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India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart announced it has partnered with Mahindra Logistics Limited (MLL) who will help fast-track deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) across its logistics fleet in the country.
MLL through its own electric delivery brand ‘EDEL’ will enable Flipkart in its journey towards building a green supply chain by not only deploying a large fleet of EVs but also creating a conducive environment for EV deployment and operations across the country. This includes building supporting infrastructure and technology such as charging stations and parking lots, training workforce, route planning and even battery swapping stations in the near future. Another key focus area will be technology and control tower operations to enable greater efficiency and cost competitiveness.
Flipkart has already partnered with many OEMs and introduced two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles in its supply chain. The company’s partnership with MLL EDEL will further propel this momentum and help in deployment at a national scale, further enhanced by infrastructure and technology support that spans charging, tracking, asset, safety, and cost.
MLL, under its brand EDEL, will be procuring different types and classes of electric vehicles from OEMs as it establishes a pan-India EV presence. EDEL already operates a large fleet of EVs, and now aims to scale up the same significantly to support Flipkart’s objectives in the coming months. EDEL’s robust multi-city presence across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, with a plan to cover the top 20 cities by year end, will help facilitate a seamless and phased transition to EVs for Flipkart’s pan-India supply chain.
Hemant Badri, SVP- Supply Chain, Flipkart Group said, “Electrification of the logistics fleet is an important part of Flipkart’s larger sustainability goal and a key focus area for the company. We are happy to have Mahindra Logistics on-board as a logistics partner, who will play a major role in helping us achieve our vision of making our logistics fleet fully electric by 2030. Through collective efforts, we aim to build and support solutions that boost EV adoption across the country and gradually make a 100% transition to EVs in our logistics fleet.”
Rampraveen Swaminathan, CEO & MD at MLL said, “Mahindra Logistics is deeply committed to sustainability, in line with our RISE philosophy. The EV based last mile delivery service EDEL is aligned to this and provides customers with a sustainable, cost competitive and technology enabled last-mile delivery solution. Our focus is on expanding our network based on our deep partnership with large enterprise customers. We are pleased about this engagement with Flipkart and look forward to partnering with them.”
With a shared commitment and vision towards sustainable business practices, Mahindra Logistics has already launched EDEL in late 2020. EDEL has partnered with companies in consumer and e-commerce to provide sustainable last-mile delivery across six cities in India.
EDEL by Mahindra Logistics is a last-mile delivery cargo service on EVs. EDEL provides multiple offerings, including package and trip-based services. These offerings provide customers with a scalable, sustainable and cost-efficient solution. With a load capacity and enhanced range that compares well with existing ICE options, EDEL gives customers in the e-commerce, FMCG, pharmaceutical, consumer durables and electronics industries a significant edge in efficient and responsible distribution and last-mile delivery solutions.
Flipkart has also recently announced its partnership with leading electric vehicle manufacturers, including Hero Electric, Mahindra Electric and Piaggio, to deploy EVs in its logistics fleet across the country. In line with its sustainability vision, the company has also been working closely with several ecosystem partners on many aspects of electric mobility, including vehicle design, range, load capacity, etc. to build customised vehicles that are best suited for the e-commerce industry.
Flipkart has committed to 100% electric mobility in its logistics fleet and will deploy more than 25,000 EVs by 2030.
The Ministry of Railways has approved the appointment of Ajit Kumar Panda as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR). The appointment was cleared by the Competent Authority through an order dated June 29, 2026, and will take effect when Panda assumes office on or after August 1, 2026. According to the company, Panda's tenure will continue until August 31, 2028, the date of his superannuation, or until further government orders, whichever comes earlier. He will serve in the ₹2,00,000–3,70,000 (IDA) pay scale. CONCOR also stated that the remaining statutory formalities under the Companies Act, 2013, and the SEBI Listing Regulations are currently being completed, with the necessary disclosures to be filed with the stock exchanges in due course. Currently serving as Director (Projects & Services) at CONCOR, Panda was recommended for the top position by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) in April 2026 following a competitive selection process involving senior executives from the railways, infrastructure and logistics sectors. Panda brings decades of experience in rail infrastructure, freight transportation and project execution. Before joining CONCOR, he worked as Executive Director (Mechanical Engineering and Project Planning & Development) at Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). During his career in Indian Railways, he has also held several key positions, including Director (Production Units and Efficiency & Research) at the Railway Board and Chief Workshop Manager at East Coast Railway's Mancheswar Workshop. He has additionally served in multiple leadership roles under South Eastern Railway. His professional experience extends beyond railway operations. Panda has represented the rail sector on the boards of several special purpose vehicle companies, including Haridaspur Paradip Railway Company Limited, Angul Sukinda Railway Limited, Kutch Railway Company Limited, and Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited, contributing to the development of critical rail connectivity projects. The selection followed a competitive PESB process drawing from senior executives across logistics, railways, infrastructure and government — a reminder of the depth of talent India’s public sector logistics ecosystem has built. The leadership transition comes at a time when CONCOR is navigating a challenging business environment. For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the company reported a 12.38% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit to ₹262.65 crore, while revenue from operations slipped 1.1% to ₹2,263.30 crore. Industry observers expect Panda's extensive operational experience in multimodal logistics and rail freight infrastructure to play a significant role in driving the company's next phase of growth and modernization.
