Uber, JSW to Jointly Develop EV Solutions Tailored for Indian Passengers and Drivers

Uber and JSW Green Mobility have signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a first step towards partnering to develop new electric vehicles to serve the Indian ride hailing market. The two companies will jointly develop and operate the vehicles, aiming to reduce costs, promote electric mobility, and serve the needs of Indian riders as well as drivers.

The MoU was signed at JSW’s Mumbai headquarters during Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s five-day visit to India last week, but has only just been announced by both companies. JSW Green Mobility is a fully-owned subsidiary of JSW Group. The companies have not specified any financial details regarding the joint effort.

A move to increase the use of electric vehicles on Uber’s platform would be in line with the Government of India’s push to speed up a transition to green mobility. No specifics of the vehicle type,  or how it would be better suited to Indian conditions, have been announced. It is possible that the companies will jointly develop multiple models to serve various ride-hailing categories.

Uber last week announced commissioning its first data centre in India, in partnership with the Adani Group. It is also set to open two new engineering campuses, in Bengaluru and Hyderabad within two years, to support its international operations and product development. The company invested ₹2,921 crore in its India operations earlier this year, even as it faces intense competition from local competitors including Rapido and Bharat Taxi.

JSW is gearing up to launch cars in India under its own brand, which will coexist with MG Motor India, its joint venture with China’s SAIC. Announcements are expected around Diwali 2026, but might be delayed due to regulatory hurdles. The first models it is expected to introduce in India are likely to be based on Chery International’s Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid SUV, iCar V23 electric SUV, Jaecoo J5 C-segment SUV, and Tiggo 7L crossover. The company is also reportedly already working on building its dealer network and planning multiple experience centres across India, and is working with KPIT as well as Tata Elxsi on software and R&D.

In addition to passenger cars, JSW also plans to enter the commercial vehicle space soon with its first electric bus, which will be manufactured at a greenfield plant being set up at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.