BSA eScooters hit Chennai roads

Chennai, Nov 10: BSA, a leading bicycle manufacturing company has forayed into the making of electric scooters with BSA Motors, a unit of Tube Investments of India (TII), part of the Rs 9,582 crore Murugappa Group, launching BSA eScooters in the city on Monday, Nov 10. Unveiling the five models of battery operated eScooters, BSA Motors also announced Actress Tamannah, the rising star in south Indian movies as the brand ambassador for BSA eScooters, to create strong linkage with the target audience in the age group between 14 to 30 years.

Mr M A Alagappan, Executive Chairman, Murugappa Group launched the new products told a press conference that the company proposed to sell 60,000 eScooters during 2009. The price ranged between Rs 29,000 to Rs 37,000. The eScooters are manufactured at the BSA Motors new plant in Ambattur, with an investment of Rs 200 million for the first phase.

The Ambattur plant has an initial production capacity of 150 eScooters a day which can be ramped upto 300 units per day as and when required, he said. The first batch of eScooters were rolled out on Monday, Nov 10. The company, which has signed with 45 dealers, opened two dealership shops today and all the shops would be opened by the end of this year.

The five models of the BSA eScooters are, Smile-the most competitively priced e-Scooter in the country for the age group of 13 to 18 years. Diva, the first e-Scooter designed exclusively for girls in the age group of 16 to 20 years. Street Rider-unisex sportz model from teen to twenties.

These three models were operated with 250 W battery with top speed of 25 km and all the three models do not require license and registration, he said.

Roamer is the model for working men and women for the age group of 18 to 25 years. It has 500 W battery with top speed of 40 kmph. License and registration are required for this. Roamer+ is a family eScooter with 800 W battery and top speed of 45 kmph. It also requires license and registration, Mr Alagappan said.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr M M Murugappan, Chairman, Tube Investments of India said, "we see our entry into the electric two wheeler market as a logical extension of our current business, from bicycles to electric two wheelers." The eScooters is presently a Rs 450 crore market in India, and the industry is expected to double in a year's time. BSA's foray into the eScooters category helps us to expand our portfolio in the two wheeler market.

The Ambattur plant will have facility for painting, assembly and testing of eScooters. Key parts like motor, controller, battery, lamps, wheel discs, tyres and tubes have been sourced from reputed automotive vendors.

"The plant is equipped with State-of-the-Art technology with comprehensive full vehicle performance testing with a test track, motorized conveyor assembly line with modern assembly tools," he said.

The BSA eScooters are certified by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to be used in public roads in India.

Maintenance free batteries and motors make BSA eScooters 100 per cent trouble free.

UNI