Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra is eyeing various global markets, including Bhutan, to drive up its electric vehicle sales as the response for electric cars has been tepid so far in India, where the company had launched e2O electric car last year.
The company, which sold less than 500 cars in India last year, is now aiming to take the electric cars to markets where the infrastructure is much more encouraging for electric mobility.
As plans to of taking its electric cars into overseas markets, the Mumbai-based auto maker today launched its e2O car in Bhutan and is also looking at other neighbouring nations
including Sri Lanka and Nepal and Europe to drive growth going ahead.
"We have started selling in Nepal four months ago, we will be selling in Sri Lanka starting next month, we have started selling here (Bhutan)... Neighbouring countries are getting covered, it is fairly easy thing for us to do that," Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Executive Director and President (Automotive and FES) Pawan Goenka told reporters here.
Towards the end of the year the company expects to launch in western markets, he added.
"In Europe we have identified 3-4 countries which will be the first markets for us to launch towards the end of the year" Goenka said.
Commenting on the company's plans for Bhutan, Goenka said the country has shown immense interest in electric mobility and the company is happy to partner the country towards its shift towards electric vehicles.
Bhutan has for the last two years put a ban on the import of all kinds of conventional vehicles into the country and has just recently decided to allow imports of only electric vehicles, thus attracting vehicle makers from across the globe.
Sensing an opportunity Japanese car maker Nissan has already launched its electric vehicle 'Leaf' in the country.
"What we bring to table for Bhutan is that we have designed the vehicles to some extent to fit to the requirements of the country. We are right now developing Verito and Maxiimo (electric versions) and therefore we have been able to take inputs from here, we have tasting vehicles here right now to make it right for this country," Goenka said.
Besides e2O, the company is also working on other models, including Verito sedan and Maxximo multi purpose vehicle, which it expects to be launch in Bhutan by the end of 2014.
"Verito and Maxiimo will be well suited for taxi application and Vertio will also be suited for personal use also the e2O so we will be able to do a host of products to take care of different needs of the country" Goenka said.
