Zapp Electric Vehicles, a London-based electric two-wheeler brand, is aiming to become a global EV company. To achieve this, the company plans to launch its first product, the i300, in the UK next month, followed by Thailand. However, Zapp is now adding India to its expansion strategy, recognizing the country’s potential as the world’s second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer and a massive market for electric vehicles. Zapp’s founder and CEO, Swin Chatsuwan, stated that India was initially planned as phase two of their expansion but has been fast-tracked due to its immense opportunities.
To make their entry into India successful, Zapp has partnered with Bounce Electric 1, an Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer, to produce and sell the i300 locally. After completing the necessary homologation process, sales are expected to begin in 2025. Zapp aims to have a minimum capacity of 5,000 units per year in India, contributing to its broader global goal of 25,000 units by 2026.
Chatsuwan highlighted the potential in the Indian market, revealing that out of the 17 million two-wheelers sold in India last year, 2.8 million were high-speed vehicles. Zapp aims to replicate the success of Chennai-based brand Royal Enfield’s heavy-weight cruiser motorcycles with its step-through model. Chatsuwan compared Zapp’s quality and performance to BMW’s step-through electric scooters, indicating their ambition to compete with premium brands.
The India launch of the i300 not only expands Zapp’s market but also allows the company to understand the breadth, depth, and quality of India’s supply chain. This knowledge may enable Zapp to export vehicles from India to global markets in the future.
Zapp’s i300 will be positioned as a premium option compared to electric two-wheelers offered by key Indian manufacturers such as Ola Electric, TVS Motor, and Ather Energy. While the pricing for India is yet to be decided, Chatsuwan mentioned that it would not exceed one million rupees but is unlikely to be lower than 500,000 rupees.
The i300, which was unveiled in 2018, features an aerospace-grade alloy load-bearing exoskeleton, a chrome-moly steel underbone design, and an air-cooled electric motor with a peak power of 14kW. It is equipped with two portable batteries, each with a capacity of 720Wh. Zapp had initially planned to start deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2019 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the company is now ready to begin delivering the i300 in the UK and plans to enter the Thai market as well.
While Zapp’s immediate focus is on launching the i300, Chatsuwan emphasized that the company aims to become a complete motorcycle company in the long run. Zapp plans to offer the i300 with various personalization options and accessories, allowing consumers to customize the color, wheel design, and add features like hidden storage and fast chargers.
In the future, Zapp plans to expand to other countries such as Spain, Italy, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The company also envisions entering markets in the Middle East and South America. Chatsuwan expressed his goal for Zapp to become the 21st-century version of iconic motorcycle brands like Triumph, Royal Enfield, and Norton.
With its global expansion plans and focus on quality and performance, Zapp Electric Vehicles aims to make its mark in the electric two-wheeler industry, starting with the launch of the i300 in multiple markets, including India.