Mahindra and Zoomcar team up with plans to introduce electric vehicles for shared mobility in India

Mahindra Electric, a part of the Mahindra Group and India's only manufacturer of all electric vehicles has teamed up with Zoomcar, the leading self driven car rental company. The self driven car rental here refers to vehicles that can be driven by those hiring them instead of a driver, and not an autonomous vehicle. The partnership is aimed at promoting the concept of shared mobility of electric vehicles in India.[caption id="attachment_371194" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The e2oPlus, Mahindra's new all electric vehicle[/caption]Mahesh Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric, said "We at Mahindra Electric have pioneered the sustainable mobility cause in India and have been committed to it for almost a decade. Our focus goes beyond just developing electric vehicles. We strive towards investing in next generation technology and solutions to drive adoption of electric vehicles. In the past, we have worked with different strategic partners to bring electric mobility to the shared transportations space. With this first-of-its-kind association with Zoomcar, we believe we will be able to make green mobility available to a larger audience. I am sure our customers will appreciate and take advantage of this program which is aligned with our larger vision of transforming the face of mobility in urban India."Greg Moran, CEO and Co-Founder, Zoomcar said "Electric cars on shared mobility platforms is the ultimate way forward in solving the urban transportation problem. It is part of the massive overhaul the transportation industry is witnessing globally towards greener and more efficient transportation solutions. Today, we are leading this change in India in partnership with Mahindra Electric. We have seen growing demand for Electric cars on Zoomcar in metros such as Bangalore, Delhi and Pune. Mahindra has always been a key OEM partner for us and with this new development we are taking the association a step further."[caption id="attachment_371193" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The e2oPlus connected to a wall charger. Image: Mahindra.[/caption]According to the deal, consumers will be able to buy the new Mahindra all electric vehicle, e2oPlus on ZAP, the shared mobility platform by Zoomcar. ZAP allows users to hire out their vehicles when they are idle, allowing car buyers to recover a portion of the cost of owning a vehicle. The platform will bring down the initial cost of owning the e2oPlus, and buyers can recover as much as Rs 15,000 per month through ZAP. The vehicles will be initially available in Pune, Delhi and Bengaluru, with plans to roll out for other cities in the future.With the advent of the "shared economy", automakers are rethinking the concept of owners buying vehicles. One of the most innovative attempts in this space is the Volvo owned Geely's new brand Lynk and Co that offers the 01 in SUV various pricing models, including the ability to buy it, subscribe for it, or lease it.