With an eye on leveraging its infrastructure, automaker Mercedes-Benz India (MBI) has reportedly said that its electric vehicle (EV) charging network will be available for car owners of other brands.
As per news agency PTI, the extension of charging infrastructure to other brands is part of the company’s strategy to accelerate adoption of EVs in the country.
“Mercedes-Benz is also supporting the EV transition in India by democratising the ultra-fast charging network. All EV customers in India across brands, can now enjoy the luxurious Mercedes-Benz experience while using the company’s charging network,” said MBI managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Santosh Iyer.
As per the report, the German automaker boasts of the largest charging network among all the luxury car makers in the country with 140 charging points. Of the 140 charging points, 40 are in the ‘fast’ 180 kilowatts and the 60 kilowatt range, noted the company.
The automaker also announced that it has partnered with Bengaluru-based Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) to launch an app that will enable Indian EV customers to access an additional 150 superchargers.
“The app can be downloaded by any customer – of Mercedes or non-Mercedes – and it gives access to a fast charging network across India and can help in day-to-day commute or their interested commute,” added Iyer.
The company made the announcement during the launch of its top-of-the-line EQE 500 4MATIC electric SUV at an introductory price of INR 1.39 Cr and a new ‘Customer Experience Centre’ in Pune.
With this, MBI could be looking at creating an aspirational value proposition within the market and leveraging its network to create an alternate revenue stream. This pits MBI directly against homegrown players such as Bolt, Ather, Tata Power-DDL, ChargePoint, among others.
This comes at a time when both domestic and foreign players have been looking to scale their investments in the EV space in the country. Leveraging the Centre’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, these companies have pledged investments in excess of INR 1 Lakh Cr over the course of next five years towards the country.
Alongside, EV sales in India continue to grow substantially. With around 3 Mn registered EVs currently, India could be looking at being home to 10 Mn EVs by 2030. This presents a major market opportunity for both domestic and foreign companies.
Innovating, alongside, have been more than 700 homegrown EV startups that have showcased the ecosystem’s resilience and have led the adoption of EVs in the country. As per a report, India’s EV industry is projected to become a $266 Bn market by 2030.
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