Tata Motors has teamed up with Octillion Power Systems, a Chinese battery manufacturer, to diversify its battery supply for electric vehicles (EVs), according to LiveMint. This marks a shift from Tata Motors’ previous reliance solely on its parent company, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd, for battery packs.
Key Details:
- New Partnership: Octillion, with operations in the US and India, will provide lithium-ion battery packs for Tata Motors’ upcoming Curvv coupe SUV. This is the first time Tata Motors is sourcing batteries from an external supplier since the launch of the Nexon EV in 2020.
- Battery Options: For the Curvv EV, Tata Motors has chosen Octillion’s 45kWh battery packs, which use 15.2Ah cylindrical cells from EVE, a Chinese company. The larger 55kWh variant of the Curvv will continue to use Tata AutoComp’s battery packs, featuring 105Ah prismatic cells from Gotion.
- Strategic Move: Tata Motors is adopting a multi-sourcing strategy to mitigate supply chain risks and ensure a steady supply of parts. This move responds to previous performance issues and aims to enhance the reliability of their EVs.
- Growth in EV Sales: Tata Motors has seen a significant increase in EV sales, rising from around 6,000 units in FY21 to nearly 100,000 units in FY24.
Octillion’s new 2GWh battery manufacturing plant in Pune, India, and the partnership’s access to new materials and expertise are set to bolster Tata Motors’ efforts to expand and improve its EV offerings.