Indus Elec-Trans to expand bike capacity

Firm plans to launch battery operated bus.

Indus Elec-Trans, a division of Electrotherm (India) Limited, is planning a capacity expansion of its plant in Kutch, Gujarat, which manufactures its battery-operated two-wheelers YObike.

The plant at Samahyali in Kutch has a capacity to manufacture 1.25 lakh units of YObike. "We will increase this capacity to 3.5 lakh by investing Rs 50 crore in the next six months," B K Vysya, senior general manager of Indus Elect-Trans, told mediapersons on Thursday.

The company launched in Pune its five models of YObike. The bike does not require registration or licence to drive. YObike will target young adults and even school children in higher grades, according to Vysya. The company has appointed two dealers in Pune -- Arco Automotive and AONE Wheels Pvt Ltd.

Indus Elec-Trans has so far introduced five models for different target customer segments.

"We intend to sell 50,000 units during the current year (2005-06) and expand this volume to 1,50,000 in the next year," Vysya said.

The company's revenue from this business would be around Rs 300 crore in the next year, he added. Vysya said the company had developed a prototype of battery-operated three-wheeler and a 'hybrid' battery-operated city bus.

"The battery of the bus, with a seating capacity for 40, will be constantly charged by a generator onboard the vehicle," he said.

"We will submit the prototype for approval to the Automotive Research Association of India," he said.