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      OSM To Setup World’s Largest Electric 3W Factory In Karnataka

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      Omega Seiki plans investment of US$ 250 million targeting 1 million electric three wheelers per annumOmega Seiki Mobility Megafactory in makingOmega Seiki Mobility, an Indian electric vehicle manufacturer, is set to revolutionize the electric three wheeler segment. The company marks World Earth Day by announcing the setup of the world’s largest electric three wheeler manufacturing unit in Karnataka.The new facility being planned by Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) will be built in three phases. Funds are being raised via equity and debt, to set up this mega factory from where production is scheduled to commence from FY 2024. The facility will be spread over an area of 250 acres and OSM is in talks with existing and new suppliers to set up ancillary units close to this megafactory.Omega Seiki Mobility MegafactoryTotal investment planned is at US$ 250 million (Rs 1,910 crores). Production capacity will stand at 1 million electric three wheeler units per annum. The new OSM Megafactory will cater to demands of the Indian market as well as ASEAN, Africa and the Middle East markets.Mr. Uday Narang, Chairman and Founder, OSM, said “The organised electric three-wheeler market has exponentially grown by a massive 200% in FY22 as against the previous fiscal. This has helped EV 3 wheelers now command a massive 46% of overall three-wheeler volumes. We at OSM believe that adoption of EVs in the last-mile delivery sector and government bodies will help India become the first market in the world where every 3 EV three-wheeler will be sold for every 1 ICE three-wheeler. We want to be the market leader in the three-wheeler market, not just in India but the world and the new OSM Megafactory with a capacity of 1 million units is the first step towards this goal.”Omega Seiki Electric CV – India’s First Electric Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV)OSM Range of Electric Three WheelersOSM, a leader in the electric cargo three wheeler segment with its Rage+ brand, plans to produce the entire range of vehicles among which are Rage+, Rage+ RapidEV, Rage+ Frost, Rage+ Swap, and Rage+ Tipper. The company also plans to embark on the electric three wheeler passenger carrier segment with the OSM Stream which will soon enter production.Omega Seiki Mobility unveiled the country’s first battery-powered small commercial vehicle (SCV) named M1KA in November 2021. The company also has the Rage+ Rapid electric three-wheeler in India, that comes in at a starting price of Rs 3.59 lakh for its open carrier half tray variant and goes up to Rs 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India) for top body container variant.OSM Rage+Rapid Electric Three WheelersOmega Seiki’s Rage+ Rapid electric three-wheeler receive RapidX 6,000 fast-charging batteries based on InstaCharge technology developed by Log 9 Materials. The batteries can be charged upto 100 percent in 35 minutes, and capable of taking on tough Indian weather conditions where temperatures range from -30°C to +60°C, allowing up to 40,000 charge-discharge cycles and 10+ years of battery life. The battery offers a range of 90 kms per charge and is directed towards use of last mile cargo and delivery segments in the country.Following its successful entry into the electric three wheeler segment in India, OSM also plans to enter global markets. The company has entered into joint ventures with partners in Bangladesh, Egypt and UAE. As per Dr. Deb Mukherji, Managing Director, Omega Seiki Mobility is the only company in India to offer three powerpack options – long range, rapid charging and swappable. More

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      Kia Plans Small Electric SUV For India – Sonet EV To Rival Nexon EV?

