Tag: Dr. Sudhir Mehta

  • EKA Mobility & GreenCell Mobility sign MoU to roll out 1000 electric buses

    EKA Mobility & GreenCell Mobility sign MoU to roll out 1000 electric buses

    Mumbai: EKA Mobility, an electric vehicles & technology company (with Mitsui Co., Ltd. & VDL Group as equity partners), and GreenCell Mobility, a player in the electric mass mobility space, announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under this collaboration, EKA Mobility will supply GreenCell Mobility with 1000 intercity electric buses in 12-meter and 13.5-meter categories, in the next few years. EKA Mobility and GreenCell Mobility are committed to working closely together to drive positive change in the global automobile sector by producing industry leading electric buses to transform public transportation.

    EKA Mobility founder & chairman Dr. Sudhir Mehta, emphasized the strategic synergy, saying, “Our collaboration with GreenCell Mobility is strategically positioned to usher in a cleaner, more sustainable future through electric mass transportation. Public transportation, especially the intercity bus transportation is the primary mode of transport for more than 50 per cent of Indians. Electrification of public transportation will pave the way for cleaner air, quieter streets, more efficient, convenient, safer, and cost-effective travel for all. At EKA, we are committed to developing sustainable, environmentally conscious, and profitable products. By combining our expertise, we hope to set new standards in commercial electric mobility, contributing considerably to the nation’s sustainability objectives.”

    In response to the MoU signing, GreenCell Mobility, MD & CEO Devndra Chawla commented, “We are delighted to announce our collaboration with EKA Mobility, a leader in the electric vehicle domain. This partnership not only strengthens our position in the market but also significantly aligns with our long-term vision for sustainable mobility. At GreenCell mobility as market leaders, we are setting a new benchmark in the industry. Our combined efforts are poised to transform public transportation, offering a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly solution. This initiative is a significant stride towards our commitment to innovation and sustainability, and it underscores our dedication to a greener, more sustainable future. We are excited about the possibilities this partnership opens up and are committed to leading the charge in the evolution of electric mobility.”

    EKA Mobility shall be responsible for supply, sales, and service of these buses, along with delivering quality certification reports to ensure the highest standards in this collaborative endeavour. The supply of 1000 electric buses are expected to have a large and positive impact on our environment. The associated figures illustrate the potential benefits, estimating annual fuel cost savings of Rs 70 crores and the avoidance of 120 lakh gallons of diesel, which is equivalent to growing 15 lakh trees. Furthermore, an estimated 6 lakh individuals will benefit every day from an improved and sustainable public transit infrastructure. Overall, this initiative is expected to result in a projected saving of 32400 Tonnes of CO2 emissions, greatly contributing to the reduction of tailpipe emissions and building a cleaner, more sustainable future.

    This collaboration underscores major national and worldwide initiatives towards sustainability, recognizing the critical need for cleaner and more environmentally friendly transportation options. EKA Mobility and GreenCell Mobility’s collaborative initiatives represent an important step towards a greener India and a cleaner world.

    EKA Mobility is one of the commercial vehicle manufacturers approved under the Champion OEM Scheme & EV component manufacturing scheme of the Government of India’s Auto PLI policy. EKA is one of the only Indian companies offering end-to-end design, manufacturing & technology of electric new energy commercial vehicles from scratch in India. The company has set up a state-of-the-art research, development, engineering & innovation center in Pune, Maharashtra, and has significantly grown its order book, with more than 700 electric buses and more than 5000 electric light commercial vehicle orders in the pipeline. All these vehicles will be completely designed & manufactured in India, at EKA’s proposed & existing state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In the last two years, the company has introduced electric city bus, staff carrier & school bus, 9-meter hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus, and is now all set to enter the last mile delivery with its range of e-LCVs designed & customized to suit Indian customers and businesses.

  • EKA Mobility partners with Mitsui and VDL Groep to form a top global OEM in India

    EKA Mobility partners with Mitsui and VDL Groep to form a top global OEM in India

    Mumbai: EKA Mobility, a leading electric vehicles & technology company based in India, is thrilled to announce a partnership with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Japan) and VDL Groep (Netherlands). This strategic cooperation marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Indian automotive industry, propelling India toward becoming a global hub for sustainable transportation. The alliance is set to establish most cutting-edge global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the region.

    This is one of the largest and most significant partnerships in the new mobility segment in India bringing together the strengths and expertise of three leading automotive conglomerates in Asia & Europe to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative electric mobility solutions globally. Under the cooperation, EKA Mobility, known for its cutting-edge electric vehicles and comprehensive EV ecosystem, will receive significant and strategic investments from Mitsui, a global trading and investment company with a rich history of contributing to industrial innovation, and technological support & equity partnership from VDL Groep, a leading Dutch technology and manufacturing company. The combined expertise and resources of the three entities will usher in a new era of sustainable transportation and manufacturing excellence.

    Key Highlights of the cooperation:

    1.   Strategic Investment: Mitsui & Co., Ltd. will make significant financial investments in EKA Mobility, enabling the company to scale up its manufacturing operations and expand its product portfolio. Mitsui will also provide support to EKA for exports to select emerging markets as well as establishment of systems & process.

    2.   Technological Leadership: As part of this partnership, VDL Bus & Coach, a subsidiary of VDL Groep and Europe’s frontrunner in electric buses & coaches will support EKA Mobility by transfer of technology to produce electric buses in India for the Indian market.

    3.   Strengthening ‘Make in India’: The alliance is firmly aligned with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, aimed at promoting local manufacturing and job creation.

    4.   Sustainability: The cooperation emphasizes a commitment to sustainability and environment conscious mobility solutions, furthering the reduction of carbon footprints.

    EKA Mobility founder & chairman Dr. Sudhir Mehta expressed his views about the cooperation, stating, “This partnership with Mitsui and VDL Groep represents a significant step toward making India a global hub for electric vehicle manufacturing. We are proud to join forces with such distinguished partners who share our vision of sustainable, profitable & efficient transportation.”

    Mitsui & Co India GM of mobility business division Nobuyoshi Umezawa, “Through the cooperation of EKA, VDL, and Mitsui, we aim to contribute to “Make in India” by leveraging EKA’s excellent engineering and local network, and VDL’s cutting-edge technological capabilities. Furthermore, we would like to utilize our Mitsui’s global network to promote exporting EKA’s competitive products to overseas markets and contribute to creating eco-friendly societies”.

    VDL Bus & Coach CEO Rolf-Jan Zweep, “We are delighted to partner with EKA Mobility and Mitsui. Although the basis of our high-quality development and manufacturing competences lie in north-western Europe, we see many opportunities in India, which is obviously a promising growth market. With this cooperation, we foresee especially many synergy benefits in the areas of procurement and development”.  

    EKA Mobility is one of the commercial vehicle manufacturers approved under the Champion OEM Scheme & EV component manufacturing scheme of the Government of India’s Auto PLI policy. EKA is the only Indian company offering end-to-end design, manufacturing & technology of new energy vehicles from scratch in India. The company has set up a state-of-the-art research, development, engineering & innovation center in Pune, Maharashtra, and has significantly grown its order book, with more than 500 electric buses and 5000 plus electric light commercial vehicle orders in the pipeline. All these vehicles will be completely designed & manufactured in India, at EKA’s proposed state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In last two years, the company has introduced an electric city bus, staff carrier & school bus, nine-meter hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus, and is now all set to enter the last mile delivery with its range of e-LCVs designed & customized to suit Indian customers and businesses.