Tata Technologies' Shanghai-based unit has significantly increased its support for Agratas Energy Storage Solutions Pvt. Ltd, providing services worth ₹7.34 crore in fiscal year 2025-26, according to Agratas' annual related-party transaction filings. Tata Manufacturing Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, registered to provide manufacturing-technology consulting, engineering, software and testing services, had reported no services to the battery venture in FY25. This development adds a new China link for Agratas through Tata Technologies' Shanghai operations, which already maintains a Chinese connection through AESC (Automotive Energy Supply Corporation), its technology partner, which holds a 12% stake in the company.
Meanwhile, Agratas' dealings with the European unit of Tata Technologies' engineering arm fell significantly from ₹41.2 crore in FY25 to ₹5.01 crore in FY26. Including approximately ₹8.3 crore of services provided by the Pune-based firm, total transactions between Agratas and all Tata Technologies entities fell to ₹20.67 crore in FY26 from ₹49 crore in FY25. According to Mint's queries to both companies about the exact nature of work between Tata Technologies' Chinese unit and Agratas, remained unanswered.
In January 2024, Agratas and Tata Technologies announced a partnership to help the battery venture scale the design, development and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. The partnership facilitates the recruitment of employees to help with battery research and development at Agratas. While it is not clear how Tata Technologies geographically distributed the work it planned to do for Agratas, transactions with the Chinese unit suggest it was able to work on battery development in China. The collaboration also enables Agratas to better integrate its cells into battery packs for vehicles and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Agratas also purchased sample cells from AESC's Chinese subsidiary, AESC Jiangsu Co. Ltd, to aid its own battery development for ₹4.43 crore, as reported in the filings. The close collaboration with Chinese entities assumes greater significance as Beijing tightens restrictions on technology transfers to foreign companies. Experts have indicated that Indian cell manufacturers are deeply dependent on the Chinese value chain, with analysts suggesting India is at least 10 years from developing a self-sufficient cell industry despite more than 200GWh of cell manufacturing capacity announced for construction through 2035.
Agratas is building a 40GWh plant in the UK and a 20GWh facility in India for lithium-ion batteries to be used in both BESS and electric vehicles. It has signed a ₹5,000-crore deal with another Tata group company, Jaguar Land Rover, to supply EV batteries for seven years starting in FY27. The venture's collaboration with Chinese entities, including AESC Apollo Holding Ltd, which makes both NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) and LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, positions it strategically in the global battery supply chain despite ongoing challenges in the Indian cell manufacturing sector.
