Hyderabad-based KalyEmotors, linked to Kaiyi Auto, is making its entrée into India’s burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market with plans to introduce a Chinese-made electric SUV. Dubbed the KALYS86 and based on the global Skyworth EV6 model, the rebadged vehicle has already been spotted undergoing tests on the streets of Hyderabad, indicating that development and localization work have well and truly begun.
The Skyworth Auto partnership with KalyEmotors came together in a framework cooperation agreement to plan the launch in India of a new energy passenger vehicle. KalyEmotors, tasked with localisation, technical adaptation and market development, has also been considering a hefty investment and CKD assembly set-up, possibly in Telangana, for the launch of the vehicle.
The EV6 itself has been seen in the region before, including at the Telangana Rising Global Summit, where branding was discussed and shown – a clear indication of its rebadging plan for the Indian market.The mid-size electric SUV (the KALYS86 branding) would bring the established underpinnings of the Skyworth EV6 to Indian roads. Seen as a compact crossover with an array of battery sizes on offer, a competitive claimed range and a host of features for the everyday family, the EV6 is being adapted and branded locally to be positioned as an accessible new entrant in India’s increasingly competitive electric SUV segment.
The recent sightings of test vehicles in Hyderabad are a sign of the real-world progress being made. Testing on Indian roads is a crucial part of the development process for any new EV entrant, allowing engineers to fine-tune performance, thermal management, charging behaviour and overall durability in the specific conditions encountered in the country. For a city like Hyderabad, already rising as an electric mobility hotspot, the sight of these prototypes is a further indicator of the project’s progress.
The arrival of the KALYS86 represents a further chapter in the growing story of Chinese EVs entering the Indian market through local partnerships. With KalyEmotors at the helm, the rebadged Skyworth EV6-based SUV is steadily progressing from planning and display stages to public roads. With testing ongoing, the spotlight will now turn to pricing, specifications and the official launch timing which will indicate how soon the KALYS86 can be added to India’s growing list of electric SUV options.