Fadnavis opens six EKA Mobility, Pinnacle Group units in Pune, says Maharashtra will be EV hub

Pune, October 30, 2026: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that Maharashtra is on its way to becoming one of the country's leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hubs. According to him, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur are emerging as key centres of the industry.

Fadnavis was speaking at the inauguration of six new manufacturing units of EKA Mobility and Pinnacle Group in Pune. Those present included Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, senior BJP leader B. L. Santhosh, industrialist Dr Abhay Firodia, and EKA Mobility founder and chairman Dr Sudhir Mehta and Sunanda Mehta.

The chief minister announced that the state government, together with vehicle manufacturers, will build a full network of EV charging stations on major highways. The government will provide the land, approvals and infrastructure needed to expand charging facilities.

Fadnavis said growth in electric mobility will reduce air pollution and cut the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels. He described the automobile industry as a major source of jobs and of growth for ancillary industries. According to him, the state will need about 50,000 electric buses in the next three years, and he appealed to Maharashtra's manufacturers to raise their production capacity.

The chief minister also said the government is focused on increasing the share of renewable energy in power generation to support the EV ecosystem. Efforts will be made to provide affordable electricity for electric vehicles and effective charging infrastructure across the state.

Praising Pinnacle Group's employment model, Fadnavis said that women make up 50 per cent of the workforce at one of its manufacturing units. The company has given them special training and employment opportunities. He also appreciated the model in which every employee is a shareholder in the company. He expressed confidence that the new units will meet Maharashtra's growing EV demand through local production and strengthen the state's position in the national EV industry.

Nitin Gadkari said India should aim to become a world leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, particularly electric buses and trucks, because there are big opportunities for them in domestic and foreign markets. According to him, the automobile industry is the backbone of the country's industrial economy and contributes greatly to employment, exports and economic growth. Gadkari said reducing fossil fuel imports and promoting indigenous alternatives such as biofuels, ethanol and hydrogen are top priorities of the Centre.

Gadkari asked the automobile industry to invest in battery technology, research, innovation and indigenous technology. He also called for more collaboration among start-ups, young engineers, researchers and academic institutions. According to him, manufacturers should improve the payload capacity of vehicles while managing the extra weight of batteries. He also spoke of the need to expand charging infrastructure on highways and make electricity cheaper for EV users. Gadkari said vehicles running entirely on bioethanol and hydrogen-powered trucks could come to the market in the coming years, and India should work towards 100 per cent indigenous electric vehicle manufacturing.

H. D. Kumaraswamy said India is fast becoming a major global manufacturing destination under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to him, the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 is giving momentum to domestic manufacturing, technological innovation and sustainable mobility. He said growing capability in electric commercial vehicles, auto components and engineering reflects the rising confidence of Indian industry. Kumaraswamy said several Central government initiatives are supporting domestic manufacturing, electric vehicles, battery production and charging infrastructure. He asked Indian companies to step up investment in EVs, batteries, power electronics, automotive software, lightweight materials and hydrogen technology, and said India should not merely take part in the global mobility transition but also lead it.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said Maharashtra, especially Pune, is becoming a preferred destination for international investment because of strong industrial infrastructure, a skilled workforce and business-friendly policies. She called the joint venture of VDL Group and Pinnacle Industries an important milestone in Pune's industrial development. Recalling the late Ajit Pawar's commitment to industry, employment and skill development, she expressed confidence that electric buses made by the company would soon be seen on the roads of Pune and Mumbai. She also praised EKA Group, which gives women equal employment in manufacturing, research, development and software, and asked other companies in Maharashtra to do the same. According to Pawar, five manufacturing projects in Pune are creating thousands of jobs and giving young people the chance to learn modern, industry-relevant skills.

In his opening address, EKA Mobility founder and chairman Dr Sudhir Mehta spoke about the group's journey, its contribution to the industry and its plans for expansion. He also thanked the Central and Maharashtra governments for their support. Representatives of various industrial groups, businesspeople and citizens also attended the inauguration.