ANN ARBOR — The GenZe electric scooter business of India’s manufacturing giant Mahindra plans to build a high-tech electric scooter in Ann Arbor.
Initially, the company will invest $2 million to create 34 jobs in vehicle research and manufacturing, according to Ann Arbor Spark, the economic development agency for the Ann Arbor area.
It’s Mahindra GenZe’s first site in the United States.
Ann Arbor Spark said it helped Mahindra GenZe apply for aid from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and connected the company with Ann Arbor city officials to discuss local manufacturing regulations. Spark said it also helped with site selection.
The GenZe is a small step-through scooter with a large storage box above the rear wheel. Its battery unit is detachable, meaning users can remove it from the bike and charge it at any outlet. It offers a 30-mile range and a top speed of 30 mph, and is thus envisioned as a low-cost, efficient way to get around a city.
The bike has a 7-inch video screen rather than traditional gauges — and the screen offers information on speed, range and charge, as well as apps from a paired smartphone. The bike also has outlets to charge a laptop or phone.
Green Car Reports said Mahindra will build the GenZe in a 37,000-square-foot plant with an initial annual capacity of 20,000 units.
There was no immediate information on the vehicle’s price.
More at www.genze.com.
I’m sure the GenZe will be a nice escooter, but I’m wondering where the price points will be. Right now, for the money, American-made ZEV electric bikes and escooters are the best value. Pleased to see more choices becoming available though.