Amara Raja Partners with Piaggio for LFP Li-Ion Cells and Chargers

Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Limited (ARE&M) has announced several significant developments in its efforts to advance the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage sectors.

The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies Private Limited (ARACT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, the 100% Indian subsidiary of the Italian auto giant Piaggio Group.

This strategic partnership aims to collaborate on the development and supply of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) cells and chargers for Piaggio’s electric vehicles. The cells and battery packs will be produced locally at Amara Raja’s Gigafactory in Divitipally, Telangana.

This new agreement builds on a successful partnership that began in 2020. During this period, Amara Raja has manufactured and supplied 50,000 NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) Li-ion battery packs and EV chargers exclusively to Piaggio India. These products have supported a cumulative distance of over 120 crore kilometres, highlighting the reliability and performance of Amara Raja’s technology in real-world applications.

The MoU with Piaggio comes on the heels of another significant development for Amara Raja. The company recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Customer Qualification Plant (CQP) and the foundation stone laying ceremony at Divitipally, Mahabubnagar district. The event was marked by the presence of distinguished guests, including Steven Cai, Board Member and President of Gotion EMEA; Diego Graffi, CMD of Piaggio Vehicles India; Ashish Jangale, VP and Head SSU at Mahindra & Mahindra; Swapnil Jain, Co-founder of Ather Energy; and Jayadev Galla, Chairman and Managing Director of ARE&M, among other industry and government dignitaries.

Phase 1 of the battery pack plant, with an initial capacity of 1.5 GWh, was inaugurated. This facility is designed to produce Li-ion battery packs specifically tailored to Indian conditions and will cater to both EV original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and stationary energy storage needs. The CQP, set to be operational by the first quarter of the next financial year, will focus on producing various cell types for customer testing and validation.

The Gigafactory and the associated Giga Corridor spread across 260 acres, represent a massive investment of ₹9,500 crore, projected to be completed by 2031. This investment will support the development of advanced cell manufacturing capabilities, including the battery pack facility and a state-of-the-art energy research and innovation centre in Hyderabad, known as the ePositive Energy Labs.

Amara Raja’s recent MoU with Piaggio and the inauguration of the new facilities underscore the company’s commitment to driving innovation in the EV sector and supporting the growth of sustainable transportation solutions in India.

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