Hero MotoCorp plans to roll out affordable EVs this fiscal says PTI

Hero MotoCorp plans to roll out affordable EVs this fiscal says PTI

Eyeing leadership in the electric two-wheeler segment, Hero MotoCorp is looking to roll out affordable models in the current fiscal, according to CEO Niranjan Gupta.

The country's largest two-wheeler maker is also hopeful of the debut of its electric range in the international markets.

Addressing shareholders in the company's Annual Report for 2023-24, Gupta said the two-wheeler major has a roadmap to scale its electric vehicle business rapidly.

"We want to build leadership in EV, and in order to do that, we will be creating a very powerful EV product portfolio, augmenting the VIDA V1 Pro that we have today," he noted.

The company will be launching products in the mid-and affordable segments this fiscal, Gupta said.

Hero MotoCorp's VIDA electric scooter range is priced between Rs 1-1.5 lakh, including state subsidies.

Hero MotoCorp Executive Chairman Pawan Munjal said together with Ather Energy, VIDA has established India's largest public-charging infrastructure for two-wheeler EVs.

Additionally, the partnership with Zero Motorcycle will facilitate the development of new EV motorcycles targeted at a distinct customer segment, thereby expanding the overall market size, he added.

"I am particularly pleased to witness VIDA V1's rise as one of the leading electric scooters in India, and I anticipate its future launch in global markets, where it is poised to become a significant player as well," Munjal noted.

Hero MotoCorp has already expanded the presence of its EV scooter VIDA from three to over 100 cities.

"There is path-breaking innovation underway at our state-of-the-art R&D Centres at CIT Jaipur and Tech Centre Germany to create a winning portfolio in all segments," Gupta informed shareholders.

The company also plans to drive more premium products and scale up the international, accessories and merchandise businesses, he stated.

Gupta noted that while the company has a huge scale in the domestic market, it has also embarked on a similar journey to scale up its global business with a single-minded focus on the top ten markets.

"Additionally, we are tapping into opportunities to scale up our accessories and merchandise business," Gupta stated.

On premium products, he noted that last year the company launched a series of premium products, boosting the portfolio.

"We will continue to launch more premium products in the coming years," he said, outlining the company's focus on speed, scale, synergy, and simplification.

"Our premium portfolio across ICE and EV will grow exponentially, with a line-up that is committed to innovation," Gupta said.

He noted that the company enjoys a significant scale advantage.

With a customer base of 116 million, over 7,500 distribution points, a supply chain capacity of 10 million units, a presence in around 50 global markets, and a workforce of more than 25,000 employees, the two-wheeler major's scale is unparalleled, he said.

"Leveraging this scale is key to success in everything that we do. We are adopting this scale Mantra in every decision we make; our strategy is to put our might behind products and projects that can be scaled up faster," Gupta said.

The company has accelerated product development and also upgraded the sales network, he said.

"Embracing speed is crucial as we navigate rapidly changing global and consumer trends. We are now focussing on further reducing the time our products take to roll out and enhance speed by decentralised decision-making to the point where the actions reside," Gupta said.

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    Odysse Electric Delivers 1,500-Plus EV Scooters To Zypp Electric

    Odysse Electric Delivers 1,500-Plus EV Scooters To Zypp Electric

    Odysse Electric, an Indian two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) brand, has announced the successful delivery of over 1,500 electric scooters to Zypp Electric, an EV fleet operator focused on last-mile delivery services.

    With a common goal of providing sustainable transportation solutions, the partnership between Odysse Electric and Zypp Electric aims at decreasing the carbon impact of urban transit and contributing to a cleaner future. As part of the collaboration, Odysse will deliver 40,000 EVs to Zypp over the next three years.

    Nemin Vora, CEO, Odysse Electric, said, "With each scooter delivered, we move closer to making sustainable mobility a mainstream reality. We believe that electric vehicles represent the future of urban mobility, and this collaboration demonstrates the growing need for greener solutions in India's transportation environment. Collaboration with Zypp Electric has been extremely fulfilling, and we are thrilled to continue supporting their aim of offering sustainable last-mile delivery solutions. This supply of 1,500+ electric scooters is just the beginning, and we hope to increase our effect further as the demand for electric vehicles grows."

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      Mahindra Unveils EV & Battery Manufacturing Line At Chakan

      Mahindra BE Manufacturing

      Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra recently unveiled its new electric vehicle dedicated manufacturing and battery assembly facility at its Chakan plant. The fully integrated ecosystem will produce Mahindra’s Electric Origin SUVs.

