Latest news with #NishantArya
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Design, rather than assemble EVs: JBM's Nishant Arya
At the intersection of India's ambition of becoming a global manufacturing hub and the accelerating race for EVs manufacturing, the country holds a competitive edge due to its local market and human capital, points out JBM Group 's Vice Chairman and Managing Director Nishant Arya . He was speaking at the ET Auto Manufacturing Innovation Summit recently held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 'The next two decades are India's, " he said, adding that India's diverse weather conditions gives the country an opportunity to make EVs for the world. India, as he noted, is no longer inching but surging ahead towards becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, and at the heart of this journey lies a silent revolution built on skilling, technology convergence, and a renewed push for design-led innovation. His optimism isn't misplaced. India's manufacturing sector currently contributes around 17 per cent to the country's GDP , and the government aims to take this to 25 per cent under its 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision. Schemes such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI), with a total outlay exceeding ₹2 lakh crore, are designed to push key industries like auto components, advanced batteries, and semiconductors into the global spotlight. Automotive alone forms close to 49 per cent of India's total manufacturing GDP, reinforcing its role as a growth engine. 'With the right mix of R&D, green technologies, infrastructure and human capital, we are ready to lead not just in scale, but in substance," he added. From build-to-print to design-to-delivery According to Arya, Indian manufacturing is evolving beyond its traditional role as a cost-effective assembler. 'We used to be in a build-to-print mode. That era is over,' he asserted. Backing this shift is a surge in private R&D investment. India's gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) may still hover at 0.7 per cent of GDP. While this is below the global average, private sector contribution has grown significantly, especially in auto and electronics. Notably, the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme for semiconductors, launched with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore, aims to foster precisely this kind of homegrown IP creation. 'Today, it's about design to delivery. We need to build IPs, create modular products, and bring them to global markets at speed," he advised. Also to be noted here is the recently announced Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. With an outlay of ₹1 lakh crore, the scheme aims to boost private sector involvement in research and innovation, especially in strategic and emerging sectors. The RDI Scheme is designed to offer long-term financing or refinancing to private companies at minimal or zero interest rates. It will fund projects that are at advanced stages of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and support the acquisition of critical or strategically significant technologies. Additionally, the scheme plans to establish a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds to invest in technology-driven ventures. Engineering a green future As mobility rapidly pivots towards sustainability, Arya is clear that India's EV manufacturing leadership must rest on a unified ecosystem approach. 'Focusing on just one aspect, say batteries or motors, won't get us there. The entire EV ecosystem must evolve together: from semiconductors and power electronics to charging infrastructure and battery packs,' he said. The numbers are trending in this direction. India's EV sales touched over 1.5 million units in FY24, a 50 per cent jump from the previous year, and are expected to breach two million in FY25. Backed by over 500 registered EV startups and more than ₹25,000 crore in planned investment across cell manufacturing and vehicle platforms, the industry is gaining serious momentum. Arya also pointed out India's geographical advantage and said, 'Our extreme climates from the Himalayas to the Thar desert give us a natural lab to test vehicles for diverse conditions, making them globally viable from day one.' Skilling as the core of competitiveness Amid the rise of new technologies and product platforms, Arya reiterated that the biggest competitive edge is human capital. 'You can buy the best equipment, but without skilled talent, it's meaningless,' he said. 'That's why institutions focused on nurturing talent, like the one hosting today's summit, are foundational to India's manufacturing ambitions," he added. The automotive component industry alone employs around two million people directly, and up to six million across the extended value chain. Yet with automation, AI, and electrification changing the skill profile, continuous skilling is no longer optional. 'Learn, unlearn, relearn. That's the new mantra,' Arya said, emphasising how India's young workforce, with a median age of under 29, can be its biggest strength—if empowered with future-ready skills. Becoming the EV capital of the world: The road ahead When asked how India could accelerate its journey to becoming the global hub for EV manufacturing, Arya's thoughts were both strategic and urgent. He spoke of designing in India rather than simply assembling, of viewing the EV sector as a connected value chain, not isolated parts, and of infrastructure that must match the scale of ambition. India already has more than 10 GWh of installed advanced battery capacity and is targeting 50 GWh by 2030. Over 7,000 public EV chargers have been installed, with plans to scale that number tenfold. At the same time, green manufacturing is being actively pursued. JBM, for instance, has deployed its own solar-powered EV buses and is investing in hydrogen and biofuel technologies. Arya pointed out that these manufacturing goals align closely with India's larger vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. 'Every product must contribute to a cleaner tomorrow. Sustainability isn't a trend. It's the direction,' he said. Wrapping up, Arya struck an optimistic yet grounded tone. 'The opportunity is immense, but the window is finite,' he said. 'We must build for the world, local for global, not local for local. This is India's moment, and we must deliver.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
JBM auto to enter global e-bus mkt with first launch in Germany next month
The product has been developed based on extensive research that included feedback from potential customers in the European market Puja Das Delhi Listen to This Article JBM Auto, a $3 billion global Indian conglomerate, is preparing to enter the international electric bus (e-bus) market with its first launch of a city bus, Eco-life, in Germany this month, said vice-chairman and managing director Nishant Arya. The launch comes at a time when India and the European Union (EU) are negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA), anticipated to conclude by the end of this year. JBM plans to launch several global products in regions, including North America, South America, Southeast Asia, the Asia Pacific, West Asia, and African countries this year. With entering Germany, the Indian automaker plans to
