Zapp Electrical Autos aims to transform its London-based electric scooter brand into a globally recognized e-mobility company. According to an exclusive report by TechCrunch, India is poised to become a key launchpad for this initiative.
The corporation will debut its inaugural product – a cutting-edge city electric two-wheeler called the i300 – in the UK as early as next month, followed by a launch in Thailand. Zapp’s expansion strategy takes a significant step forward with the inclusion of India, a massive market that will undoubtedly pose a challenge to its global growth ambitions, according to CEO Swin Chatsuwan in a recent interview with TechCrunch.
The Nasdaq-listed company has upgraded its plans for India following a visit by Chatswan, who highlighted the country’s vast potential. India, the world’s most populous country, is not only a significant consumer of two-wheelers, with tens of millions of units sold annually, but also a major producer, ranking second globally behind China.
“We initially considered India as a secondary market for us following our in-depth analysis a few years ago,” Chatsuwan said. “However, after re-evaluating our strategy earlier this year, we realized that the opportunity couldn’t be delayed.”
Zapp has contracted a producer to provide and promote the i300 regionally across the nation. Upon completing the homologation course, we anticipate starting gross sales in 2025. The UK-based company aims to establish a minimum production capacity of at least 5,000 units annually in India, as part of its global strategy to manufacture 25,000 vehicles by 2026.
In the past year, India saw a surge in two-wheeler purchases, with a staggering 17 million units sold. According to Chatsuwan, CEO at TechCrunch, 2.8 million of these vehicles were high-speed automobiles, and an impressive 36% of those fell under the category of heavy-weight cruiser bikes from Royal Enfield, a Chennai-based brand. Can Zapp successfully replicate Royal Enfield’s triumph with its step-through model, initially introduced in 2018?
“We’re not trying to conquer the world.” We’re not striving to command a significant chunk of Royal Enfield’s market share and aim to sell around 500,000 motorcycles in India. We’re not. The CEO pointed out to TechCrunch that we could potentially be compared to industry leaders like BMW, specifically their CE 02 and CE 04 step-through electric scooters, renowned for their exceptional quality and efficiency.
The Indian launch of Zapp’s i300 is poised to significantly expand the company’s total addressable market (TAM), growing it by a quarter or 25% to a staggering 75 million units annually. The company announced that by incorporating India into its market expansion, the total addressable market (TAM) for its initial product launch has grown to approximately 30 million users per year.
The Indian launch will enable Zapp to gauge the breadth, depth, and quality of the country’s supply chain, according to Chatsuwan. This initiative aims to facilitate the export of Indian-made automobiles to global markets in the long run.
While other prominent Indian manufacturers like Ola Electric, TVS Motor, and Ather Power are offering electric two-wheelers in the price range of approximately $1,000 to $1,800, the Zapp i300 is poised to be a more premium option. The two-wheeled vehicle is set to launch in Europe with a starting price tag of $7,590, not including any applicable taxes.
The Indian pricing remains to be decided, with Chatsuwan indicating it won’t exceed one million rupees, but suggesting it’s unlikely to drop below 500,000 rupees.
The i300 is rapidly taking to the streets.
Zapp introduced its inaugural two-wheeled offering, the i300, in 2018. What innovative engineering! The company has designed the automobile with a state-of-the-art aerospace-grade alloy load-bearing exoskeleton and a sturdy chrome-moly metal underbone structure, showcasing its commitment to exceptional performance and durability. The e-scooter is equipped with a state-of-the-art air-cooled electric motor capable of delivering a peak power output of 14 kilowatts, accompanied by two rechargeable battery packs, each boasting an impressive capacity of 720 watt-hours.
The corporation swiftly started accepting pre-order requests for the i300 following its public debut, requiring a refundable deposit of €100. Within the fourth quarter of 2019? Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on global supply chains, manufacturing and deliveries were significantly disrupted.
Despite this, Zapp is poised to launch delivery of the i300 in the UK. . The company also intends to launch promotional efforts in Thailand this year through the establishment of an office in Bangkok.
Zapp poised to transform into a full-fledged bicycle company.
“We’re not a one-hit marvel. When asked about expanding Zapp’s product range, Chatsuwan told TechCrunch: “We want to portray ourselves as a full-fledged bike company, so let’s start with bringing our first product to market.”
The company also intends to equip the i300 with a substantial array of personalized options and accessories. The scooter offers four distinct variations, allowing customers to personalize their purchase by selecting from various color and wheel designs that align with their preferences. Additionally, buyers can enhance their ride with optional features, including hidden storage and a rapid charging system.
Zapp aims to expand its market presence by entering key regions such as Spain, Italy, Vietnam, and Indonesia in phase two, with a long-term strategy to further penetrate countries within the Middle East and South America.
“We aim to emulate the legendary status of Triumph, Royal Enfield, and Norton as the twenty-first-century benchmark for excellence in motorcycle manufacturing.”
