JSW Group Pursues Global Tech for EV Battery Manufacturing

The Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group (

) is in talks with Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean companies to acquire the technology and expertise for its ambitious lithium-ion battery project. The goal is to build a vertically integrated EV ecosystem in India, with an initial focus on battery energy storage systems before moving to cell manufacturing. → Partnership and Technology Talks: The group is in discussions with at least four Chinese firms, including Gotion, Cospowers, Svolt, and Soundon, for its factory in Cuttack, Odisha. Talks have also been held with a Japanese delegation of 30 companies, including Panasonic and Asahi Kasei, to secure raw material supply. → Ambitious Capacity and Phased Rollout: JSW Group has a phased plan to achieve 50 GWh of EV battery capacity by 2032. The first phase, by 2027, aims for 10 GWh and will focus on acquiring cell technology know-how. The second phase, from 2028-2030, will add 20 GWh, followed by another 20 GWh in the third phase by 2032. → Strategic Vision and Market Dominance: JSW plans to invest in the upstream value chain of battery cell manufacturing, including materials like cathode and anode active materials. The company's battery strategy will be implemented through its subsidiaries, JSW Green Mobility and JSW Bess. The group is specifically looking to develop batteries using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), a chemistry dominated by China. JSW's vertical integration strategy aims to manufacture all value components in India, avoiding reliance on foreign firms. → Competitor Landscape: JSW is entering a market with several other major Indian players working on lithium-ion battery gigafactories, including , , , and . → Strategic Investments: JSW has already invested over ₹1,000 crore in its automobile manufacturing subsidiary. The company is also in discussions to raise $300 million for its joint venture with China's SAIC, JSW MG Motor India.