      It may be recalled that the company announced an ambitious investment plan of INR 160 billion in FY2022-FY2027. This includes INR 45 billion towards powertrain development, two product top hats, including software and tech, and manufacturing capacity.

      The automaker's EV manufacturing hub incorporates highly automated manufacturing ecosystem that leverages over 1,000 robots and multiple automated transfer systems. The company aims to have 25 percent gender diversity ratio at its EV plant. The EV line incorporates a fully automated Press Shop, an AI-driven Body Shop, robotic Paint Shops to optimise quality and efficiency.

      The body shop utilises over 500 robots and a fully automated transfer system, which is monitored via an IoT-based ‘Nerve Center’ for real-time process insights and end-to-end traceability. The company has also adopted Industry 4.0 tech, AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots), and AGVs for seamless material movement.

      The battery manufacturing lines use a patented pallet design for optimal insulation and geometric accuracy and hidden cell terminal welding for enhanced connectivity and robust performance.

      Mahindra said it will perform multi-layered end-of-line testing simulating real-world conditions, backed by IP67 ingress protection, real-time temperature monitoring, and automated anomaly isolation.

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        Mahindra Announces Top Variant Prices Of BE 6 And XEV 9e

        Mahindra Announces Top Variant Prices Of BE 6 And XEV 9e

        Mahindra has announced the prices for the top-end (Pack Three) variant of its flagship Electric Origin SUVs, the BE 6 and XEV 9e. The BE 6 Pack Three is priced at INR 2.69 million, whereas the XEV 9e Pack Three is priced at INR 3.05 million.

        Mahindra's goal of democratising high-end technology is highlighted by Pack Three, which stands for the pinnacle of luxury, state-of-the-art features and unparalleled performance. In response to consumers' increasing preference for high-end EVs, Mahindra will only introduce Pack Three for the BE 6 and XEV 9e during the first phase. Mahindra has also introduced the ‘Three for Me’ finance programme, which ensures that Pack Three variants can be owned at the same monthly EMI as Pack One, with a balloon payment at the end of six years. With this arrangement, the BE 6 Pack Three will be available at a monthly EMI of INR 39,224 and the XEV 9E Pack Three will be available at a monthly EMI of INR 45,450.

        Phased test drives for the SUVs will commence on 14 January 2025 and the bookings will open on 14 February 2025, with deliveries expected to begin in early March 2025.

        Veejay Nakra, President – Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and Joint Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, said, “The response to our Electric Origin SUVs has been phenomenal, with customers showing a strong inclination towards high-end technology and premium features. In response, we will initiate bookings only for the feature-loaded Pack Three in 79 kWh for both BE 6 and XEV 9e on 14 February 2025, which is Valentine’s Day. With its 79-kWh battery delivering over 500 km of real-world range, customers can be free from range anxiety. Our vision is to make premium EVs mainstream, and with our ‘Three for Me’ finance programme, we ensure these vehicles remain accessible, aiming for a total monthly target of 5,000 units in Phase 1.”

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          EKA Mobility To Launch India’s Largest Range Of Electric Commercial Vehicles At Bharat Mobility

          EKA Mobility To Launch India’s Largest Range Of Electric Commercial Vehicles At Bharat Mobility

          EKA Mobility has announced that it will launch the country’s largest range of electric commercial vehicles at the Bharat Mobility Auto Expo 2025. The premier mobility show is scheduled to be held between 17 January 2025 and 22 January 2025 in Delhi. 
          The range of electric commercial vehicles the company will unveil will amount to over 11 platforms such as electric buses that cover city, intercity and shuttle applications with industry-leading technology; electric trucks that feature medium and heavy-duty variants designed for intra-city and long-haul logistics, and electric small commercial vehicles that are modular and scalable. They also capable of catering to niche and specific applications for both passenger and cargo transportation.
          The company will also debut EKA Connect at the show. It is a state-of-the-art fleet management platform designed to optimise vehicle performance and enhance operational efficiency.
          Speaking about the company’s plans for Bharat Mobility show, Dr Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman, EKA Mobility and Pinnacle Industries Limited, expressed, “With the launch of our largest range of electric commercial vehicles, we are introducing a new era of intelligent and sustainable transportation. It is a testament to India’s growing leadership in electric mobility innovation and manufacturing. Our new range redefines what is possible in sustainable transportation, combining innovation, versatility, and performance to meet the diverse needs of businesses and communities."
          Recognised under the Government’s Auto PLI scheme, EKA Mobility has Mitsui & Co. (Japan) and VDL Groep (Netherlands) as equity partners. 
           

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