EV Industry Briefing:
Materials. Markets. Machines.

1. Cabinet approves ₹2,814 crore for lithium and nickel processing

The Union Cabinet has approved a five-year scheme, running from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, to support critical mineral processing in India. It offers a 30% capital subsidy for four plants: two for lithium and two for nickel. Support is capped at ₹500 crore per lithium plant and ₹900 crore per nickel plant, and beneficiaries will be chosen through technical evaluation and financial bidding.

Why it matters: Battery plants still need refined materials, and India imports many of them. Local processing would reduce that risk and create roles in process engineering, chemistry and plant operations, not just in pack assembly.

Source: EVreporter

2. India's EV sales rise in October, but EV share slips

India registered 3,54,284 EVs in October, up from 3,37,859 in September, based on Vahan data as of 2 November. Electric two-wheelers grew to 2,23,964, while electric cars fell to 36,745 from 38,321. EV share of two-wheelers dropped from 11.6% to 9.7%, and of cars from 8.7% to 7.3%.

The drop in two-wheeler share comes from a strong festive month for petrol models, since electric volumes still grew. Dealer body FADA puts October's electric share at 9.65%, up from 4.66% a year earlier.

Why it matters: Festive months can lift petrol sales faster than EV sales, so one month's share can mislead. The year-on-year rise is the better sign of where the market is heading.

Sources: EVreporter, Autocar Professional

3. Mercedes-Benz launches the India-built electric GLC at ₹78.5 lakh

The GLC 400 4MATIC is built at Mercedes-Benz's Chakan plant in Pune and carries an introductory ex-showroom price of ₹78.5 lakh. It has a 94 kWh usable battery, 360 kW of power and a claimed WLTP range of up to 711 km. Mercedes says DC charging at up to 330 kW takes it from 10% to 80% in about 22 minutes.

Why it matters: Local assembly of a premium EV brings high-voltage production and service work to India. Fast charging at this level also raises the bar for chargers and for the technicians who maintain them.

Source: EVreporter

4. Altigreen launches MINSARA, an electric two-wheeler for work

Altigreen's multi-utility two-wheeler starts at ₹1.24 lakh ex-showroom. The S has a 2.78 kWh battery and a claimed 125 km range, the S+ has 3.8 kWh and 165 km, and the SE uses battery swapping. Bookings are open in Bengaluru, Vijayawada and Noida, with deliveries from 1 December. The company is aiming at delivery workers, farmers and small businesses.

Why it matters: India's electric two-wheeler market has largely been built around scooters. Work vehicles for rural and small-business users could open a new source of demand and new service needs beyond the big cities.

Source: EVreporter

5. Blackbuck EV unveils a 15-metre electric sleeper coach

The ELON 3X is a three-axle intercity coach with 42 sleeper berths and battery options of 425 kWh and 565 kWh. Reservations are open, and commercial production is targeted for mid-2027, later than the original end-2024 target. The company has not stated the range, charging speed or price.

Why it matters: Long-distance sleeper routes are a hard test for electric buses because of weight, range and charging time. Operators will need real range and charging figures before they can judge the case for it.

Source: EVreporter

6. CATL and BYD gain battery share outside China as Korean makers fall

EV battery use outside China reached 426.7 GWh from January to September, up 24.7%, according to SNE Research. CATL and BYD together rose to a 44.5% share. The three big Korean makers fell to 26.5% from 38.2%, with weak North American demand a major factor. LFP's share outside China jumped to 27.7% from 15.8%.

Why it matters: LFP is now spreading quickly outside China, helped by cheaper models in Europe. Battery and BMS engineers should expect to work with LFP packs and with supply chains led by Chinese companies.

Source: CnEVPost

7. Germany's EV share hits a record 37%

Germany registered 94,086 battery electric cars in October, up 79.5% from a year earlier. That was 37% of the new car market, more than petrol and diesel combined at 24.5%. It was the second month in a row this has happened. A new subsidy of €3,000, or up to €6,000 for lower-income households with children, helped drive demand.

Why it matters: Europe's largest car market shows how quickly buyers can shift when incentives and affordable models come together. Policymakers in other markets will be watching the result.

Source: Electrek

8. China's plug-in retail sales fall again, but share hits a record

Preliminary data from China's CPCA shows retail sales of plug-in passenger cars fell 10% to 11.48 lakh in October, the tenth straight monthly decline. Overall car sales fell faster, down 25%, which pushed the plug-in share to a record 67.8%. Wholesale volumes, which include exports, rose 12% to 18.07 lakh.

Why it matters: With demand weak at home, Chinese makers have a stronger reason to push exports. That could mean more competition on price in overseas markets.

Source: CnEVPost

9. GM recalls 67,380 EVs over a brake software defect

The US recall covers some Cadillac Lyriq, Celestiq and Vistiq models and the Chevrolet Blazer EV with pAWD. A software fault can cause a temporary loss of braking if the driver lightly taps the brakes in a sharp turn and the car hits a bump. GM will fix it for free, either over the air or at a dealer.

Why it matters: In modern EVs, a safety problem can come from software rather than a worn part. Technicians increasingly need skills in diagnostics and software updates as well as mechanical repair.

Source: Electrek

10. BMW's EV share reaches 20% as profit and margins fall

Fully electric models made up 20% of BMW's Q3 deliveries and 34.7% in Europe. Pre-tax profit still fell 10.6% to €2,083 million, and deliveries in China fell by about a quarter. BMW's 2026 automotive margin outlook stands at -0.5% to +0.5%, partly because it will phase out models with older Gen5 batteries earlier than planned.

Why it matters: Selling more EVs does not automatically protect profit. Battery generations are also ageing faster, so engineering skills need regular updating.

Sources: The EV Report on results, The EV Report on guidance