The recent surge in demand for two wheelers and the subsequent rise in demand for batteries had seen a direct affect on Exide Industries Ltd., India's largest maker of automotive batteries. The company expects to increase its sales margin to OEMs from 70 percent to 90 percent and boost its motorcycle battery manufacturing capacity by as much as 60 percent within one year. To achieve this ambitious growth, Exide plans to invest as much as 4 billion rupees into adding capacity to boost production. Exide Industries Ltd. Currently sells the SF Sonic and Exide brands of automotive batteries in India.
[Via: BikeIndia]
The India based Munjals group Hero has launched the country's first ever high-speed electric bikes. Priced at Rs37,400/ the initial launch is in UP followed by other cities in the country. E-Spirit, christened as the bikes rides out, the vehicle will meet the norms of environment protection and the budget of the buyers.
With the single charge, the vehicle will run upto 65km at a maximum speed of 45km/hour. The company seeks VAT exemption from the UP government on the grounds of environment pollution safety. 11 governments have offered VAT exemption for this vehicle in the country.
Ultra Motor Company will launch three new electric scooters in India by 2010. There is a rising demand for electric scooters in India and the company intends to cater to this demand in the country. It will launch one high end-scooter and two low priced models in India by next year. It already sells three models - Marathon, Marathon Light (low speed) and Velocity (high speed). All the models fall in the range of Rs. 18,000 - 34,000.
The new high speed model slated for the launch next year will be imported as completely-built from its mother plant in the UK. The company intends to invest Rs. 150 crores in India to increase its production capacity as well to manufacture the upcoming new low-priced models. It has already achieved a sales figure of 24,000 units in India last year which account for 22 percent of the total sale of electric vehicles in India.
[Via: cartradeindia]
