Mahindra Group unveils electric scooter, inaugurates new plant, facility

Team OD Updated: May 11, 2014, 01:17 PM IST

Mahindra Group on May 9 inaugurated a couple of facilities and unveiled a new product in the US. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group inaugurated two of the company's facilities in the US state of Michigan.

Mahindra GenZe GenZe electric scooter will only be for the US market and will be launched later in the year

"The North American Technical Center and GenZe represent important disruptive product incubators for the Mahindra Group. Constant innovation focused on improving the lives of our consumers, employees and the communities they impact is at the core of Mahindra's 'Rise' philosophy and we are delighted to see this come to fruition in the United States.", said Anand Mahindra, chairman, Mahindra Group.

Mahindra GenZe 3 The electric scooter has a range of 48.2kilometres and has a top speed of 48.2kmph

Mahindra unveiled an electric scooter called the GenZe for the US market. The scooter will be launched later in the year and the company has not revealed a price tag for it. The electric scooter has a range of 48.2kilometres and has a top speed of 48.2kmph as well. Mahindra says that the vehicle's low top speed means that it does not require a motorcycle license to run in most states. Mahindra GenZe (part of the Mahindra group) says that the USP of their electric scooter is its compact design, specialized storage space and ease of use.

Mahindra GenZe's manufacturing facility was inaugurated at Ann Arbor in Michigan. The factory at present can manufacture 9,000 units per year which can be increased to 20,000 annually if the situation so demands.

The second installation which was inaugurated was the Mahindra North American Technical Centre (MNATC). This research centre is situated in Troy, Michigan and currently employs more than 40 local engineers from the state. This facility has complete vehicle engineering design capabilities/expertise and will play a vital role in helping Mahindra become a top player in the global automotive industry in the next decade.

Rick Haas, COO, Mahindra MNATC, had this to say on the occasion, "The MNATC is delivering on its promise of world class product development as we take on complex global programs. Utilizing the automotive talent available here in Southeast Michigan, we're putting together a truly exceptional team of automotive professionals to meet Mahindra's future product development needs. We are delighted with the opening of our expanded technical center that provides us the infrastructure to design, engineer and prototype industry leading products and solutions for Mahindra's global customer base."

Mahindra Group expands its footprint in the United States

Ann Arbor, MI â" May 9, 2014: Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder joined Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group today in Ann Arbor, to inaugurate the Mahindra GenZe electric two-wheeler facility and the North American Technical Center in Southeast Michigan. The Mahindra Group was also represented at this milestone event by Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director and President - Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors. Consistent with Mahindra's 'Rise' philosophy of employing alternative thinking to drive positive change, these investments exemplify the company's commitment to developing transformative urban transportation solutions for cities around the world. "Michigan provided us the perfect eco-system to step up our U.S. presence. We were able to draw on the terrific automotive engineering and manufacturing talent available in the state, to create industry leading initiatives for the United States," said Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group. "The North American Technical Center and GenZe represent important disruptive product incubators for the Mahindra Group. Constant innovation focused on improving the lives of our consumers, employees and the communities they impact is at the core of Mahindra's 'Rise' philosophy and we are delighted to see this come to fruition in the United States." The Mahindra Group already has a substantial presence in the United States with IT companies, Tech Mahindra and Bristlecone and the world's number one selling tractor brand based on volume, Mahindra USA. The new Technical Centre adds to this footprint and reflects the Group's continued commitment to North America. "We welcome global leaders like Mahindra to Michigan and applaud them for their product and engineering leadership. Hi-tech green manufacturing & R&D has been the cornerstone of our partnership and job creation initiatives and we are pleased to have the Mahindra brand grow its U.S. presence from Michigan," said Governor Rick Snyder. GenZe by Mahindra Electric Two-Wheeler- Designed, Engineered and Manufactured in Michigan The GenZe by Mahindra is the first urban transportation vehicle to be offered by the Mahindra Group and the only two-wheeled electric vehicle of its kind in the United States. The compact design provides consumers with exactly what they need â" ease of travel, specialized storage and an impressive range of 30 miles with many industry first features. With the top speed set at 30 mph, there is no need for a motorcycle license to operate the GenZe in most states. 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. "We are excited to unveil the GenZe by Mahindra as the first electric urban two-wheeler designed and manufactured in the United States," said Vish Palekar, CEO, Mahindra GenZe. "The GenZe is conceived for students and urban commuters who are desperate to break free from congestion, tired of increasing gas prices, and the lack of convenient parking. With industry leading utility and connectivity features including the ability to charge anywhere on the go, the GenZe is the perfect lifestyle empowering vehicle for the American consumer." Mahindra North American Technical Center (MNATC) The MNATC is the North American Center of Excellence focused on providing Mahindra with globally competitive product designs and technologies in support of its future product portfolio. Presently staffed with more than 40 engineers with complete vehicle engineering design capabilities, the expertise and capabilities of the MNATC are instrumental in developing industry leading automotive platforms for Mahindra's global markets. The new 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. "The MNATC is delivering on its promise of world class product development as we take on complex global programs. Utilizing the automotive talent available here in Southeast Michigan, we're putting together a truly exceptional team of automotive professionals to meet Mahindra's future product development needs," said Rick Haas, COO, Mahindra MNATC. He added, "We are delighted with the opening of our expanded technical center, that provides us the infrastructure to design, engineer and prototype industry leading products and solutions for Mahindra's global customer base."