Date:10/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/10/stories/2007011016102100.htm

Business

Indo-Thai venture to launch e-bikes

Staff Reporter

The company has so far launched 28 types of bicycles in Kochi

KOCHI: LA Sovereign, a joint venture between Thailand and India, will soon launch e-bikes that run on battery.

The company would employ western technology in the manufacture of the e-bikes, said Rohit Kalra, managing director, LA Sovereign, here on Tuesday.

The company had launched 28 types of bicycles in Kochi, he said. The bicycles were intended for children and adults. The prices ranged from Rs.2,000 to Rs.10,000. The bicycles, with frames made of alloys, would be lighter than the models found in the market, he said. He claimed that non-toxic plastic parts were used in the LA Sovereign bicycles.

Nearly 13 million bicycles were sold in the country every year. With an increase in the buying power of the consumers, there was need in the market for premium products, he said. The company expected to promote the spirit of biking among the consumers and change the outlook towards the use of bicycles.

At present, the Indian market was served by several companies which assembled imported parts. In such cases, the dealer could change the parts, said Mr. Kalra.

The LA Sovereign bicycles were pre-inspected, pre-assembled and despatched in individual cartons, he said.

Sovereign was an Indian company based in Ludhiana. It was in the bicycle business for the past 40 years. The company was exporting bicycles and parts to various countries.

LA (Thailand) was a Thai company manufacturing bicycles, toys and electric bikes for Asian and North American markets, said Mr. Kalra.