Cummins and Tata Group's Strategic Move Towards Sustainable Energy

In a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions, global powertrain manufacturer Cummins has expressed its intent to manufacture battery packs in India. This initiative is part of a joint venture with the Tata Group, aiming to cater to the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. Nitin Jirafe, MD of Tata Cummins, highlighted the strategic importance of this move, stating, "It's part of our strategy to include the manufacture of battery packs, though it's currently a work in progress with our customers."

Expanding the Multifuel Platform Globally

Cummins has already integrated India into its global 'multifuel' platform solution, HELM, which stands for High Efficiency, Low Emissions Multi Fuel platform. With an investment of approximately $1.4 billion in engineering and a similar amount in manufacturing globally, Cummins is setting new standards in the energy sector. The company's Jamshedpur plant is currently producing the 6.7-litre hydrogen engine, while the Phaltan plant in Maharashtra specializes in LNG engines.

Focus on Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Despite the growing trend of electrification in light and small commercial vehicles, Cummins is focusing its efforts on medium and heavy-duty vehicles. The company is exploring various options, including CNG and LNG, to meet the needs of this segment. "We are not looking at entering the small commercial vehicle or light commercial vehicle segment with our multifuel engines – our focus is on medium and heavy-duty vehicles only," Jirafe added.