New Delhi, March 3 -- India's top carmakers are seeking alternative sources for lithium-ion cells that go into electric vehicle batteries as they seek to secure supply to counter China's unpredictable curbs.

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, the country's second-largest carmaker, has begun talks with Germany's Volkswagen Group, which has a lithium-ion cell subsidiary PowerCo, for future supply, the company said at Kotak Institutional Equities' Annual Investor Conference last week.

While Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd will depend on its group firm Agratas, Hyundai Motor India Ltd has inked a partnership with Exide Industries Ltd to procure locally made cells from the gigafactory under construction in Bengaluru.

Lithium-ion batteries accoun...