Ashok Leyland Partners with CALB to Build EV Batteries in India

By Amit Jangra | Published Date : September 13, 2025

Ashok Leyland partners with CALB to localise EV battery manufacturing in India, reducing import dependency and boosting electric truck development.

Ashok Leyland is taking a bold step to support India’s electric vehicle future. The well-known truck maker has announced a major partnership with CALB Group, a battery manufacturer from China. Together, they plan to make EV batteries right here in India.

This partnership is important. Why? Because batteries make up nearly half the cost of an electric truck. Right now, most of those batteries are imported. That means higher prices and lots of uncertainty, especially with global supply chains being unpredictable. Ashok Leyland wants to change that.

What’s the Plan?

Table of Contents

1. What’s the Plan?

2. Ashok Leyland’s EV Vision

3. Electric Trucks Are Already on the Road

4. What’s Next?

5. Final Words

Read More: Tata Motors to Take $4.5 Billion Loan for Iveco Acquisition

• Work with CALB to develop and manufacture LFP batteries in India.
• Invest up to ₹5,000 crore over 7–10 years.
• They’re starting out by putting battery packs together here in India. Down the line, the plan is to start making the actual cells too, not just assembling parts.
• Also, they want to set up something big—a kind of top-level research center. It’ll focus on stuff like battery chemistry, recycling and improving how these things are made.

Honestly, this isn’t some overnight fix. It’ll take years. But if it works, Ashok Leyland trucks running on locally made batteries could end up being way more affordable—and easier to keep running—than the imported ones we see now.

Ashok Leyland’s EV Vision

Shenu Agarwal, the CEO and MD of Ashok Leyland, said that India can’t afford to wait. Even though electric trucks are still new in India, with under 1% market share, the time to act is now. “We need to develop talent and innovation in India,” he said.

The company’s approach is to build slowly but steadily — starting with battery pack assembly, moving on to battery cell manufacturing and then to advanced R&D.

Electric Trucks Are Already on the Road

Did you know? Ashok Leyland has already deployed electric trucks for tough jobs — like in mines, ports and cement transport. These are places where regenerative braking (a feature in EVs that saves energy) makes a big difference.

Agarwal shared that companies like Adani are already talking to them about ordering thousands of electric trucks. The savings are huge — some customers are seeing 50–60% lower operating costs.

What’s Next?

Ashok Leyland isn’t betting only on EVs. They’re also working on LNG and hydrogen trucks. Hydrogen, in particular, might be ready for regular use in just a couple of years.

This shows the company’s flexible strategy: don’t go all in on one thing. Instead, keep exploring different clean technologies that can power future Ashok Leyland trucks.

Final Words

Ashok Leyland working with CALB isn’t just about batteries or trucks. It’s more than that. This move could help India stand on its own feet when it comes to electric vehicles. Right now, we rely too much on other countries for key parts like batteries. So, making them here matters. It’s not just smart—it’s necessary if we want to stay ahead and shape what the future of transport looks like in India.

Also Read: 2025 Mahindra Bolero Pickup: Price, Mileage and Load Capacity Details

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Frequently Asked Questions on Trucks

1. What is the purpose of Ashok Leyland’s partnership with CALB?

Ans: The goal is to localise EV battery production in India, reduce import costs and support the growth of electric trucks.

2. What types of batteries will be made through this partnership?

Ans: Ashok Leyland and CALB will initially focus on LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery packs and later expand into cell manufacturing.

3. How much will Ashok Leyland invest in this EV battery project?

Ans: Ashok Leyland plans to invest around ₹5,000 crore over the next 7–10 years as part of its long-term EV strategy.

4. Where will the new battery research and manufacturing take place?

Ans: A Global Centre of Excellence will be established in India to work on battery chemistry, recycling and advanced manufacturing technologies.

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