Mahindra group keen to bring shared electric kick scooter to India

With major cities in India facing pollution issues, specially in the National Capital, Mahindra group is exploring the possibility of introducing electric kick scooters as clean last mile mobility solution, according to its Chairman Anand Mahindra.

The group is looking at leveraging the strength and experience of San Francisco-based shared electric mobility firm Scoot Networks, in which it is a major investor, for a multi-modal approach of shared mobility to tackle pollution and congestion problems here.

Mahindra along with other executives of the group and Scoot Networks CEO Michael Keating met ministers in the Centre and Delhi government to explore the possibility of bringing shared electric kick scooters here.

"We believe that this vehicle is frankly the best last mile solution, the most clean solution the world will see," Mahindra told PTI here in an interview.

Stating that adopting the electric kick scooter would be like "leapfrogging" to mobile telephony from landline, he said, "This we believe is the democratisation of last mile in clean manner, which is good for the planet."
Pitching electric kick scooter for the National Capital, Keating said, "In a city like Delhi, where there is actually more urgency than other cities due to the air pollution and the growing population, this is an interesting option as a way to make things better."
When asked how soon the group could introduce it in India, Mahindra said, "As soon as (it is) feasible, we are looking at all the ways of doing it. We met with an incredibly warm response (from government officials), no cynicism whatsoever and willingness to work together to find the way."