EIM to Launch Two Electric Trucks in 15 Months as Pune Plant Begins Operations

Key Highlights

• EIM plans to launch two electric trucks within 15 months.

• Pune plant can assemble 5,000 vehicles annually.

• New 400.5-kWh Luna battery targets over 200 km range.

• CATL will supply 500 MWh of LFP cells and pack kits.

• Battery-testing facility involves a Phase 1 investment of ₹60 crore.

Energy In Motion (EIM) plans to launch two new electric heavy commercial vehicles over the next 15 months as it begins local vehicle assembly and battery-pack production at its new manufacturing complex in Talegaon, Pune. The company will introduce an electric tipper for mining and road construction and a rigid-body electric truck for cargo transportation, expanding beyond its existing Ashwa 4x2 electric tractor.

Managing Director Narendra Murkumbi announced the plans on Wednesday during the inauguration of the company's electric vehicle and battery-pack assembly facility. The expansion aims to strengthen EIM's presence in India's heavy commercial vehicle market through local assembly, advanced battery technology and a growing domestic supplier network.

EIM Begins Electric Truck Assembly in Pune

EIM is transitioning from importing electric trucks to assembling vehicles locally at its manufacturing complex in Ambi, near Talegaon. Spread across more than 35,000 square metres, the facility brings together truck assembly, battery-pack manufacturing and battery-testing operations.

The truck assembly unit covers more than 19,000 square metres and has an annual assembly capacity of 5,000 vehicles, which can be expanded further. The battery-pack assembly facility occupies 10,920 square metres and has an annual production capacity of 2.4 GWh, equivalent to approximately 6,000 battery boxes.

The company aims to develop its local supplier network alongside domestic assembly to support its future production and expansion plans.

Two New Electric Trucks Planned for 2027

EIM's upcoming electric tipper will target mining and road construction applications, while the rigid-body electric truck will serve a wider range of freight transportation requirements.

The company's existing offering is the EIM-Foton Ashwa 4x2 electric tractor, which operates in the 55-tonne gross combination weight (GCW) category. It is available with 282-kWh and 350-kWh battery configurations and primarily serves container movement, port logistics and other heavy freight operations.

EIM has a six-year exclusive technology licensing and supply agreement with China's BAIC Foton Motor covering the assembly, marketing and distribution of Foton commercial vehicles above 18 tonnes in India. Murkumbi said the technology used in the company's existing electric trucks had been operating in China for more than four years.

New 400.5-kWh LFP Battery to Offer Over 200 Km Range

Alongside vehicle production, EIM is preparing to assemble higher-capacity lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs in Pune through its partnership with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL).

According to Murkumbi, the existing 282-kWh battery delivers a driving range of around 150 km, while the next-generation battery will provide approximately 42% more capacity and a range of over 200 km per charge.

Known as the Luna battery, the upgraded system has an approximate capacity of 400.5 kWh and uses CATL's CB7T0 cells and L324D06 battery-pack platform. EIM estimates its battery life at around 7.5 lakh km.

In July, EIM signed an agreement with CATL for the supply of 500 MWh of LFP battery cells and pack kits. The company said the newer cells offer improved energy density and cycle life compared with its earlier battery technology.

The higher-capacity battery packs will be integrated into swappable battery boxes designed for India's heavy commercial vehicle operations. While battery-pack assembly will take place locally, the company will continue importing cells and pack kits from CATL.

EIM Invests ₹60 Crore in Battery Testing Facility

EIM is also developing a dedicated battery-testing facility within its Pune complex to validate battery packs for heavy commercial vehicles.

According to the company's presentation, the facility covers 4,983 square metres and involves a Phase 1 investment of ₹60 crore. It is being developed in collaboration with Automotive Test Systems (ATS).

The facility will house around 50 test benches for electrical performance, simulation, thermal management, mechanical durability, environmental conditions and safety testing.

It will assess battery performance under demanding conditions, including high temperatures, mechanical shocks, vibrations and other stresses encountered during heavy commercial vehicle operations.

The testing infrastructure is expected to support EIM's battery development and validation programmes while also offering testing capabilities to the wider electric vehicle industry.

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CMV360 Says

EIM's Pune manufacturing complex marks an important step in its plans to expand India's electric heavy commercial vehicle market. With two new trucks planned over the next 15 months, higher-capacity CATL batteries and dedicated testing infrastructure, the company is building capabilities beyond vehicle assembly. Although battery cells will continue to be imported, local pack assembly and a developing supplier network could support future expansion, improve product development and strengthen EIM's position in heavy-duty electric mobility.