Electric vehicles are reshaping India’s transport landscape. But making quality EVs at scale needs more than just factories—it demands strong EV innovation. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), tech firms, startups, research institutes, and governments are collaborating in new ways. These partnerships speed up EV innovation, helping India catch up globally. To understand how they accelerate EV innovation in R&D, batteries, software, infrastructure, and production, we will use real life examples in this article.
“EV Parks”, or public-private EV Innovation Fuel
In June 2025, Uttar Pradesh launched a Rs. 700 crore “EV Park,” through a PPP partnership, in Kanpur. This project, under the Kanpur Vision‑2030, includes vehicle assembly lines, battery labs, and an R&D centre to boost EV innovation—especially in motors, chargers, and lithium‑ion cell tech. As India builds these EV hubs, OEMs and tech partners gain shared labs and test centres, driving EV innovation faster and cheaper.
OEM-Tech, OEM-OEM Partnerships for Fundamental EV Innovation
Global tech companies are partnering with Indian OEMs to develop the fundamental EV technology:
- MG‑JSW–SAIC JV: The joint venture MG-JSW-SAIC aims to increase EV innovation through cost-effective local sourcing by partnering with China’s SAIC to manufacture MG EVs in India, including plans for battery factories in Odisha. JSW will own the ‘major stakes’ in this company; goal of indigenizing R&D and encouraging EV innovation in design and manufacturing.
- Hyundai–Exide Energy: Hyundai and Kia signed a strategic agreement with Exide India for local EV battery manufacturing—strengthening EV innovation in cells and pack engineering.
- Hyundai–IITs CoE: Hyundai Motor Group is investing US $7 million to set up a Centre of Excellence across IIT Bombay, Delhi, and Madras from 2025–2029. This pushes EV innovation in battery systems, software, and electrification tailored to India.
These combined efforts empower local R&D and give OEMs ready-made expertise—accelerating EV innovation in India’s EV ecosystem.
Startups and Research Institutes Fuel Battery EV Innovation
The key to affordable, efficient EV’s is battery tech. Indian entrepreneurs and research labs come together to promote EV innovations:
- Pure EV and CSIR-CECRI: PureEV is collaborating with CSIR-CECRI, to localize lithium-ion cell tech, by creating optimized battery packs for Indian field conditions and scaling, safety and thermal control enabling EV innovations with a locally manufactured lead acid battery pack.
- Ministry of Electronics and IT and Brandworks: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Brandworks to develop next generation batteries with a focus on energy density, fast charging, manufacturing, and green processes. This helps drive EV advancements from electronics to EV crossover technologies.
- BorgWarner + FinDreams: BorgWarner is working with FinDreams Battery to produce LFP cells in Bangalore—tailored for India—supporting EV innovation in cost-effective battery chemistry .
These joint efforts improve India’s domestic battery supply and shorten timelines for innovation—demonstrating how EV innovation thrives at the intersection of business and research.
Component Makers Driving EV Innovation
Homegrown suppliers are investing heavily in EV components—boosting EV innovation across powertrains, inverters, and motors:
- Sona Comstar: This firm integrates motors, inverters, differentials, and software in joint ventures with global tech partners. Its work speeds EV innovation in compact, integrated powertrains for 2–4 wheelers.
- Greaves Cotton + Eta Green: Greaves had originally partnered with the UK company Eta Green Power and had invested in Ampere Electric to provide important electric drivetrains for two and three-wheelers, making a cash commitment to local innovation in Engineering, the future of EV has substantial, focused investment.
These capabilities allow OEMs to quickly implement these important and new systems, with less reliance on foreign components, while helping to enable greater local EV as an innovation.
Software & SDV Push Boosts EV Innovation
EVs today depend on software-defined features. Indian partnerships show a software-led EV innovation wave:
Tata Elxsi + Mercedes‑Benz R&D India: Tata Elxsi signed an MoU to co-create software-defined vehicle architecture with Mercedes-Benz. This raises EV innovation in embedded systems and intelligent vehicle software.
Global carmakers and Indian startups like Ola, Tata Power, and Amazon-backed SUN Mobility are further integrating intelligent battery swapping, charging, and fleet management into the EV ecosystem, fueling EV innovation across software and infrastructure.