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      Kia is expected to launch its premium electric crossover- EV6 in India later this year, it has already been spotted testing on Indian roadsKia Sonet Modified By Bozz Concepts – Render for referenceKia has seen tremendous success within a limited span in this country. Within three years, it has broken into top five carmakers in India. While the South Korean brand has already laid out groundwork for its first pure electric offering in the country, it also wants to enter the entry-level EV space in future with a small electric SUV.As per latest reports, development work for a small electric SUV codenamed AY has been started by Kia. This SUV is likely to be built exclusively in India for the company’s international markets and could hit roads by 2025. The report further mentions that this model will not be based on a pure EV platform.Kia Entry-Level Electric SUV – Sonet EV?Instead, it will be underpinned by a flexible platform that will also offer Kia a space in the mass market entry-level petrol SUV segment. Kia already retails an entry-level SUV in the form of Sonet but the brand wants to solidify its position in this space with multiple new products.The Korean car major will enter the EV space in India with EV6 later this year. The fully electric crossover made its global debut in March last year and has already been spotted testing on Indian roads on a couple of occasions. It is based on the new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that also underpins the new Hyundai Ioniq 5. The latter is also slated for a launch in India later this year.Kia EV6 GT Electric Car in India. Image – Automobili ArdentWith two new EVs offered at both ends of the spectrum, Kia will be able to cater to a wider segment of buyers looking for a battery-powered SUV. However, there are no specific details regarding the entry-level SUV yet and it will take some time before any notable development is made in this regard.Late last year, Kia’s cousin Hyundai India had also announced to launch an entry level SUV. Just like Kia, Hyundai too had not revealed details, but they did say that it will be a small electric SUV. Considering the huge demand for Nexon EV, it is possible that Hyundai and Kia could be working on electrifying Venue and Sonet for India.Kia EV6- Powertrain SpecsComing back to EV6, internationally it is offered in two variants- GT Line and GT, available in 2WD as well as all-wheel-drive configurations. Further, Kia will be offering two battery pack options in both variants of the upcoming electric crossover– 58 kWh for standard range and 77.4 kWh for long range. The base GT Line trim with the smaller battery pack offers 170 bhp in RWD format and 235 bhp in AWD layout.When paired with the larger battery pack, GT Line trim produces 229 bhp in a single-motor (RWD) setup and 325 bhp in a dual-motor (AWD) setup. While the rear-wheel-drive variant has a 0-100kmph acceleration time of 6.2 seconds, AWD variant of EV6 GT Line can attain this in 5.2 seconds. On the other hand, the top-spec GT trim is only offered with a dual-motor setup paired exclusively with a 77.4 kWh battery.Powertrain in EV6 GT returns a peak output of 576 bhp and 740 Nm of torque. This enables a 0-100kmph sprint in just 3.5 seconds with a top speed capped at 260 kmph. Kia will be offering EV6 as a fully imported CBU model in India which is expected to be available in its fully loaded GT trim.Source More

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      Electric Rickshaw, 3W Sales FY 2022 – YC, Saera, Mahindra, Piaggio

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      Three wheeler and auto rickshaw sales increased two fold on a YoY basis to 1,77,874 units in FY 2022Modified rickshaw imageAs electric vehicle demands surge in India, outstanding growth was reported across passenger vehicles and two /three wheelers over the past year. Electric three wheeler sales increased to 1,77,874 units in FY 2022, up from 88,391 units sold in FY 2021. This vehicle retail data has been collated by FADA on 03.04.2022 in collaboration with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India and gathered from 1,379 out of 1,605 RTOs.Electric Three Wheeler Sales FY 2022YC Electric led the list with 17,049 units sold during the past financial year FY 2022. This was up from 8,936 units sold in FY 2021 while market share dipped from 10.11 percent held in FY 2021 to 9.58 percent in FY 2022.At No. 2 on the list, Saera Electric sales stood at 8,475 units in FY 2022, up from 3,937 units sold in FY 2021 causing market share to increase from 4.45 percent to 4.76 percent YoY. Mahindra Reva sales which had stood at 3,218 units in FY 2021 increased to 8,037 units in FY 2022 while market share increased from 3.64 percent to 4.52 percent in the corresponding periods.Champion PolyPlast sales also increased significantly on a YoY basis to 7,528 units in FY 2022 over 3,071 units sold in FY 2021. Market share surged from 3.47 percent to 4.23 percent during the said periods.Electric Rickshaw / Three Wheeler Sales FY 2022 – FADAThe list of electric three wheelers also included Dilli Electric with 6,456 units sold in FY 2022, up from 2,429 units sold in FY 2021 relating to an increase in market share from 2.75 percent to 3.63 percent. Bestway Agencies sales stood at 6,254 units in FY 2022 from 2,171 units sold in FY 2022 while Unique International saw its sales surge to 5,022 units in FY 2022 from 1,667 units sold in FY 2021.Mahindra, Thukral, MiniMahindra’s electric three wheeler sales which had stood at 3,358 units in FY 2021 increased to 4,809 units in the FY 2022 period. Mahindra e Alfa Cargo is priced at Rs 1.44 lakhs and competes in the commercial electric three-wheelers space with the likes of Euler HiLoad EV and Piaggio Ape E-Xtra FX.Thukral sales were up to 4,334 units from 2,004 units in FY 2021. Mini Metro also saw increased electric three wheeler sales in FY 2022 to 4,311 units from 1,726 units and Vani Electric sales stood at 4,105 units in FY 2022 from 2,960 units sold in FY 2021. Terra, JP Auto and Energy also noted significant increase in three wheeler sales while Piaggio sales surged to 3,426 units in FY 2022 from just 106 units sold in FY 2021. Piaggio also saw its market share increase to 1.93 percent from 0.12 percent held in FY 2021.GK Rickshaw (2,728 units), Allfine Industries (2,689 units), SKS Trade (2,617 units) and Speego Vehicles (2,317 units) saw its sales surge in FY 2022 along with Bright Autozone (2,262 units) and Maa Shakti (2,070 units). There were others in this segment that saw sales of 72,507 units, up from 41,206 units sold in FY 2021. More

