Fed up with traffic moving at snail's pace during peak hours? This may change in a few years as homegrown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is toying with the idea of bringing out UDO - a compact two-seater electric pod for urban mobility.
The company showcased a concept model of the vehicle along with five other concepts and new vehicles at the AutoExpo 2018 which is being held at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
Rajan Wadhera, president, automotive sector, M&M said, "The launch of two extremely unique concepts today – the UDO and the ATOM (last mile connectivity EV) - is a significant way forward in our product cycle, keeping in mind the mobility solutions of tomorrow".
UDO or ATOM may get launched by next 15 months or so, the senior company executives said.
According to a company statement, UDO is targeted at the tech-savvy urban citizen and offers an enclosed architecture with micro climate control, lighting, touch-screen infotainment and blue-tooth enabled audio systems, insulating the urban commuter from the harshness of the urban environment. It is designed to slash congestion and emissions, and also features a 'smart fitness' mode which allows commuters to work out while commuting, via a 'smart cycling' feature. Moreover, the battery recharges as you pedal and also eliminates the need to balance the vehicle with one's feet, unlike motorbikes or cycles.
ATOM, on the other hand, is for last-mile connectivity.
Though a few critics cautioned that it may take much more than expected time for rolling out of a concept like UDO, an analyst who did not want to be named said it is very much possible. "The company may just try to pressurise the government to come out with suitable policies soon, as product (concept) is already ready."
The company also announced introducing a new cloud-based platform for electric vehicle christened as MESMA, which will help it in scaling up operations in shorter time.
M&M, which was the first to get into electric cars in India after it acquired Bengaluru-based Reva around eight years ago, is betting big on the segment. With the central government's ambitious plan to have all vehicle sold beyond the year 2030 to be electric, the company, which has so far invested Rs 600 crore in the segment, plans to invest a similar amount in the next few years.
