Collaboration is increasingly becoming central in the automotive industry. A recent example of this trend is EV maker Kinetic Green's partnership with an American firm to explore opportunities in Africa, specifically in East Africa. Under this partnership, Kinetic Green will co-develop and produce an e-motorcycle for the American company, which is also investing in establishing a battery swapping network. The identity of this American partner has not been disclosed.

As part of the agreement, Kinetic Green plans to utilise the partner?s battery swapping network to facilitate the entry of its e-Luna into the African market. These plans are anticipated to materialise next year. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, the founder and CEO of Kinetic Green, expressed that this initiative aligns well with their vision of "green mobility for millions," aiming to make e-mobility accessible globally, including in India.

The recent fundraising of $ 25 million (approximately Rs 2.12 billion) from the private equity firm Greater Pacific Capital will support this initiative. However, the primary benefits of this investment will be directed towards enhancing the product portfolio and increasing manufacturing capacity. Greater Pacific Capital, the first external investor in Kinetic Green, acquired a 12.7 per cent stake in the company through this investment.

Kinetic Green is placing significant emphasis on its flagship e-Luna two-wheeler EV. Launched in February, the EV saw a trial period with around 1,000 units, and commercial sales began at the end of March. Since then, over 10,000 units have been delivered, with approximately 40 per cent sold to B2B users.

Motwani noted that B2B sales are more prevalent in major markets like Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Ahmedabad, where e-commerce is growing rapidly. In contrast, B2C sales have been strong in tier two and tier three towns, and some vehicles have even reached more remote areas. Motwani believes that smaller towns will drive significant growth for EVs, similar to their adoption of mobile phones and digital payments.

Kinetic Green plans to increase its monthly production from 3,000 units to 4,000 units next month, and to 5,000 units in October, with a target of reaching 8,000 units by December, plus or minus one month. The company is also developing two variants of the e-Luna: one with LED lights, a single seat, and die-cast wheels, designed for urban mobility, and a higher-performance variant intended for export markets. The latter will feature larger wheels (17 inches compared to 16 inches), a more powerful motor, and a larger battery pack. The current e-Luna, equipped with a 1.2 kW motor, has a top speed of 53-55 kmph, while the upgraded version, with a 2 kW motor, will achieve speeds of 70 kmph. Both variants will use the same 3 kWh battery pack.