Hindalco Industries, the metals arm of the Aditya Birla Group and a leading aluminium producer, has completed the delivery of 10,000 aluminium battery enclosures to Mahindra. These enclosures will be used in Mahindra’s upcoming electric SUVs, the BE 6 and the XUV 9e. The announcement was made alongside the inauguration of Hindalco’s new electric vehicle (EV) parts facility in Chakan, Pune, an important hub for the automotive industry.
The Chakan plant marks Hindalco’s entry into EV parts manufacturing. Built with an investment of ₹500 crore, the facility spans five acres. It specializes in producing lightweight, crash-resistant aluminium battery enclosures. The plant can produce 80,000 units per year, with plans to expand capacity to 160,000 units. Already, more than 3,000 Mahindra EVs fitted with these battery enclosures are operating on Indian roads.
Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries, said, “The Chakan plant marks a shift towards localized, high-performance aluminium solutions for the EV sector. Our partnership with Mahindra shows our shared commitment to cleaner mobility and supports India’s move towards electric vehicles.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO of Mahindra & Mahindra’s Auto and Farm Sector, added, “Working with Hindalco has helped us create advanced battery enclosures that improve safety, efficiency, and range. These solutions will help shape the future of mobility in India.”
The battery enclosures were jointly developed by Hindalco and Mahindra. They are made from low-carbon aluminium and provide up to 40% weight savings compared to traditional steel enclosures. This lighter weight helps improve the driving range by 8–10%. It also offers better crash resistance and improves thermal management for battery systems.
In addition to technical innovation, the Chakan facility supports the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. It aims to reduce dependence on imports and plans to create up to 1,000 jobs. A standout feature of the plant is its workforce of almost entirely women machine operators, which is a rare but progressive step in manufacturing.
Hindalco also plans to supply similar aluminium components to other domestic and international automakers. The company’s future products will include not just battery enclosures but also structural and safety-critical parts for both electric and traditional vehicles.
As India’s electric vehicle market grows, the need for battery-grade aluminium is expected to rise. The growth of giga-factories and local cell production will drive this demand. Hindalco’s investment in this space shows its forward-looking strategy to meet the needs of the evolving mobility sector.
Hindalco Industries is the flagship metals company of the Aditya Birla Group. It operates in bauxite mining, aluminium smelting, copper refining, and downstream manufacturing. Through its global subsidiary Novelis, Hindalco is the world leader in flat-rolled aluminium products and is the largest recycler of aluminium. The company runs 52 manufacturing facilities across 10 countries. For five consecutive years, it has been ranked as the world’s most sustainable aluminium producer in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.
