PUNE, India: EKA Mobility, a leading electric vehicles and technology company based in India, is partnering with Mitsui & Co Ltd (Japan) and VDL Groep (Netherlands) to position India as the global manufacturing and sourcing hub for electric vehicles.
The cooperation is slated to involve a joint investment of over US100 million in phases.
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.
VDL Bus & Coach, a subsidiary of VDL Groep and Europe's frontrunner in electric buses and coaches will support EKA Mobility by transfer of technology to produce electric buses in India.
Dr. Sudhir Mehta, founder and chairman of EKA Mobility, said, "This partnership with Mitsui and VDL Groep represents a significant step toward making India a global hub for electric vehicle manufacturing."
Nobuyoshi Umezawa, GM of Mobility Business Division in Mitsui & Co India said, "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."
Rolf-Jan Zweep, CEO VDL Bus & Coach said, "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."
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 research, development, engineering & innovation center in Pune, Maharashtra, and has significantly grown its order book, with more than 500 electric buses and 5000+ electric light commercial vehicle orders in the pipeline.
All these vehicles will be completely designed & manufactured in India, at EKA's proposed 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.
