It employs battery swapping know-how much like what we’re seeing in Asia.
Tag Archives: Asia
TVS Motors Is Expanding To Europe Under New Distribution Deal
TVS Motor Company is a major manufacturer of two- and three-wheeled vehicles popular in many countries, offering both combustion and electric options.
In 2020, TVS Motor rescued Norton Motorcycles, a troubled British company that had gone into administration, and also manufactures bikes for BMW.
TVS Motor and European automotive distributor Emil Frey have announced a new partnership. Emil Frey will start distributing TVS motorbikes across Europe in 2024.
Models headed to Europe include the TVS Ronin, Apache RR 310, Apache RTR 310, TVS Jupiter 125, TVS NTORQ, TVS Raider, TVS iQube S, and TVS X.
Emil Frey is one of the largest independent automotive dealer groups in Europe by revenue.
TVS’s expansion into Europe brings potential for growth, especially with the increasing demand for small electric runabouts like the TVS iQube S and TVS X in urban centers with low-emissions zones.
TVS motorbikes will initially roll out in France, with potential for the popularity of options like the Apache RR 310 and RTR 310 based on pricing and availability.
Blueshark R1 Electric Scooters to be Used by Grab Riders in Malaysia
Electric scooters and motorcycles are becoming popular in Asia for last-mile mobility. These lightweight EV two-wheelers offer a sustainable and cost-saving alternative to gas-powered vehicles and public transport.
In Malaysia, EP Manufacturing Behrad (EPMB) has partnered with electric mobility startup Blueshark and last-mile delivery giant Grab. The collaboration focuses on the Blueshark R1 electric scooter, which was launched in March 2023, to provide Grab riders with a sustainable vehicle for deliveries.
The partnership will initially offer 50 units of the Blueshark R1 to selected Grab riders. The scooters will be equipped with two batteries, and the riders will be able to use them for free. Blueshark will collect data and user feedback to improve the scooter’s performance.
In addition, EPMB has another program aimed at a larger user base of Grab riders. These riders can purchase the Blueshark R1 at a discounted price to encourage more riders to switch to electric. Currently, most of Malaysia’s last-mile delivery riders use scooters with gas engines.
EPMB has not yet announced the discounted price for the Blueshark R1 under the program. However, convincing people to shift to electric vehicles in Malaysia presents a challenge due to the higher cost compared to gas scooters, despite the long-term cost savings and never needing to refuel.
The most affordable version of the Blueshark R1, the Lite, has a retail price of RM 13,182 ($2,858 USD), while the top-of-the-line model costs RM 15,424 ($3,344 USD). Used gas-powered scooters can be purchased for less than half this price.