Chinese owned AESC invest in Tata Group’s EV battery venture

12 August 2025

AESC Group, a battery manufacturer with roots in Japan, has acquired 12% stake in Tata Group’s battery venture- Agratas Energy Storage Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The deal was reportedly finalized in March 2025 and valued at approximately ₹66 crore.

AESC, originally known as Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, was established in Japan as a joint venture between Nissan, NEC, and NEC Tokin. Its acquisition by Chinese energy technology company Envision Group in 2018 marked a pivot, transforming the company into a globally recognized player with a strong focus on high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. With manufacturing facilities spanning the globe, including Japan, the U.S., the U.K., and China, AESC has a proven track record of supplying batteries to major automotive manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Renault-Nissan.

The investment from AESC is a critical boost for Agratas, which was incorporated in 2023 with the goal of establishing a robust, integrated EV battery supply chain for the Tata Group. Agratas is currently in the process of setting up gigafactories in Sanand, Gujarat (India), and Somerset (U.K.) to cater to the needs of its anchor customers, Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The partnership is expected to provide Agratas with access to AESC’s cutting-edge battery technologies and extensive industry expertise, which will be vital for scaling up production and meeting the demands of the fast-evolving EV sector. The appointment of AESC’s General Counsel, Gordon Louis Chin, to the Agratas board further solidifies this strategic alliance, indicating a deeper operational and technical collaboration.

This development is a testament to the Tata Group’s “One Tata” vision, where synergies across its various businesses—from Tata Motors and JLR as anchor customers to Tata Technologies’ digital engineering capabilities and Tata Power’s charging infrastructure—are leveraged to create a comprehensive and self-sufficient EV ecosystem. The collaboration with a global leader like AESC is expected to strengthen this ecosystem, positioning Agratas as a key player in both the domestic and international battery markets.

Reference Links

1. “Chinese-Owned AESC Acquires 12% Stake in Tata’s Agratas” – EV Mechanica
2. “Tata’s Agratas To Add 60GWh Battery Capacity By FY27” – Electronics For You BUSINESS
3. “Tata Group in talks with AESC for global battery supplies” – AutoTechInsight
4. “Automotive Energy Supply Corporation” – Wikipedia
5. “Envision AESC completes acquisition of Nissan Motor’s power battery unit” – Xinhua