Micromax Co-Founder Plans to Launch Electric Two-Wheelers in India

The co-founder of Micromax is set to bring an electric two wheeler, which will run up to 150 km on a single charge.

This image has been used for representational purposes.

(Photo: The Quint)

Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma is shifting his focus from mobile phones to electric motorcycles in India with a new brand. The company, which has struggled to brave the Chinese mobile brands onslaught, resulted in Sharma looking at other avenues for business in the country.

And looking to ride the wave or interest for electric vehicles, Sharma is keen to hit the ground running this year.

According to a report in The Times of India, Sharma has been quoted saying that his upcoming brand will launch in the next few months, and mostly import its components from China.

In the report, Sharma says he has been working on his electric vehicle (EV) project over the past two years and he will be launching this brand and its product without any of his partners from his Micromax days.

I have done my homework in the EV space, and now intend to disrupt the two-wheeler industry. The idea is to create a product similar to Hero’s Splendor and Bajaj’s Pulsar but in electric form.

<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/micromax-co-founder-sharma-plans-to-bring-e-motorcycle/articleshow/68589357.cms">Rahul Sharma, co-founder, Micromax to TOI</a>

Divulging further details about the upcoming product, Sharma says this electric two-wheeler will offer a range of up to 150 km on a single charge. This bike will be manufactured at a facility in Manesar, situated in the outskirts of Delhi NCR. To kick start its journey, the product will be first available in Delhi by end of June 2019, he said.

However, we’re yet to know more about the name of the brand and also the price bracket that Sharma will be targeting with this product. Sharma has set up an R&D team of 45 members to study the feasibility of such a product in the country.

Sharma’s upcoming brand will also go up against local startups like Tork.

The battery cells and motor for the two-wheeler will be imported from China, but the EV Control Unit will be made in India.

<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/micromax-co-founder-sharma-plans-to-bring-e-motorcycle/articleshow/68589357.cms">Rahul Sharma, co-founder, Micromax to TOI</a>

Sharma is banking on support from the government, which is looking to give special benefits and subsidies to manufacturers of EVs in the country.

He’s confident of pulling off this unique product, mostly from his previous experience with starting up a homegrown brand like Micromax, which back then had to compete with giants like Nokia and Samsung among others. This time around, he’ll have to compete with brands like Hero MotorCorp, Bajaj and TVS among others, but with a completely different challenge on his hands.

Having said that, the scope for EVs in India is huge and instead of looking at cars, experts have suggested that focusing on two-wheeler and public transport could be the right way to go.