Brands
LML partners with former Harley Davidson manufacturing facility in India
MUMBAI : Laying the groundwork for a long-term future in the EV business in India, LML Electric on Thursday announced a strategic partnership with Saera Electric Auto, which formerly handled manufacturing for global major – Harley Davidson.
The company will use Saera’s facility located in the auto hub of Bawal in Haryana to produce its disruptive range of upcoming electric vehicles. “The highly advanced and innovative infrastructure of Saera, backed by its historical competence in manufacturing will now be leveraged to develop the much talked about and anticipated EV range of products from the LML electric stable,” the company said in a statement.
LML highlighted that it intends to build a future-ready manufacturing facility using Saera’s technology and processes. It termed the partnership as one of the first of many steps for LML to transition into a 100 per cent ‘Make in India’ company by end of 2025.
“The manufacturing plant, which spans 2,17,800 square feet and has a capacity of 18,000 units per month, is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure. It’s prior excellence in manufacturing for global behemoths would offer a distinct edge in streamlining, scaling up, and providing world-class quality assurance to LML, making this a very promising collaboration,” it said in the statement
LML CEO Yogesh Bhatia said Saera was the company’s first choice because it holds unparalleled expertise and reputation with some of the world’s premier auto brands. “With this alliance as we aspire to create a brand that is 100 per cent localised and has an impeccable quality assurance that is world-class. We foresee an immediate need for automakers to reduce their dependence on imports and build an infrastructure that is designed and capable to address the rapidly growing demand in India and the world over. We are confident that this partnership will be a stepping stone in our vision to redefine and reimagine the future of EV manufacturing in India to bring the country at par with global manufacturing standards.”
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