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      Tata Motors To Manufacture 2 L Electric Cars, EVs At Ford India Plant

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      Tata Motors will be investing Rs 2,000 crore in the Sanand-based manufacturing facility in Gujarat previously owned by Ford IndiaImage – National GeographicTimes of India claims that Tata Motors has taken over the Ford India plant in Sanand. Tata Motors has not yet officially announced the take over. As per the report, Tata Motors has acquired Ford India’s manufacturing facility based out of Sanand in Gujarat for an undisclosed amount.There have been talks of the Indian automaker taking over the American auto giant’s plants in India. The latter quit retail and manufacturing operations in the country in September last year. Tata Motors is planning to invest an additional Rs 2,000 crore in the newly acquired facility. The homegrown carmaker intends to manufacture two lakh electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026 at the Sanand factory. Ford also owns a vehicle and engine manufacturing plant in Maraimalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu.Tata Motors Acquiring Ford India’s plantAs a part of this takeover, Tata Motors will not be laying off any of the existing employees of Ford in this facility. The facility has given employment to as many as 23,000 personnel either directly or indirectly. The company already owns a manufacturing facility in Sanand, built to manufacture Tata Nano. Ford India plant is just opposite the Tata Motors plant in Sanand.This plant currently serves as a manufacturing hub for the brand’s EVs and other models like Tiago and Tigor. As of now, Tata Motors produces 10,000 EVs per year, at its existing Sanand-based factory. This facility has an overall production capacity of 1.5 lakh units per annum. Tata Motors was one of the first major automakers to enter Sanand with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore to build India’s most affordable car in the form of Nano.Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptConcessions sought by Tata MotorsTata Motors has also sought concessions in land transfer rate where it has proposed to pay 20% of jantri rate of the land which translates to Rs 66 crores. It has also asked for balance eligible incentives which were promised to Ford till 2030. Report further reveals that the state government has given its nod to these concessions sought by Tata Motors.Earlier this year, both Tata Motors and Ford India submitted a consent proposal for transfer of ownership of the latter’s manufacturing plant to the former. The high-powered committee met recently and gave a nod to this proposal including concessions sought by Tata Motors as part of this deal. The proposed takeover is expected to become a major landmark in EV production in the country.Tata Motors as an EV manufacturerTata Motors is currently the largest EV manufacturer in the country with two mass-market products in the form of Tigor EV and Nexon. In February this year, the brand sold a total of 2,264 units of battery-powered vehicles. The company recently previewed an upcoming Coupe Electric SUV in the form of Curvv Concept which is expected to go on sale by 2024.Source More

