EKA Mobility, Mitsui, VDL Groep Forge Alliance for Sustainable Automotive Evolution

India - EKA Mobility, a leading electric vehicles & technology company based in India, recently announced a partnership with Mitsui & Co, Ltd. (Japan) and VDL Groep (Netherlands). This strategic cooperation marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Indian automotive industry, propelling India toward becoming a global hub for sustainable transportation. The alliance is set to establish the most cutting-edge global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the region.

This is one of the largest and most significant partnerships in the new mobility segment in India, bringing together the strengths and expertise of three leading automotive conglomerates in Asia and Europe to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative electric mobility solutions globally.

Under the cooperation, EKA Mobility, known for its cutting-edge electric vehicles and comprehensive EV ecosystem, will receive significant and strategic investments from Mitsui, a global trading and investment company with a rich history of contributing to industrial innovation, and a technological support and equity partnership from VDL Groep, a leading Dutch technology and manufacturing company. The combined expertise and resources of the three entities will usher in a new era of sustainable transportation and manufacturing excellence.

Key highlights of the cooperation:

Strategic Investment: Mitsui & Co, Ltd will make significant financial investments in EKA Mobility, enabling the company to scale up its manufacturing operations and expand its product portfolio. Mitsui will also provide support to EKA for exports to select emerging markets for exports to select emerging markets as well as the establishment of systems and processes.
Technological Leadership: As part of this partnership, VDL Bus & Coach, a subsidiary of VDL Groep and Europe’s frontrunner in buses and coaches, will support EKA Mobility by transferring technology to produce electric buses in India for the Indian market.
Strengthening ‘Make in India’: The alliance is firmly aligned with the Indian Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, aimed at promoting local manufacturing and job creation.
Sustainability: The cooperation emphasizes a commitment to sustainability and environment conscious mobility solutions, furthering the reduction of carbon footprints.

EKA Mobility is one of the commercial vehicle manufacturers approved under the Champion OEM Scheme and EV component manufacturing scheme of the Government of India’s Auto PLI policy. It is the only Indian company offering end-to-end design, manufacturing, and technology of new energy vehicles from scratch in India.

The company has set up a state-of-the-art research, development, engineering, and innovation center in Pune, Maharashtra, and has significantly grown its order book, with more than 500 electric buses and 5,000+ electric light commercial vehicle orders in the pipeline. All these vehicles will be completely designed and manufactured in India at EKA’s proposed state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In the last two years, the company has introduced an electric city bus, a staff carrier and school bus, and a 9-meter hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus. It is now all set to enter the last mile delivery with its range of e-LCVs designed and customized to suit Indian customers and businesses.

On the cooperation, Dr Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, said, “This partnership with Mitsui and VDL Groep represents a significant step toward making India a global hub for electric vehicle manufacturing. We are proud to join forces with such distinguished partners who share our vision of sustainable, profitable, and efficient transportation.”

Similarly, Nobuyoshi Umezawa, GM, Mobility Business Division, Mitsui & Co India, stated, “Through the cooperation of EKA, VDL, and Mitsui, we aim to contribute to ‘Make in India’ by leveraging EKA’s excellent engineering and local network and VDL’s cutting-edge technological capabilities. Furthermore, we would like to utilize Mitsui’s global network to promote exporting EKA's competitive products to overseas markets and contribute to creating eco-friendly societies.”

Delighted to partner with EKA Mobility and Mitsui, Rolf-Jan Zweep, CEO, VDL Bus & Coach, commented, “Although the basis of our high-quality development and manufacturing competences lies in north-western Europe, we see many opportunities in India, which is obviously a promising growth market. With this cooperation, we foresee especially many synergy benefits in the areas of procurement and development.”

Image Source: Eka Mobility