Hindalco Industries opened its Rs 500-crore EV component manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune, which is intended to meet the rising need for battery solutions that are lightweight and crash-resistant.

Built on five acres in an industrial park with a capital investment of Rs 500 crore, the facility marks Hindalco's entry into the EV component manufacturing market, the firm said.

Additionally, the business declared that 10,000 aluminum battery casings would be delivered to M&M Ltd.

"Mahindra has partnered 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," said Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO for Automotive and Farm Sector at M&M Ltd.

According to Hindalco, the battery enclosure co-developed with Mahindra offers up to 40 percent weight reduction over conventional steel designs, allowing for an 8–10 percent increase in the vehicle's driving range, improved crash safety, and noticeably better thermal management for battery cooling.

Furthermore, Hindalco stated that the usage of low-carbon aluminum in these enclosures highlights the company's dedication to sustainability and innovation.

According to reports, the Chakan factory is expected to create up to 1,000 employment and is a great fit with its 'Make in India' initiative to lessen reliance on imports.

The goal of Hindalco's emission reduction strategy is to reduce CO2 emissions to less than 3 tons per tonne of exported flat rolled products (FRP).

Hindalco is putting itself in a position to benefit from India's growing copper and aluminum consumption, which is expected to quadruple by FY35.

Also Read: Top 5 Women-Driven Deep Tech Startups in India

The company serves industries that account for 60 percent of India's industrial GDP and sees room to develop in fields like foil manufacture, aircraft, and battery enclosures.

With targets like net-zero emissions and water positively by 2050, the company is promoting long-term sustainability. Operations are also incorporating digital initiatives, such as AR/VR apps and analytics powered by AI.