BGauss Triples Tier 1 Supplier Base as it Shifts to Multi-Source Model

BGauss has increased its Tier 1 supplier base to about 150 from around 50 from its inception years. The Mumbai based electric two-wheeler maker expands production and prepares for a wider product range, founder Hemant Kabra said at the C12 MaxR launch in Pune on Wednesday.

The company has also moved away from single-source procurement for some components. “Now we are looking at two, three, or even suppliers also for one product,” Kabra said.

Kabra said the initial smaller volumes had made it difficult for BGauss to attract larger suppliers, but the supply base has expanded as the company gained momentum.

Supplier Ratings Now Tied to Future Programmes

BGauss has introduced audits, scoring and a supplier rating system as the network has expanded. Kabra said suppliers with higher ratings receive greater opportunity for future products, making supplier performance part of the allocation process.

BGauss Keeps Vehicle Electronics and Software In-House

The company is also retaining control over key parts of the vehicle's electronic and software architecture while increasing the number of external suppliers. BGauss has developed the cluster PCB in-house and owns the software and vehicle architecture, Kabra said. He described that electronic architecture as the vehicle's “master”, with the rest of the systems working around it. The approach allows BGauss to work with different suppliers without having to alter the core architecture each time, according to Kabra.

The supplier strategy has developed alongside a broader internal engineering structure. BGauss has separate teams for vehicle integration, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics, suspension, braking, lighting, plastics, and more.

Manufacturing and Quality Built Into Product Development

Kabra said one of the company's lessons from scaling its products has been to bring manufacturing and quality considerations into product development rather than treat them as separate stages. 

“You can't design a product in isolation,” he said. Supplier and manufacturing inputs are considered alongside product development and quality, he added.

C12 MaxR Debuts BGauss's New WSA Platform

The C12 MaxR, launched in Pune on Wednesday, uses BGauss' new WSA vehicle architecture and HyperZen in-wheel motor system. The WSA platform is designed to accommodate different motor, battery and wheel configurations as BGauss expands its product programme.