"An e-scooter in 2 seconds" – claims Ola CEO

After Tesla, Ola is planning to start an e-scooter factory in Tamil Nadu, India. Ola signed a Rs 2,400 crore MoU with the Tamil Nadu government in December last year and began construction in February this year. Unlike Tesla, electric vehicles by Ola will target the large masses in India by targeting the two-wheeler segment in the country. On the contrary, Tesla is focusing on the premium and luxury segment in India. Some of the largest manufacturers of electric scooters and bikes in India are Hero, YObykes, Lohia Auto, Avon, Terra Motors. Ola is targeting to start production in full swing and introduce the electric vehicle on Indian roads by June 2021. The company has plans to eventually manufacture four-wheelers but it will start with scooters and motorcycles.

The Tamil Nadu site is a 500-acre land having an annual capacity to manufacture two million vehicles. The company said that the factory will be fully ready by the summers of 2022 and is targeting a manufacturing capacity of 10 million units annually by then ie. 15% of the world’s e-scooters. It claims to be the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer. Ola will focus on a direct-to-consumer approach with a focus on digital sales. It will partner with investors Hyundai and Kia. The company will also be focusing on exports. Ola Group CEO claims to push one e-scooter every two seconds engaging 3000 robots and employing 10,000 people at the site.

Hero Electric Scooters

The e-scooter will come with two batteries that can be charged anywhere, taking just 1 hour to charge, and it will be priced competitively ie. somewhere in between Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. While Tesla’s entry into India is expected to accelerate EVs in the country, Ola’s e-scooter factory in India is one step closer to “Make in India“. Ola’s vision of entering the two-wheeler market is exemplary as Indian roads are swarmed by uncountable scooters and motorcycles spewing deathly fumes. Two-wheelers are also very popular in rural and tier-2 towns and cities in India. If the price range is reasonable, this move will surely go a long way in reducing air pollution and generating employment opportunities in the country.

Also, read Why India Needs to Drive an All-Electric Scooter Today