Polaris to launch low-speed electric vehicles in India

US-based off-road vehicle (ORV) manufacturer Polaris Industries is considering introducing low-speed electric vehicles in India from the Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) portfolio. It had acquired GEM from Chrysler in June.

Pankaj Dubey, managing director of Polaris India, said, "We have a good line-up of passenger and goods carriers in GEM. We will soon start a market study to assess the potential for these vehicles in India."

From GEM, Polaris has three electric passenger and three electric utility vehicles. While the passenger vehicles are priced Rs 3.70-6.52 lakh, the utility vehicles come for Rs 4.28-5.80 lakh in the US. These vehicles, which operate on a 72-volt battery, can be driven at 40-50 km per hour. These can be charged at a 110-volt outlet.

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Meanwhile, Polaris India is expanding its dealer network to boost sales of ORVs. The company, which introduced its range of ORVs last month, plans to have 25 sales touch points by the end of the next year.

The all-terrain vehicles, range rovers and snowmobiles from Polaris are priced Rs 2.4-20.5 lakh.

Dubey said, "These vehicles have a wide range of applications and can be used by consumers environmentally conscious for personal or commercial purposes. There is a lack of adequate infrastructure for electric vehicles in India, but there are certain markets where other manufacturers have been able to sell products. We will explore our options."

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Mahindra Reva is the only manufacturer that sells electric four-wheelers in India. It is looking at selling 3,000 units in the domestic market this year, on the back of a scheme announced by the government that offers customers incentives of up to Rs 1 lakh for purchasing an electric car.

Infrastructural bottlenecks have limited the sale of electric vehicles in India, where 2.52 million passenger vehicles were sold last financial year.

Dubey said, "ORVs can be used in farms and forests for mining and construction work and also by defence forces. We intend to achieve sales of a minimum of $100 million by 2016."

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Polaris records majority of its sales from North America, Europe and Australia. It had a turnover of $1.99 billion in 2010.

On gaining substantial volumes, the company would consider setting up an assembly unit in India. Polaris' ORVs are currently imported as completely built units and attract a duty of 116 per cent.

A local manufacturing unit would enable the company to avail of tax benefits and thus, reduce prices.