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
JBM EV ties up with Hitachi ZeroCarbon for battery management solutions
JBM Electric Vehicles on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with Hitachi ZeroCarbon for deploying battery management solutions in its e-buses. As part of the collaboration, Hitachi 's ZeroCarbon BatteryManager solution will be deployed in JBM electric buses to collect real-time data from the pilot fleet and deliver actionable insights regarding charging patterns, route optimisation and asset usage, JBM EV said. The all-in-one platform provides comprehensive battery analytics and management tools to enhance performance, extend battery life and maximise residual value. A wholly-owned subsidiary of JBM Auto Ltd , JBM EV has set up the world's largest (outside China) dedicated integrated electric bus manufacturing facility in Delhi-NCR with a capacity to manufacture 20,000 buses per annum. The collaboration will provide JBM EV real-world insight into the performance and resilience of e-transport in a high-demand urban environment, it said. JBM EV offers an extensive portfolio of e-buses ranging from city, intercity, luxury coach, staff, school and special purpose vehicles. According to the company, India and the Middle East, where weather can change from extreme heat to rains to near zero temperatures, make them an ideal testbed to monitor and assess the performance of battery assets. "This ensure critical parameters for enhancing our battery performance proactively for each customer under different climatic conditions and leading to highest residual value of the batteries. It will enable us to enhance the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the public transport operators and fleet owners for multiple applications across the world," said Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, JBM Auto Ltd. Ram Ramachander, CEO, Hitachi ZeroCarbon said the Indian market is an ideal showcase of how the company can help electric fleet operators, manufacturers and innovators better understand the assets in their EV ecosystem and navigate operational constraints of different terrains and weather conditions. Bharat Kaushal, Corporate Officer, Hitachi Ltd and Executive Chairman, Hitachi India said: "This collaboration will enable JBM and Hitachi to develop an improved business model for deployment of electric buses across the globe."
Business Standard
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
JBM Electric Vehicles Partners Hitachi ZeroCarbon to Accelerate the Transition to Clean Public Transport in India
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], April 30: Hitachi ZeroCarbon, has announced a partnership with JBM Electric Vehicles, a global EV Ecosystem player and leading electric bus OEM serving markets across India, Middle East, APAC and Europe, to integrate ZeroCarbon BatteryManager into electric bus transportation. This partnership, with Hitachi, brings an unparalleled combination of skills and expertise to the Indian market for the first time. It will provide real-world insight into the performance and resilience of electrified transport in a high-demand urban environment, accelerating cost-effective and clean transport in Indian cities. Varied seasonal conditions in India and Middle East, where weather can change from extreme heat to rains to near zero temperatures, makes it an ideal testbed to monitor and assess the performance of battery assets. Hitachi's ZeroCarbon BatteryManager will be used to collect real-time data from the pilot fleet and deliver actionable insights regarding charging patterns, route optimisation and asset usage. Commenting on the partnership, Nishant Arya, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, JBM Auto, said: "We are pioneering zero emission public transportation globally, enabling passenger safety, comfort, affordability and innovation. This collaboration with Hitachi ZeroCarbon will enhance critical parameters for enhancing our battery performance proactively for each customer under different climatic conditions and leading to the highest residual value of the batteries. It will enable us to enhance the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the public transport operators and fleet owners for multiple applications across the world." The project will serve as a key learning platform that will see Hitachi ZeroCarbon create a class-leading business model for electric buses. The ambition is to prove that EVs can be as cost-efficient as traditional diesel buses. Upon trial completion, Hitachi will deliver a roadmap for broader deployment in India, creating a model that can further accelerate the transition to electrified transport across South Asia. Ram Ramachander, CEO, Hitachi ZeroCarbon, said: "This is a landmark initiative for our ZeroCarbon BatteryManager solution. The Indian market is unique and an ideal showcase of how we can help electric fleet operators, manufacturers and innovators better understand the assets in their EV ecosystem and navigate operational constraints of different terrains and weather conditions. We look forward to building on to our learnings from other markets and assisting JBM Electric Vehicles to maximise their battery value and usage and achieve long-term success in fleet electrification." Dr. Bharat Kaushal, Corporate Officer, Hitachi, Ltd. and Executive Chairman, Hitachi India, said: "Hitachi's businesses are playing a key role in the decarbonization of public transportation in India. This collaboration will enable JBM and Hitachi to develop an improved business model for deployment of electric buses across the globe. This is a crucial step in our journey towards building a more sustainable and equitable society for all." With over nine decades of unwavering partnership with India, Hitachi is being envisioned as an integral part of leading technological transformation of the nation connecting Humans with Humans with Technology. Touching billions of lives, Hitachi has been transforming the nation through its unparalleled solutions including Energy, IT, Healthcare, e-Education, Financial Inclusion and Urban Mobility. This initiative also signals an opportunity for Hitachi ZeroCarbon to apply and scale its solutions in the Indian market. In 2024, it worked with First Group, the UK's largest bus operator, to successfully facilitate access to low-cost capital so it could purchase 1,000 electric buses. Now, with JBM Electric Vehicles, it hopes to explore how this model can be applied locally, helping reduce barriers to entry and address cost constraints that can hinder the zero-emission transition.
