Hindalco delivers 10,000 aluminium battery enclosures for Mahindra BE 6, XEV 9e electric SUVs from new Chakan facility

Hindalco's Chakan plant is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs

Aditya Birla Group-owned aluminium company Hindalco Industries has delivered 10,000 aluminium battery enclosures to Mahindra for its BE 6 and XEV 9e electric SUVs, as per a release issued on Friday. Along with this, Hindalco has also unveiled its new state-of-the-art EV component manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, marking the company's strategic entry into the electric vehicle component sector.

Built with a capital investment of Rs 500 crores and spanning 5 acres within Pune's automotive manufacturing hub, the facility represents the company's foray into EV component manufacturing. With a current annual production capacity of 80,000 enclosures and plans to double this to 160,000 units, the plant aims to meet the growing demand for lightweight, crash-resistant battery solutions. As per the release, 3,000 Mahindra EVs running on Indian roads are presently using these aluminium battery packs.

Commenting on the development, Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries Ltd, said, "Our Chakan facility represents a strategic shift in India's EV ecosystem from import dependence to high-performance, localised aluminium solutions."

"We are proud to partner with Mahindra in this journey, which not only reflects our commitment to the mobility transition but also highlights Mahindra's leadership in driving the electrification of mobility in India," he added.

Rajesh Jejurikar, ED and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector) at Mahindra & Mahindra, emphasized the partnership's significance, saying, "Mahindra is excited to partner with Hindalco in the creation of the EV journey. Their expertise in developing materials and strong engineering capabilities to offer new solutions have played a key role in developing efficient and sustainable battery enclosure solutions."

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When compared to traditional steel designs, the low-carbon aluminium battery enclosures, offer up to 40 percent weight reduction and 8 to 10 percent improvement in vehicle driving range, enhanced crash safety, and improved thermal management for battery cooling.

The Chakan plant is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs - with nearly all machine operators being women. It also aligns with the government's 'Make in India' initiative to reduce dependence on imports.

Beyond this, Hindalco has plans to extend similar capabilities to other Indian and global Original Equipment Makers (OEMs), expanding its aluminium offerings to include structural and crash-relevant parts for both EVs and conventional vehicles.