Exide Industries, a major player in India’s energy storage and battery technology sector, has revealed plans to start manufacturing lithium-ion cells by the end of fiscal year 2026. The company is pushing forward with its advanced chemistry cell (ACC) capabilities, aiming to become a strong domestic supplier for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, telecom, and industrial systems.
The initiative is being carried out through Exide’s subsidiary, Exide Energy Solutions, which is developing a high-tech gigafactory in Karnataka. This facility forms part of India’s broader drive for self-reliance in clean-energy manufacturing, especially under the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme specifically tailored for ACC manufacturing.
According to Exide, construction of the gigafactory is progressing smoothly. The company says that installation of equipment and the commissioning of initial production lines are on track. In the first phase, the plant will have new cell production lines, advanced systems to process electrodes, and a full quality-control setup designed to meet global performance and safety benchmarks.
Once the factory is up and running, it could dramatically cut India’s dependence on imported lithium-ion cells. These cells are vital components not only for electric vehicles, but also for grid-level energy storage and portable electronics. Exide’s lithium-ion roadmap includes both NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistries, which allows its products to address a broad range of applications — from two- and three-wheeler EVs to large-scale renewable energy storage systems.
Exide is also strengthening its technological edge through internal R&D, strategic collaborations, and partnerships with OEMs downstream in the value chain. The company believes that by executing the gigafactory on schedule, it can play a central role in India’s transition to clean mobility and the fast-growing battery storage market.
With electric vehicle adoption rising rapidly and renewable energy installations scaling up across India, Exide’s planned lithium-ion manufacturing hub is set to become a cornerstone of the country’s long-term sustainability goals — helping to boost both industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy in the global battery landscape.
