Sonalika Tractors, the largest tractor exporter from India, plans to enter the developing electric quadricycle market in Europe, starting with the Netherlands, in response to the growing global demand for clean micro-mobility.
A senior company official claims that Sonalika has previously worked on a product for Western markets with a global engineering group.
According to Autocar Professional, “We are at a good stage in developing the product (quadricycle),” citing Raman Mittal, joint managing director of the Sonalika Group. Although he did not provide a launch date, the product may be available in 12 to 24 months.
“Indian partners from all around the world helped create the product. Thus, the prototype is prepared. We’ve reached the feedback stage. We are not rushing. The endgame is very much in reach. We’re getting close,” he said.
With about 13.5% of the Indian tractor market, Sonalika, a tractor manufacturer based in Punjab, is well-known in the country. With a share of over 34.3% of the export market, the company is the biggest tractor exporter in India.
The Sonalika Group believes that this is the right time to join the growing European market for electric microcars. They are easier to park and drive on crowded streets because they are significantly lighter and smaller than conventional cars.
Mittal gave the following justification for the category’s introduction: “Given their smaller size and ease of parking, we have noticed that microcars are something that every European country would need Moreover, pricing entry-level or tiny cars is not difficult in Western nations, unlike in India.”
Although they are technically categorized as L7E (heavy quadricycles) and L6E (light quadricycles) in Europe, they are sometimes referred to as microcars in Amsterdam.
The third factory of the corporation is anticipated to build this new type, which will be powered solely by electricity. At the same facility, Sonalika will produce electric tractors in addition to the EV quadricycle.
The company currently operates one plant in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, and is growing by adding a second one for exports.
Although the company prioritizes vertical integration and sources many of its essential components from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, it is also considering other North Indian states for the third site.
“Now it’s thrilling. Everything will be combined at a single, sizable plant dedicated to producing electric vehicle, Mittal continued.
The company intends to invest in excess of Rs 1,000 crore for the entire electrification project, which encompasses the creation of electric tractors, quadricycles, and a new factory for electric cars.
