Chennai: Electric three-wheeler (e3w) maker Zuperia Auto (formerly Lohia Auto Industries) is stepping up its expansion plans, targeting monthly sales of more than 3,000 vehicles by 2028. The company also plans to enter the electric two-wheeler (e2w) segment and may look at setting up a factory in south India as volumes and its dealer network expand.The company, which currently sells around 600-700 e3ws a month, expects volumes to rise to 1,000-1,200 units a month by the end of this fiscal. “We have already sold more than 1,000 vehicles in the L5 e3w category,” Ayush Lohia, CEO of Zuperia Auto, told TOI.Growth will be driven by new products, an expanded sales and service network, and deeper penetration into markets where e3ws are at an earlier stage of adoption, he said.Zuperia Auto currently has about 100 touchpoints nationwide and plans to increase this to 130-140 by the end of FY27. While its presence is stronger in north India, the company is targeting four to five cities across AP, Telangana, TN and Karnataka, including Chennai and Bengaluru.It could explore a manufacturing facility in south India as volumes increase, with a decision on additional capacity likely next year, depending on demand and sales growth.Zuperia currently has installed capacity to produce 100,000 vehicles a year, including 40,000 e3ws and 60,000 e2ws, at its existing facility in Uttarakhand.“Our capacity is adequate for the next one to one-and-a-half to two years. If we see further traction, we will have to come up with a new unit, somewhere in the South,” Lohia said.The southern market is relatively less mature in electric three-wheelers than the North and East, where e-rickshaw penetration has been much higher. However, adoption in the South is expected to accelerate as major manufacturers strengthen their electric vehicle presence in the region.“The transition from conventional e-rickshaws to safer and more sophisticated L5 vehicles is expected to continue over the next few years,” he added.The company also plans to launch both high-speed and low-speed e2ws, marking its return to the segment. Earlier, it was selling low-speed products in small numbers. “Very soon, we will announce our new e2ws. Within a year or so, we will be coming up with those products again,” Lohia said.Alongside its expansion, Zuperia Auto is working to consolidate its businesses under a single corporate entity. Vehicle sales are currently booked through two entities — a partnership firm and a private limited company — both of which have the necessary certification .“We are already in the transition process. We would announce the merger within the next year or so,” he added.