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      Toyota Innova Electric 7 Seater MPV Will Not Enter Production

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      While Toyota Innova Electric Concept has passed the stage of quality and safety assurance internal checks, it won’t go into series productionToyota Innova Electric ConceptA few days ago Toyota showcased a concept prototype of an all-electric Innova at the recently concluded Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) in Jakarta. It managed to grab a lot of eyeballs across the world, especially in South Asian markets where Innova is a very well-known brand.While the Japanese carmaker is investing heavily in future electrified powertrains, a fully electric Innova isn’t part of the plan. This has been confirmed by the Indonesian arm of Toyota despite showcasing a full-fledged battery-powered prototype of the MPV which looked so close to being production-ready.Toyota Innova ElectricSpeaking to a local automotive publication, Anton Jimmi Suwandy, marketing director, Toyota Astra Motor, Indonesia, revealed that Kijang Innova Electric will not go on sale and has been built as a concept for the purpose of engineering development only. Suwandy further added that the Innova EV concept is being used for research and development of future EVs that are being readied for the region.It should be noted that Toyota has established a new engineering and development department for Asia-Pacific markets which will work for both Toyota and its subsidiary brand Daihatsu. Henry Tanoto, Vice President Director at Toyota Astra Motor Indonesia, also confirmed that the Innova EV concept is merely a study. The concept is said to have raised the popularity of EVs in the community.[embedded content][embedded content]EV Platform ChallengesThe IC engine-powered Innova Crysta is underpinned by the IMV2 ladder-on-frame architecture which is designed to accommodate petrol and diesel powertrains. Incorporating battery packs and an electric motor in this platform is a major packaging challenge thanks to the long members and horizontal arms of the chassis that restrict space for battery.Further, additional weight of frame will increase the vehicle’s overall weight by a huge margin which will not be feasible for performance as well as range. Although it has not been built for mass production, the Toyota Innova EV Concept has passed the stage of quality and safety assurance internal checks.Toyota Innova Electric 7 Seater MPV previewed a few days earlier was almost identical to its IC engine sibling barring a sealed-off front nose which is typical of all EVs. To further highlight its EV nature, Innova Electric featured blue highlights all over its exterior body. The fuel-filler lid now serves as the EV charging bay.New-Gen Innova CrystaWhile the current Innova Crysta is still a strong seller in India, the company has already started developing a new-generation model of the MPV. Camouflaged test units of the upcoming Innova have been spotted on Indian roads on a couple of occasions. The new-gen Innova is expected to come with a wide range of updates including a new platform which is expected to be a monocoque chassis underpinning Toyota Avanza.Source More

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      New Tata Ace Electric Spied During TVC Shoot – Launch Soon

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      Tata Ace Electric will be the company’s first fully-electric commercial vehicle to go into series productionTata Ace Electric. Image – Yash MoreTata Motors is looking to stamp its authority not just in the passenger vehicle segment of electric mobility but also in the commercial vehicle segment as well. In this regard, the company will soon be launching a fully electric derivative of Ace which was recently spotted during the shoot of a TV commercial.The latest spy shot shared by auto enthusiast Yash More shows a production prototype of Ace in front of a camera mounted on top of a tracker vehicle. There is no noticeable visual difference between Ace Electric and its IC engine-powered sibling, barring a prominent EV branding on the fully covered cargo cabin.Tata Ace Electric- Previous CasesWhile it is the first time that Ace will be on sale with a factory-fitted EV powertrain, it isn’t the first case where the light commercial pickup truck runs on a battery power source. Earlier, EV startups like Etrio and Northway MotorSport have built retro-fitted electric powertrains for Tata Ace featuring 20kWh and 18kWh Lithium-ion battery packs respectively.Even for Tata Motors, a fully electric Ace isn’t an all-new project as the company had first attempted the same almost a decade back. Ace EV was first designed and conceptualised by the European Technical Centre of the automaker and launched battery-powered versions of the LCV in Europe in small numbers. However, those units of Ace Electric were powered by Lead Acetate battery packs.Tata Ace ElectricA combination of changes in Government incentives and a sluggish take-up of EVs by the industry made the company discontinue Ace Electric. Specific details on the upcoming Tata Ace Electric are expected to surface ahead of its launch expected in a few weeks. Tata Motors could provide a battery pack rated between 18kWh and 20kWh capacity which can offer a range of 120-150km on a single charge.Details of IC Engine-Powered AceIn its IC engine-powered derivative, Ace draws its power from a 2-cylinder, 700cc, naturally aspirated direction injection diesel engine that produces 20 bhp and 45 Nm of torque. It is also offered with a 694cc MPFI 4 stroke, water-cooled petrol engine with a rated output of 30 bhp and 55 Nm of peak torque.The same powertrain is also available in CNG form which returns an output of 25 bhp and 50 Nm of torque. In its IC-powered form, Ace could attain a top speed of 70 kmph. The light pickup truck is available in three broadly classified trims namely Gold, Gold CX and HT Plus.It will be interesting to see at what price Tata Motors offers the new Ace EV since it will be strictly put to use for commercial purpose. Mahindra is also planning to launch Jeeto Electric, which will take on the soon to be launched Ace Electric More

