Covid surge in China has Indian EV makers nervous

The Indian electric vehicle (EV) industry could be bracing up for yet supply chain disruption as China experiences its worst wave of Covid-19 infections, causing disruption in battery cell producing factories and other critical components which power EVs.

Battery pack makers in India, who depend on suppliers from China, believe that by the time the authorities are able to bring the pandemic under control, the country will shut down for the Chinese New Year in the second half of January.

None of the Indian EV producers have clarity on supplies beyond January because cell orders for deliveries expected in February are yet to be awarded. The deliveries to be received in January, the orders for which were placed weeks ago, are either in transit or are lying at warehouses within China, say Indian importers.