Adaptable and Sharp in Everything We Do!
#DineshArjun #Raptee #ElectricMotorcycles #EV #ElectricVehicles“The electric two-wheeler (e2W) market in India is dominated by scooters. However, the motorcycle market in India is twice as big as the scooter market. This means that there is a huge opportunity for electric motorcycle manufacturers to tap into the motorcycle market.”
September 2023 : In this exclusive interaction with Niranjan Mudholkar, Editorial Director, Pro MFG media, Dinesh Arjun, Co-Founder & CEO, Raptee, says that his company has ‘looked to nature for inspiration to name its product and found an animal that’s not only smart and agile but can also run and fly – the velociraptor, also known as raptor. “Just like these creatures, we aim to be adaptable and sharp in everything we do,” he adds.
Raptee is an interesting name! What does the word ‘Raptee’ mean and what does it signify?
At Raptee, we believe in creating products and fostering a team known for their intelligence and quickness. We looked to nature for inspiration to name our product and found an animal that’s not only smart and agile but can also run and fly – the velociraptor, also known as raptor. Just like these creatures, we aim to be adaptable and sharp in everything we do.
Raptee opened its first manufacturing plant in Chennai a few months ago. What kind of investments have you made there and what will be its capacity?
We have just acquired this new facility and expect to make around ₹ 75 Crore investment in the next two years for plant, machinery and R&D facility. We will have a peak production capacity of 100,000 units per year.
In terms of sourcing the components, how much of local content are you sourcing and how much is your dependence on imports?
With a young and small team of 60, we have designed and developed all critical components in-house and will be contract manufacturing with Indian suppliers. This is also because the HV drivetrain that we have built is not available anywhere else.
The entire auto industry has had to suffer due to the semiconductor shortage. How is Raptee dealing with this issue?
We did have issues during our design phase, however, we set up agreements with IC manufacturers directly to help support development and sourcing. Having not started production yet, we have not been impacted on a large scale due to the shortage. Currently, we have explored multiple supplier options for our production, and we are confident of handling it with ease.
How advanced is the Chennai plant in terms of the equipment and the machinery used? Also, with your E-Motorcycle being positioned as IOT and tech-enabled, how are you ensuring the same at the manufacturing level?
From a manufacturing point of view 70 percent of equipment is similar to the traditional automotive sector. The ecosystem is highly matured, and we endure great support. The remaining 30 percent of the process is learning for everyone. The plan is to start with a micro manufacturing setup initially and grow to a full-fledged production line. Our batteries will be assembled using a proprietary process to make them last the lifetime of the vehicle. This will be a trade secret and will be one of our moats. Coming to tech, data has become the key, taking the processing data to the customer is what our setup is capable of. Though our first plant isn’t fully automated, we are deploying a complete closed loop system ensuring traceability and quality.
By when can we expect the first Raptee to hit the road? Will you be launching it nationally or will you go the regional way?
We are targeting to launch the product by the end of the year and once it is launched, we will start bookings. Initially, we plan to start rolling out our physical stores in Chennai and Bangalore but through online mode we would be present in the top 10 cities. Subsequently, we will be expanding to other metro cities as well.
How many models and variants will you be producing at the Chennai facility to start with in the first year?
Our first product will be an electric motorcycle that will be launched in the first year. It will be designed to compete with 250cc petrol-powered motorcycles and to be an upgrade option for 150cc petrol-powered motorcycles. It will also be designed to be stylish and comfortable, making it a desirable option for riders of all ages.
While the electric mobility segment in India is experiencing a lot of action on all the fronts, it is also getting overcrowded with a new startup jumping into the fray almost every month. In this scenario, what is your mantra to stay relevant, competitive and successful?
The electric two-wheeler (e2W) market in India is dominated by scooters. However, the motorcycle market in India is twice as big as the scooter market. This means that there is a huge opportunity for electric motorcycle manufacturers to tap into the motorcycle market.
Our company plans to position our electric motorcycle as an upgrade to the petrol-powered motorcycles of today. We believe that there is a strong demand for electric motorcycles in India. With our focus on quality, performance, and value, we are confident that we can stay competitive and successful. Unlike a lot of players in the market who are merely adopting technology or even complete vehicles from international markets, we have developed a drivetrain that is expected to outperform the expectations of the average Indian user.
Battery and battery charging are the game changers in the electric mobility segment. How is Raptee differentiating on that front?
Most of the 2Wheeler EVs are not compatible with the widely available public charging infrastructure. Raptee takes advantage of the public charging infrastructure by engineering a motorcycle that uses the CCS2 charging port, which is the standard type of charging port used in public charging stations. Our vehicles can also be charged from 0-80 percent within 45 minutes. This enables the rider to go for longer rides without worrying about the battery level and compatible charging points.
Having an engineering background, you have personally worked with automotive majors like Hyundai, Yamaha, Royal Enfield and even at Tesla. How useful has that experience been for your present role?
These are clearly premium brands in their own space, and this is exactly what we want to build with Raptee in the EV space. All these experiences bring in the learning from each one of these brands in their specific areas of expertise like community building, customer experience, digital experience etc.
Moreover, the automobile industry has traditionally been very conservative and hard to break into. I believe that the only way a small/new player can make an impact is by vertically integrating the tech stack that is key for the vehicle.
Where do you want to see Raptee exactly one year later?
In one year from now, our aspiration is to establish a presence in India’s top 10 markets, solidifying our position as a recognized and preferred brand within not just the EV but the motorcycle industry and among consumers.
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