Mahindra unveils GenZe electric two wheeler and facility in Michigan
09 May 2014
India-based Mahindra Group inaugurated the Mahindra GenZe electric two-wheeler facility and the Mahindra North American Technical Center (MNATC) in Southeast Michigan. Mahindra already has a presence in the United States with IT companies—Tech Mahindra and Bristlecone—as well as the world’s number one selling tractor brand based on volume. The new Technical Center adds to this footprint and reflects the Group’s continued commitment to North America.
The GenZe by Mahindra is the first urban transportation vehicle to be offered by the Mahindra Group. The compact unit has a top speed of 30 mph (48 km/h) and a range of 30 miles (48 km). Mahindra GenZe selected Ann Arbor, Michigan for its manufacturing facility following a nationwide search. This facility has the capacity to assemble up to 9,000 vehicles per year, with the ability to ramp up to 20,000 vehicles if needed.
The new MNATC facility in Troy, Michigan provides both engineering expertise as well as vehicle prototyping capabilities in support of Mahindra’s aggressive strategy to become a top global automotive brand within the next 10 years.
Mahindra GenZe was founded in 2012 and headquartered in Palo Alto, CA with a goal to develop sustainable urban transportation solutions. The GenZe vehicle is being designed, engineered and manufactured in Ann Arbor.
The web site itself doesn't mention range, charging time or charging requirements anywhere I could find.
How do these people expect to get customers, when the things that prospective customers most need to know are deliberately hidden?
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 09 May 2014 at 09:51 AM
WTF, another comment disappeared?
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 09 May 2014 at 01:33 PM
"The compact unit has a top speed of 30 mph (48 km/h) and a range of 30 miles (48 km)."
Assuming you could use a quick charger at a local Starbucks we would have to see U.S. acceptance. Most people may not want to get hit by an SUV on one of these.
Posted by: SJC | 10 May 2014 at 06:30 AM
The world may need very high speed (120+/mph) highways (w/high fees = ($0.04 to $0.08/mile) for trucks, race cars and heavy SUVs and 'no cost' regular scenic roads for lower speed (50 mph or so), lighter (less than 2,000 lbs), low noise, 2, 3 and 4 wheel vehicles?
Those two road systems already exist in USA, EU and many other places.
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 May 2014 at 09:17 AM
Somebody at Mahindra must have fallen on his head to want to build e-two wheelers in USA instead of building them in India or China.
Or, is this another way to get around USA's aggressive 'buy American' policy and not have to fight against heavy unfair import duties and obscure variable technical barriers?
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 May 2014 at 09:15 AM