India has launched its first permanent research institution focused exclusively on the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics, marking a new step in the government's efforts to strengthen data-driven infrastructure planning and freight policy. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) have signed an agreement to establish the NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics. The facility will operate from NCAER and serve as an independent platform for research on transport networks, freight movement, mobility systems and logistics efficiency. The centre is expected to support policymakers with economic analysis related to highway development, freight logistics, multimodal transport integration and infrastructure investment. Research findings will be used to inform long-term planning and decision-making across the road transport sector. According to officials, the institution will examine issues including highway economics, tolling frameworks, asset monetisation, road safety, technology adoption and the broader economic impact of transport infrastructure projects. The research agenda will also cover logistics performance and connectivity challenges affecting supply chains. NHAI will provide long-term support for the initiative, while NCAER will lead research activities and engage with academic institutions, industry stakeholders and policy experts. An advisory structure comprising economists, transportation specialists and public policy professionals will guide the centre's work. Beyond academic research, the centre is expected to publish policy papers, industry reports and analytical studies aimed at government agencies and infrastructure planners. It will also host consultations and knowledge-sharing programmes focused on transportation and logistics policy. The launch comes as India continues to expand its national highway network and invest in logistics infrastructure to reduce freight costs, improve supply chain efficiency and support economic growth. Industry observers view the creation of a dedicated transport economics research institution as a move toward more evidence-based policymaking in one of the country's fastest-growing infrastructure sectors. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
CEVA Logistics and BYD have strengthened their long-standing collaboration by signing a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aimed at enhancing global automotive logistics operations and supporting the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer’s accelerating international expansion. The agreement marks a significant step forward in the strategic relationship between the two companies and underscores the growing importance of resilient, sustainable, and integrated supply chains in the automotive sector. Signed in Marseille, France, the new MOU broadens the scope of cooperation between CEVA Logistics and BYD, building on an existing partnership that has supported the automaker’s global growth ambitions. The agreement will focus on delivering end-to-end logistics solutions across multiple regions, leveraging CEVA’s extensive logistics network and operational expertise alongside BYD’s expanding footprint in more than 100 countries across six continents. Under the expanded partnership, the companies will collaborate on key logistics functions, including route planning, capacity management, warehousing and distribution, customs coordination, localized operations, and comprehensive delivery management. The agreement also places a strong emphasis on developing low-carbon logistics solutions, reflecting both companies’ commitment to sustainability and supply chain decarbonization. The enhanced partnership comes at a time when BYD is rapidly scaling its global manufacturing and distribution capabilities to meet rising demand for electric vehicles. As automotive supply chains become increasingly complex, logistics providers are expected to play a critical role in ensuring operational continuity, inventory visibility, and efficient cross-border movement of vehicles and components. The collaboration is designed to address these challenges through greater supply chain integration and localized logistics support. In recognition of CEVA’s performance and service reliability, BYD also presented the logistics provider with its “Best Carrier of the Year 2026” award during the signing ceremony. The recognition highlights CEVA’s contribution to supporting BYD’s automotive logistics requirements and its ability to deliver agile, customer-focused logistics solutions in a rapidly evolving market. The latest agreement further reinforces the growing collaboration between logistics providers and EV manufacturers as the industry seeks scalable, sustainable, and resilient supply chain models. With global EV demand continuing to rise, partnerships such as the one between CEVA Logistics and BYD are expected to play a pivotal role in enabling efficient vehicle distribution and supporting international market expansion. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