Thanks to these efforts, EVs in India are becoming software-rich vehicles—an essential step in sustainable EV innovation.
Policy & Infrastructure Supporting EV Innovation
Government incentives and infrastructure investments underpin EV innovation in India:
- Under FAME III and PLI ACC, the government offers ₹500 crore in incentives for battery manufacturing and EV assembly. These move-shaping measures help reduce costs and scale local EV innovation .
- The government’s target of 30% EV adoption by 2030 drives funding schemes that empower OEMs and tech incumbents to invest in R&D, charging networks, and manufacturing—a powerful catalyst for EV innovation.
- EV parks like Kanpur and investments by Reliance & JSW in battery plants and vehicles—all demonstrate how policy and scale co-drive EV innovation in India.
Infrastructure: Charging & Battery Swap Ecosystems
EV innovation isn’t just about vehicles—it includes the ecosystem that supports them:
- Tata Power + MG Motor: These two launched DC charging stations across MG dealerships, paving the way for EV innovation in end-to-end charging services.
- SUN Mobility: Their swappable battery model (SwapX) works with Amazon, Tata Power-DDL, Hero, Piaggio, and others. With 65 stations in 15 cities, SUN Mobility is creating a network that accelerates EV innovation through convenience and reduced range anxiety.
These efforts in charging and battery swapping service reflect a mature EV ecosystem built on collaborative EV innovation.
Startups Pushing Niche EV Innovation
Indian EV startups chart new paths in EV innovation by filling market gaps and exploring new segments:
- Pravaig (Bangalore): Known for custom EV designs, defense-grade EVs (E-TATV), and global ambitions like Saudi‑India ventures, Pravaig pushes EV innovation by engineering new vehicle categories and manufacturing partnerships.
- Okinawa Autotech: Expanding production lines in Rajasthan to produce 3 lakh two‑wheelers yearly, Okinawa drives EV innovation in high-volume local manufacturing.
These innovators are vital: they offer proof of concept, nurture talent, and push R&D forward—essential to India’s EV innovation movement.
Why This Matters to Indian Businesses
All these collaborations public and private, OEM and tech, startup and research—are converging to drive EV innovation in India. Here’s how Indian companies gain:
- Lower costs & localisation: Local battery and parts production help reduce dependence and cost—accelerating EV innovation in pricing.
- Faster time‑to‑market: Shared R&D and platforms cut development time, letting companies launch vehicles faster and more economically.
- Advanced capabilities: Software-defined chassis, LFP cells, swapping tech—all raise India’s EV tech maturity and EV innovation globally.
- Ecosystem building: Pooled infrastructure, researcher talent, and component supply chains promote sustainable EV innovation at scale.
Looking Ahead: The Roadmap for EV Innovation
India’s EV innovation journey is just beginning. Future areas to watch include:
- Solid-state and sodium-ion cells: Startups and institutes are increasingly exploring these for long-range, safe, low-cost batteries.
- Advanced powertrains: Firms like Sona Comstar and BorgWarner will scale integrated motors and inverters across segments—raising EV innovation in drivetrains.
- Software layer acceleration: Joint efforts by Tata Elxsi, global players, and domestic software houses will deepen SDV capabilities—advanced level EV innovation through connected vehicles.
- Recycling and second-life innovations: Expect partnerships in battery recycling and reuse as India enforces circular economy models after 2030.
- Exports & global integration: EV assets built here—batteries, systems, whole buses or two-wheelers—will position India as a global EV innovation hub.
Conclusion:
India’s path to electric mobility depends on a strong EV innovation ecosystem that brings OEMs, tech companies, startups, public labs, and government together. From battery labs in Kanpur to IIT CoEs, from Tata Power’s chargers to SUN Mobility’s swapping station, many players are co-creating the future.
They are enhancing local capacities, advancing development, and lowering costs. For Indian businesses and consumers, therefore, all these initiatives ultimately mean cleaner, smarter and cheaper e-transport. India is uniquely placed on the global EV transformation as a collaborative EV innovation partner.