Hindalco Industries Ltd., the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group and one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, has announced the successful delivery of 10,000 aluminum battery enclosures for Mahindra’s advanced e-SUV models — the BE 6 and XUV 9e. This achievement represents a major step forward in India’s clean mobility movement. Hindalco also inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art EV component manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, India’s leading automotive hub. This collaboration between Hindalco and Mahindra underscores their shared commitment to accelerating the electrification of India’s automotive sector.
Hindalco’s new facility, built with a capital investment of INR 500 crores and spanning 5 acres within an industrial park, marks the company’s entry into EV component manufacturing. Purpose-built to meet the growing demand for lightweight, crash-resistant battery enclosures, the facility underscores Hindalco’s commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility. It currently has an annual production capacity of 80,000 enclosures, with plans to expand to 160,000 units. Already, more than 3,000 Mahindra EVs equipped with these aluminum battery packs are on Indian roads.
Speaking on this development, Mr. Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries Ltd. said, “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, ED and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra (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.”
The battery enclosure co-developed with Mahindra offers up to 40% weight reduction over traditional steel designs, enabling 8–10% improvement in the vehicle’s driving range, enhanced crash safety, and significantly improved thermal management for battery cooling. Additionally, these enclosures also use low-carbon aluminium, underscoring Hindalco’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The Chakan facility is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs and aligns strongly with the government’s ‘Make in India’ vision to reduce dependence on imports. Another key highlight of the plant is its gender-diverse workforce, with nearly 100% women machine operators, a rarity in the manufacturing sector, demonstrating Hindalco’s strong commitment to inclusivity.
With this milestone, Hindalco plans to scale similar capabilities for other Indian and global OEMs, expanding its aluminium offerings to include structural and crash-relevant parts for both EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
As India’s EV value chain matures, the demand for battery-grade aluminium and associated components is expected to surge, driven by the rapid growth of giga-factories and localised cell manufacturing. Hindalco’s investment in future-focused capabilities is a strategic move to stay ahead of this curve.