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      Top 10 Electric Two Wheelers Mar 2022 – Hero Electric, Ola, Okinawa, Ampere, TVS

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      Electric two wheeler sales increased 370 percent in March 2022 on a YoY basis with Hero Electric in the leadOla climbs the list, and takes the No 2 spot.The EV market is on the path of growth in India, more particularly, the two wheeler segment. Recent positive changes in EV policy via FAME, coupled with added subsidies being offered by various State Governments have been a game-changer. Rising fuel costs have also turned the buyer’s attention towards electric two wheelers along with attractive prices, lower running costs and lesser maintenance.FADA has released retail sales numbers of electric two wheelers. Sales have increased 370 percent on a YoY basis in March 2022 to 49,607 units, up from 10,558 units sold in March 2021. MoM growth stood at 53 percent from 32,455 units sold in February 2022.Top 10 Electric Two Wheeler Mar 2022 – Hero, Ola, OkinawaHero Electric sales in March 2022 stood at 13,023 units, up 149 percent against 5,235 units sold in March 2021. It was also a 77 percent MoM growth over 7,360 units sold in February 2022. Hero Electric has just introduced the new Optima CX e-scooter. This is an upgrade from the Optima HX and is priced at Rs 62,190 for its single-battery variant and Rs 77,490 for the dual-battery variant.Surpassing both Okinawa and Ampere by a significant margin and at No. 2 on this list was Ola Electric with its two wheeler sales at 9,127 units. This was a 134 percent MoM increase over 3,907 units sold in February 2022.Electric Two Wheeler Sales March 2022 – FADA / Vinkesh GukatiOkinawa Autotech was the third best selling electric two wheeler maker in March 2022 with sales of 8,284 units, up 441 percent over 1,530 units sold in March 2021. It was a MoM growth of 40 percent from 5,925 units sold in February 2022. Okinawa also recently introduced the OKHI-90 electric maxi-scooter in India priced at Rs 1,21,886 (post Fame II subsidy). Buyers can also avail of a Rs 5,000-15,000 lower cost thanks to state-level subsidy.Sales of Ampere increased 574 percent on a YoY basis to 6,338 units in March 2022 from 941 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales increased 47 percent over 4,304 units sold in February 2022. Increased demand for electric two wheelers were also reported by TVS Motor, Ather and PUR Energy. TVS Motor sales increased 749 percent YoY to 2,267 units from 267 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales increase stood at 53 percent over 1,482 units sold in February 2022.Ather, Revolt, PUR EVAther Energy sales increased 109 percent to 2,226 units in March 2022 from 1,064 units sold in March 2021 and remained flat on a MoM basis from 2,232 units sold in February 2022. Ather 450X has seen increased demand and last month the company rolled out of its 25,000th e-scooter in 25 months of launch.Revolt Intellicorp sales increased significantly on a YoY basis. Sales which had stood at just 53 units in March 2021 stood at 1,409 units in March 2022 relating to a 2,558 percent growth. MoM sales increased 25 percent over 1,128 units sold in February 2022. Revolt RV400 e-motorcycle is priced at Rs 1.24 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and is the only offering in the company’s current portfolio.Jitendra and Benling India saw sales of 1,034 units and 1,013 units in the past month respectively. MoM sales of Jitendra also increased 84 percent from 562 units sold in February 2022 while MoM sales of Benling dipped 12 percent over 1,149 units sold in February 2022. PUR Energy sales increased 204 percent YoY to 2,066 units, up from 679 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales were up 45 percent from 1,427 units sold in February 2022.Bajaj At No 11Bajaj Auto also posted a 466 percent YoY growth to 827 units, up from 146 units sold in March 2021 while MoM sales dipped 37 percent from 1,314 units sold in February 2022. Even as the Bajaj Chetak e-scooter continues to face much competition in this segment, the company plans to reinforce its Chetak sub-brand with multiple electric scooters over next three-five years.Sales of electric two wheelers continued with GoGreen (598 units), MEW (488 units), KLB (324 units) and RGM (138 units). There were others in this segment such as Elthor (8 units), ECO Fuel (85 units) and Lectrix (41 units) along with others that also contributed a few numbers to this growing segment.Interestingly, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter is also mentioned in the list. This is when Honda is yet to officially enter the segment. Honda has no electric two wheeler on sale yet. They do plan to launch one this year. First Honda electric scooter is expected to be the Benly e. More

