Indian Conglomerates Invest in EV, Battery R&D

Tata Group and JSW Group are investing nearly $1 billion to develop domestic capabilities in electric-vehicle and battery technologies in India. Tata Group's battery unit, Agratas, is spending over $400 million on an R&D facility in Bengaluru to develop lithium iron phosphate and lithium manganese iron phosphate technologies, aiming to reduce its dependence on Chinese suppliers. JSW Group's passenger-vehicle arm, JSW Motors, plans to invest at least $500 million in a research hub in Maharashtra to localize EV technologies, build proprietary software, and advance connected vehicles. These investments are driven by a growing urgency among Indian companies to reduce reliance on Chinese technology, as China has become more guarded about sharing critical EV and battery expertise amid global trade tensions. The initiative aims to adapt global automotive technology to Indian conditions and build intellectual property domestically.