Electric vehicle startup iGo announced a manufacturing partnership with Pune-based Sun Electro Devices on August 12, marking a shift from the industry trend of building in-house production facilities. The collaboration will focus on scaling production of iGo's electric 2.5-wheeler vehicles.
The partnership aims to reach monthly production of 1000 vehicles within seven months, with planned launches in Pune, Panjim, and Mumbai. iGo's approach contrasts with many EV companies that have pursued vertical integration strategies, often supported by government incentives such as the Production Linked Incentive scheme.
"In hardware, building new technology is super hard. Making a lovable product is not easy. Getting it certified is a mammoth task. And finally, bringing it to manufacturing is an altogether different challenge," said Sravan Kumar Appana, CEO at iGo. "Many startups, even with a great product, struggle at this last mile. This partnership solves that problem for us."
Sun Electro Devices operates a 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, and has experience in automotive production and OEM manufacturing. The company brings established supplier networks and production capabilities to the partnership.
iGo's electric vehicles are positioned between traditional scooters and electric rickshaws, featuring what the company describes as anti-topple stabilization technology, self-balancing capabilities, and a triple-disc combined braking system. The vehicles are designed for urban transportation needs.
The Indian electric vehicle market has seen increased activity in recent years, with both startups and established automotive companies entering the space. Government policies have encouraged domestic manufacturing through various incentive schemes, though companies have taken different approaches to scaling production.
iGo, which operates under iGowise Mobility, focuses on electric platforms for urban and rural markets. The company's strategy emphasizes collaboration with existing manufacturing infrastructure rather than building new facilities from the ground up.
The partnership represents iGo's approach to addressing manufacturing challenges that many hardware startups face when transitioning from product development to mass production. Sun Electro Devices' experience in automotive manufacturing is expected to support iGo's production scaling plans.