

According to Jim Rowan, CEO, Volvo Cars Global, has stated that a final decision on the location of the new EV manufacturing facility is yet to be taken. However, India and South East Asian countries are being considered.

Rowan also mentioned that the new plant will not just supply the domestic market, but will also have to cater to other countries. Therefore, the company will not only weigh in the cost benefits but will also prefer a strong logistics network.

Volvo plans to transition into a fully electric brand by the end of the decade. The carmaker plans to release one new EV every for the next few years. Last year, Volvo launched the XC40 Recharge in India and is now gearing up to introduce the C40 Recharge.

Source: ET Auto

MG might launch an IPO to secure funding for its second manufacturing unit.

MG Motor India is reportedly looking to tap into the capital market or raise funds through a financial or strategic investor to support its expansion plans. 

According to a media report, MG plans to dilute shareholding in its fully-owned Indian subsidiary. However, the process has been delayed due to higher government scrutiny.

MG plans to set up a second manufacturing unit in India. The brand plans to 'Indianise' more through the localization of management and products. CEO Rajeev Chaba stated that the company needs a credible financing option to support long-term expansion. It could also launch an IPO to secure funding. 

Earlier this month, MG launched the facelift version of the Hector and Hector Plus SUVs. The carmaker is now gearing up to introduce a more mass-market electric car.

Source: TOI

5G technology is said to have enhanced the networking connectivity at the facility.

Mahindra has partnered with Airtel to set up India’s first 5G-enabled auto manufacturing plant in Pune.

Airtel, in collaboration with Tech Mahindra, has deployed its 5G enterprise solution at Mahindra’s Chakan plant. The new technology is said to have enhanced the networking connectivity at the facility.

According to the company, thanks to the ultra-low latency and high speed of the 5G network, managers can now undertake multiple software flashing sessions. It is said to improve the turnaround time and speed up the manufacturing process.

Additionally, the AI-based inspection process has now been automated. This is said to have reduced paint defects to 1%, improving overall paint quality.

Earlier this year, Mahindra unveiled 5 electric SUVs based on the INGLO EV platform. These are the XUV.e8, XUV.e9, BE.05, BE.07 and BE.09.

Mahindra has announced that it plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore on a new electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Pune.

The proposed investment will be made over a period of 7-8 years for setting up the manufacturing facility, development and production of Mahindra’s upcoming Born Electric Vehicles (BEVs).

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., confirmed that the company had received the state government’s approval for setting up its EV manufacturing plant in Pune. The investment has been approved under the Maharashtra government’s industrial promotion scheme for electric vehicles.

Mahindra unveiled 5 electric SUVs based on the INGLO EV platform. These are the XUV.e8, XUV.e9, BE.05, BE.07 and BE.09.

The new range of electric SUVs will be offered in single-motor and dual-motor configurations, with an overall output, rated at 228-282 BHP and 335-389 BHP, respectively. It is estimated that the SUVs would be capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 5-6 seconds.

Mahindra will offer multiple battery options on its future EVs, ranging from 60-80 kWh. The company claims the batteries will be able to charge up to 80% in 30 minutes using a 175 kW fast charger.

Another brand that’s in the race to take over the facility is MG Motor India.

According to a media report, Mahindra is evaluating the possibility of acquiring General Motors’ factory at Talegaon, near Pune.

It has been reported that Mahindra executives have been visiting the Talegaon plant over the past few weeks, just as GM’s term sheet with Great Wall Motors (GWM) expired on June 30, 2022.

Another brand that’s in the race to take over the facility is MG Motor India. However, being a Chinese-owned brand, the deal may not get priority.

It’s been 5 years since GM announced its exit from the Indian market. The carmaker’s Halol unit was acquired by MG, while GWM had shown interest in taking over the Talegaon unit. However, due to the recent border tensions, Chinese investments have come under intense scrutiny, which even led to GWM scrapping its plans.

