Stone laid for International Battery Company’s Rs 390-crore giga factory near Bengaluru airport

IBC giga factory

Karnataka large and medium industries minister MB Patil on January 15 laid the foundation stone of the Rs 390-crore giga factory of the International Battery Company (IBC), which manufactures lithium-ion batteries for electric two and three-wheelers, near Bengaluru airport.

IBC is setting up the facility in collaboration with Mahanagar Gas Limited.

“The company will invest Rs 390 crore in this manufacturing unit, located in the KIADB ITIR industrial area in Devanahalli. The first phase of the project will generate 300 direct jobs. Additionally, 20 percent of the batteries produced here will be exported to the United States and European countries,” Patil said at the event.

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He said 10 acres of land was allocated to the IBC unit near the Foxconn facility shortly after the Congress took office. “The unit, expected to begin operations in nine months, will manufacture batteries catering to both domestic and international markets,” he said.

IBC produces cells in South Korea and imports them for battery assembly. When the unit gets operational, the cells will also be manufactured locally, making it the first cell-manufacturing unit in the country, the minister said.

The factory will expand its portfolio to supply batteries for vehicles beyond two and three-wheelers, Patil said.

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The IBC venture is being driven by young entrepreneurs of Indian origin who were educated in India and trained in Silicon Valle. “They have prioritised designing and manufacturing batteries tailored to India’s specific needs,” the minister said.

Patil lauded their innovative approach and highlighted the project’s potential to reduce dependency on China. “This is India’s first project of its kind. The facility will also produce retrofit batteries, which will provide a significant boost to Karnataka’s economy,” he said. It marks a critical step in building a sustainable, technology-driven, and inclusive economy. It also aligns with the government’s efforts to promote green energy. IBC giga factory is a milestone in Karnataka’s transformation into a global hub for energy research, he said.