Chennai, July 2025
“We applaud SRMIST’s visionary approach to EV research. Their focus on real-world innovation and academic excellence complements Stellantis’ mission to drive sustainable mobility forward.” As stated by Stellantis India official Mr Ashwin Kaundinya, the new partnership established between SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRMIST’s Centre for Electrical Mobility (CEM) will aim at driving innovation in electric vehicle research.
Highlighting the collaboration’s impact
The collaboration leverages the advanced research environment cultivated within the CEM, to accelerate innovation, skill development, and the transformation of conceptual breakthroughs into market-ready EV technologies.
Dr. Bharatiraja Chokkalingam, Centre Head – SRM Centre for Electric Mobility commented,“Our DST-PURSE grant underscores SRMIST’s commitment to advancing electric and autonomous mobility. At the Centre for Electric Mobility, we’re creating a national platform that unites innovation, skill development, and industry-focused education, equipping students, entrepreneurs, and researchers to drive India’s sustainable mobility transition.”
An important element of this collaboration has been Stellantis India’s provisioning of two Citroën ë-C3 electric vehicles to the Centre. These EVs will serve as live research platforms, providing students and researchers immersive, hands-on experience in system testing, diagnostics, and performance optimization. This initiative allows students to work on real-world vehicles, deepening their practical knowledge and accelerating the development of job-ready EV engineers.
“At SRM IST, we are deeply committed to building an ecosystem of innovation that advances the frontiers of electric mobility, sustainability, and automobile engineering. Through strategic collaborations with industry leaders and focused investment in cutting-edge research infrastructure, we are shaping the next generation of engineers and thought leaders. Our Centre for Electrical Mobility is not just a research hub, it is a platform for excellence, real-world learning, and nation-building in the era of green transportation”, said Dr. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor, SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
The collaboration is further strengthened by close technical engagement and facility visits from Stellantis’ leadership. Together with SRMIST faculty, Stellantis experts have identified high-impact research trajectories and mapped out long-term collaboration strategies tailored to the future of electrical mobility. This includes knowledge-sharing sessions, workshops, and skill development programs to ensure that talent at SRMIST is aligned with the evolving requirements of the global automotive industry.
As mentioned by Mr. Sriram Venkataramanan of Stellantis India, “At Stellantis, we believe that the future of sustainable mobility lies in forging strong, innovation-led partnerships with academic institutions that combine deep research capabilities with real-world engineering insight.
SRM IST’s Centre for Electrical Mobility exemplifies this ideal. Their ability to translate advanced simulations into modular, production-ready EV systems validated through rigorous testing makes them a perfect partner for us. Together, we are not only co-developing next-generation electric vehicle technologies but also nurturing the talent and thinking that will drive tomorrow’s mobility solutions.”
Together, CEM and Stellantis are advancing the design, prototyping, and validation of electric vehicle technologies, while aligning academic programs with industry needs. This partnership aims to develop skilled engineers and contribute to India’s transition toward sustainable mobility.
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