General Motors is not the only American carmaker to wrap up its India business in recent years. Ford too has shut shop and is selling its assets in India. The blue oval's Sanand unit has been acquired by Tata Motors.

Source: ET Auto

The acquisition will add an annual production capacity of 3,00,000 units to Tata's existing setup.

Tata Motors and Ford India have signed a Unit Transfer Agreement (UTA) for the transfer of the latter’s manufacturing plant situated at Sanand, Gujarat.

As part of the agreement, Tata Motors will acquire the entire land, building and vehicle manufacturing plant along with machinery and other equipment at a cost of Rs. 725.7 crores (excluding taxes).

The deal also includes the transfer of all eligible employees of Ford India’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand.

Ford India will continue to operate its Powertrain Manufacturing Facility by leasing back the land and buildings of the plant from Tata Motors. Tata has also agreed to offer employment to the eligible employees of the Powertrain Manufacturing Plant if Ford ceases operations.

The government of Gujarat, Tata Motors and Ford India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire the production facility on May 30, 2022. Tata plans to make further investments to reconfigure the plant to adapt to its existing and future vehicle platforms. It would unlock an annual production capacity of 3,00,000 units, which is scalable to 4,20,000 units.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara will be offered with 1.5-litre mild-hybrid and strong-hybrid powertrains.

Toyota has opened a new assembly line at its Bidadi plant. The new line is configured for the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol-hybrid powertrain.

The 1.5-litre strong-hybrid powertrain will be offered on the upcoming Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. Both SUVs will be manufactured at Toyota’s Bidadi factory.

The 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine produces 91 BHP and 122 Nm. It is paired with an electric motor that has an output of 78 BHP and 141 Nm. This powertrain comes with a 177.6 V lithium-ion battery pack which offers an all-electric range of up to 25 km.

Both mid-size SUVs will also be offered with a 1.5-litre mild hybrid. This is the familiar K-Series motor from the Maruti Suzuki range. It makes 103 BHP and 137 Nm.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is expected to be launched later this month, followed by the price announcement for the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara.

Ather Energy plans to add an annual capacity of about 15 lakh units.

Bangalore-based Ather Energy is looking to set up its third manufacturing plant in India and is said to be in talks with several state governments, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana and Karnataka.

According to media reports, Ather Energy plans to add an annual capacity of about 15 lakh units. At present, the plant at Hosur, Tamil Nadu has a capacity of 1.2 lakh units per annum, which is expected to increase to around 4 lakh units when the second assembly line becomes operational later this year.

Ather Energy is looking to acquire around 100 acres of land parcel to build its third manufacturing facility. Reports suggest that the company is in the last phase of negotiations and is likely to finalize the location within the next month.

Source: ET Auto

Bajaj has invested Rs 300 crore in the new EV manufacturing facility.

Bajaj Auto has opened a new EV manufacturing unit, Chetak Technologies Limited, at its Akurdi plant, near Pune. It is situated in what used to be the assembly shop of the original Chetak scooter.

Bajaj has invested Rs 300 crore in the new unit. It houses R&D, Purchase, Engineering and Manufacturing departments. The factory has a capacity to produce 800 EVs per day or 2.5 lakh units per annum.

According to Bajaj, the new facility will focus only on electric vehicles. The company is said to have achieved 90% localization and has 55 vendors within 25 km of the factory.

India is also an important export hub for Suzuki Motorcycles.

According to a media report, Suzuki Motorcycle India plans to set up a new manufacturing unit in Haryana.

As per the report, the Haryana government has allotted a 100-acre plot for the new facility. It is in the same area as the 800-acre plot allotted for Maruti Suzuki’s new production line at Kharkhoda.

The new facility will help Suzuki bolster its production capacity, as India is also an important export hub for the brand. At present, the company offers products like the Access 125 and Burgman Street scooters as well as the Gixxer range of bikes in India.

Suzuki Motorcycles is yet to confirm this development.

Source: LiveMint