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      Kia EV6 GT Electric Car Spied Testing In India – Launch Soon

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      This flagship GT version of the Kia EV6 crossover commands a range of 510km and top speed of 260 km/hKia EV6 GT Electric Car. Image – Automobili Ardent IndiaKia EV6, the most powerful and quickest vehicle in the company lineup, is getting ready for India launch. Making its global debut last year, this electric crossover is the company’s first all-electric vehicle.Kia EV6 shares its E-GMP platform (Electric-Global Modular Platform) with the Hyundai Ioniq, which is also planned for India launch. EV6 is built on the company’s new Opposites United design philosophy which is based on the 5 pillars of Bold for Nature, Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life and Tension for Serenity.Kia EV6 GT Electric Spied In IndiaKia’s EV6 is offered with 2 powertrain configurations – 77.4 kWh for long range and 58 kWh for standard range. It will be offered in two variants of GT Line and GT and will be available in both 2WD and AWD options.The new Kia EV6 GT comes in with a dual motor set up along with a 77.4 kWh battery pack which together offer 576 hp power and 740 Nm torque. This allows the EV6 GT to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and to hit a top speed of 260 km/h. This speed and power puts it in a higher category as compared to the Porsche Taycan 4S.Kia EV6 GT Electric CarUpcoming Kia EV6 is offered in a choice of two battery sizes of 77.4 kWh and 58 kWh. In its non GT stance the larger battery offers 229 hp power in a rear wheel drive format and a combined 325 hp with AWD. The rear wheel drive variant gets a range of 510 kms on the WLTP cycle while acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in 5.2 seconds.The 58 kWh battery pack is also presented in two configurations of 170hp RWD and 235hp AWD with acceleration of 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds. It is not clear as to which battery variant will be launched in India. Kia EV6 will come in as a CBU.Where features are concerned, the upcoming EV6 will get a new Kia logo, large headlamps and a Tiger Nose front grille. It features an aerodynamic design with swept back windshield, angular DRLs, sloping C pillars and a roof spoiler. Interiors will see the latest in technology with an HD screen, slim dashboard and instrument cluster, and the latest in technologies and car connectivity.Battery Charging TimeKia EV6, positioned on the EGMP platform, gets an 800V charging architecture allowing charging from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes. In just 4.5 minutes of charging, the Kia EV6 can deliver up to 100 kms range. The EV6 also comes in with a ‘vehicle-to-load’ function to offer up to 3.6kW of power to external devices including other EVs. India launch is likely to take place in June 2022.Source More