Hindalco supplies battery enclosures to Mahindra from Chakan plant

Hindalco Industries Ltd., part of the Aditya Birla Group, has delivered 10,000 aluminium battery enclosures to Mahindra for use in its electric SUV models, BE 6 and XEV 9e. The enclosures have been manufactured at Hindalco’s new EV component facility in Chakan, Pune.

Built with an investment of ₹500 crore and spread across five acres, the facility is intended to support the production of battery enclosures using aluminium. It currently has an annual production capacity of 80,000 units, with plans to increase it to 160,000. Over 3,000 Mahindra EVs using these enclosures are currently in use.

As per the company’s statement, the battery enclosure jointly developed by Hindalco and Mahindra is designed to be up to 40% lighter than conventional steel versions, contributing to an estimated 8–10% improvement in vehicle range. It incorporates features to meet crash safety requirements and enhance thermal management for battery cooling. The enclosure is manufactured using low-carbon aluminium.

The Chakan facility is projected to create up to 1,000 jobs. The facility’s operations include women in machine operator roles, which is uncommon in the manufacturing sector. Hindalco intends to extend its aluminium solutions to other automotive manufacturers in India and abroad, including components for both electric and internal combustion engine vehicles.

Mr. Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries Ltd., stated, “Our Chakan facility represents a strategic shift in India’s EV ecosystem from import dependence to high-performance, localised aluminium solutions. We are proud to partner with Mahindra in this journey, which not only reflects our commitment to the mobility transition but also highlights Mahindra’s leadership in driving the electrification of mobility in India. With our engineering strengths and sustainability focus, we are well-positioned to co-create the next generation of automotive solutions.”

Mr. Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.(M&M) said, “Mahindra is excited to partner with Hindalco in the creation of the EV journey. Their expertise in developing materials and strong engineering capabilities to offer new solutions have played a key role in developing efficient and sustainable battery enclosure solutions. We believe this will play a transformative role in shaping the future of mobility, delivering cutting-edge solutions that will accelerate electrification in the sector.”

With the growth of the electric vehicle sector in India and the expansion of cell manufacturing, the demand for aluminium components is projected to increase. Hindalco’s recent investment aligns with these industry trends. The company operates 52 manufacturing units across 10 countries and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for aluminium companies from 2020 to 2024.

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