MAHINDRA’s GenZe scooter goes on sale in three states in the U.S.,
with prices starting at $2 999 (R39 800).
It is a big experiment for Mahindra, as scooters account for less
than seven percent of motorbike sales in the U.S., with just 3 528 sold last
year across America. But if more young Americans take to the scooter, Mahindra will be the first car builder with an answer on how to sell vehicles to a generation
that do not want to own cars, but rather share a ride on Uber.
that do not want to own cars, but rather share a ride on Uber.
Mahindra said, however, the GenZe was not designed to be the basic
transport unit it is in other parts of the world, but to help solve the problem
of urban mobility. “We have cast aside traditional assumptions about
transportation to develop out-of-the-box solutions that make your life easier.
Our starting point was not scooters, cars or public transport — rather, we
focused on getting you from A to B in the most efficient manner possible, with
no hassles.”
Viewed as a “mobility app” for Generation Z, those youngsters born
into a world of cellphones in every pocket, the GenZe scooter comes with an
on-board laptop charger and seven-inch touch screen display.
Behind the traditional storage area under the seat, the scooter
also has a small or large carrying bin, sold with either hard or soft “cargo
cover”. Both bins are waterproof and the larger option can lock up a full-face
helmet and a shopping bag.
The scooter will be sold in California, Oregon, and Michigan, where
it is assembled. Mahindra plans to target college campuses and supply vehicles
to scooter-sharing programs.
The GenZe has a top speed of 48 km/h and features a 13 kg removable
battery pack that riders can take inside to plug in.
It recharges in three-and-a-half hours and can do about 50 km on a
charge, depending on the riders weight and the topography.
All the information pertinent to the ride, from the battery charge
to the speed and map shows on the touch screen.
Mahindra said 300 buyers have put down a $100 deposit for a GenZe scooter to date. The company says it can make 3 000 scooters in the first year
of production.
