In India, there is a surge in the use of light electric mobility, especially in the form of e-two- and three-wheelers. The low-hanging fruit for EV adoption has been the electric two- and three-wheeler segments, which have seen a sharp increase in acceptance thanks to a wide range of product alternatives that meet different consumer needs and pricing ranges.
The industry’s push to localise essential parts for these vehicles has accelerated as a result of the combined sales of electric two-wheelers (857,052 units, up 36%) and e-three-wheelers (581,696 units, up 66%) in CY23, which accounted for an overwhelming 94.25 percent of the Indian EV market.
SEG Automotive, one of several such firms, says it is stepping up its localization efforts in India in response to the rising sales of electric vehicles (EVs). About five years ago, the German Tier-1 company Bosch split off as an independent manufacturer of electric motors, starters, and generators.
“We began working on a 48V motor for electric two-wheelers about five years ago, and our local supplier base and client connections have helped us get to this point. For the housings and copper windings of our starters and generators, we have over 125 local suppliers. With the exception of the PCB chips and the magnet, our products have over 90% localization,” he said.
“While it is cheaper still to import these components into India at the current volumes, the localization aspect acts as a key enabler while initiating talks with our potential customers. It even aligns with our worldwide approach of localising products for a certain market”, Nowak stated.
As the biggest producer of mild-hybrid e-drives in Europe, SEG Automotive is also bringing this technology to India, according to the business, which plans to commission a new, cutting-edge line for its high-voltage 400V motor in Hosur, Karnataka.
But Nowak issued a warning, saying that cheaper imports from China still serve as a barrier to the market’s full exploration. In contrast to the markets in Europe and the US, we observe that functional safety and cybersecurity are not as prevalent in India. This places us at a competitive disadvantage with regard to low-cost imports from China.
“The market will change, and we’ll see increased awareness of these aspects of EV components in the future, giving companies that do rigorous systems engineering and safety management in their components an advantage” having said that, he concluded.
