Energy in Motion (EIM) inaugurated an electric heavy commercial vehicle manufacturing plant in Pune on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in India's electric truck market development. The facility at Talegaon was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Sharadchandra Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar. According to ETAuto, the complex has an initial capacity of 5,000 vehicles per shift annually and brings together electric commercial vehicle assembly, lithium-ion battery pack assembly factory, and battery testing laboratory under one roof. The facility represents the first phase of EIM's planned ₹1,000-crore investment in Maharashtra, with ₹500 crore invested in the newly opened facility. As reported by ETAuto, this cutting-edge, Industry 4.0-enabled complex was developed in just over a year after signing the Memorandum of Understanding, demonstrating the company's rapid execution capabilities.
The project is expected to create more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, as reported by ETAuto. EIM plans to manufacture trucks, tractor-trailers and dumpers at the complex, with the integrated approach of bringing vehicle assembly, battery manufacturing and testing under one roof expected to support manufacturing and technology development capabilities. The facility combines electric truck assembly, battery pack manufacturing and testing capabilities, positioning EIM to scale its presence in India's growing electric commercial vehicle market. The company has also announced additional opportunities in design, research and development (R&D) and information technology sectors. According to ETAuto, EIM's capabilities are strengthened throughout the whole value chain by this cohesive approach, with the integrated complex creating a single ecosystem for manufacturing, battery technology, and testing.
EIM is developing a nationwide network of megawatt-scale charging and battery-swapping stations along major highways, ports and industrial complexes to support electric heavy vehicle adoption. According to ETAuto, the company's battery-swapping systems would be capable of replacing batteries in compatible vehicles in less than seven minutes. The charging infrastructure will also support vehicles equipped with the CCS-2 direct-current fast-charging connector standard under India's Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) framework. EIM managing director Narendra Murkumbi stated the company's focus on building out this nationwide network to enable India's speedy transition from diesel to electric heavy goods transportation, with the infrastructure supporting the electrification of high-utilisation freight fleets including vehicles operating across logistics hubs, industrial corridors and ports. As reported by ETAuto, these megawatt-scale hubs can quickly charge any vehicle with a DC fast-charging BIS-standard connection and replace batteries in less than seven minutes for EIM and other compatible models.
EIM has established technology partnerships with China's BAIC Foton Motor for electric heavy vehicles, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) for battery technology, and Shanghai Enneagon Energy Technology for robotic battery swapping systems. As reported by ETAuto, these partnerships are intended to combine international technology with localised manufacturing and infrastructure development in India. Foton Motor sold more than 650,000 commercial vehicles last year, while CATL is the world's largest battery manufacturer with a 39 percent share of the global market. Shanghai Enneagon has built more than 1,600 battery swapping stations worldwide, providing EIM with proven technology and infrastructure capabilities. Commenting on the occasion, Narendra Murkumbi, Managing Director, EIM, said the facility was built in record time due to facilitation by the Maharashtra government, full support of all technology partners, and speedy execution by hosts RMK Spaces and EIM's team led by Manufacturing head Shri Mahesh Keskar.
