Swedish automotive start-up Uniti cars has announced that it will launch its Uniti One five-seater fully electric version in India by 2020. Currently priced at Rs 7.14 lakh, Indian consumers can pre-order the car for Rs 1,000 and will have a first-drive opportunity. Incidentally, the start-up's auto designer Sharan Ahuja is an Indian. The company will make its India foray with Bird Mobility, who manufactures Segways in the country. The start-up is exhibiting its three-seater electric car model at the Auto Expo in Delhi. In an interview with THE WEEK, CEO Lewis Horne speaks on why he decided to make the India entry.
Excerpts:
How and why did you chose India?
We have always received a lot of attention from India, from investors to people wanting to buy the car. Some of the key designers of our cars are actually Indians. The regulations our vehicles comply to are also directly compatible to India, so we do not need to make any changes to comply to your regulations, and there is also a huge push from the government of India towards electrification of mobility. In other words, India is the ideal market for our products.
What is the support that the Indian government has extended to you?
So far, we have just had initial discussions and there have been generous offers of support, although we have not finalised anything yet and cannot do so until we finalise our plans.
What are the distinguishing features of your car in terms of range, battery packs and charging capabilities? Also, is it going to be a game changer in India, considering your car will be among the first few entrants in the country?
The interior of the Uniti One car
Uniti car owners will be able to simply charge at home and most won’t need to use charging infrastructure other than that. European models also have unique features such as a full-screen heads up display, novel electronic steering system that requires no pedals, buttons or levers for operation and we aim to bring some of these features to Indian models to make the experience of city driving simpler, safer and more pleasant.
What makes your design so unique?
We have completely reinvented the automobile, from the vehicle structure, to the technologies it houses, to the processes used to manufacture it. The design is clean and simple Scandinavian design, and the means of operation and interaction is less mechanical and more digital, like a smartphone. Our vehicle design is really closer to consumer electronics than automotive.
According to you, why should Indians opt for Uniti when there re so many other players in the market?
Of course, this project will bring a lot of new jobs to India, but it will also contribute to better air quality and environmental conditions. It will be more cost effective for many Indians who want a safe, premium vehicle at a low cost, and in later phases of the company when we start to enable mobility as a service features. It will also improve congestion. There are indeed many other very good car brands in the market and our car is not for everyone. Uniti cars are for tech savvy people that desire a premium design, build quality and materials and great performance at a low cost. Our cars are for those that want progress.
