For Greaves Cotton, continuity planning is key during Covid

Greaves Cotton is gearing up for new challenges in the first quarter of this financil year thanks to the Covid resurgence and impact on the supply chain. 

Nagesh Basavanhalli, Group CEO & MD, told Autocar Professional that business continuity planning had become critical in this highly unpredictable environment. “We are hoping for things to become normal soon even as the situation continues to evolve every week,” he added. 

The vaccination drive could hopefully see an improvement in the coming months even while supply issues remain an area of concern amid rising infections. Greaves Cotton has vaccinated almost 20 percent of its employees including contractual workers. Nearly 85 percent of those over 45 have already received their jabs. 

The company has set in motion internal programmes like GROW (Greaves Recommended Online Workshop) for its employees in addition to e-learning opportunities for their families. 

Greaves is also betting big on its electric business where its subsidiary Ampere will lead the way. Ranipet in Tamil Nadu, a former Greaves engine facility, will now be rebooted for Ampere scooters and three-wheelers. This will complement the production at Coimbatore which has been the Ampere home for many years now. 

Going forward, Greaves Cotton will be hoping to leverage opportunities in the e-mobility space and last mile connectivity in particular. The pandemic has been a virtual boom in the e-commerce space where electric two-wheelers and light commercial vehicles are now sought after by delivery companies like Amazon, Zomato and so on.