[TusharK]

Bangalore-based start-up Simple Energy has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government to set up what it claims will be the largest electric 2-wheeler factory in the world.



Simple Energy plans to invest Rs. 2,500 crore in Tamil Nadu. The first plant is being built at Shoolagiri. The factory will be spread over 2 lakh sq. ft. and will have an annual production capacity of 10 lakh units. Phase 1 will be operational by early 2022.

In the next phase, the company plans to make an initial investment of Rs. 1,000 crore to set up a second plant. It will house an R&D centre, testing facility and a vendor park.

The second facility will be spread over 600 acres, surpassing Ola Electric's 500 acre factory. It is expected to come online by 2023.

Link to Team-BHP News

[jetsetgo08]

Pardon me if I sound harsh but it looks like they don't have their feet on the ground. Simple Energy on all accounts seems to be a repeat of 'Freedom 251'.

[Red_Phantom]

Simple Energy seems to be completely focused on announcing that they are superior to OLA, without even making a beta version of the final product. The abrupt change in the motor torque on their website to be above the OLA S1's, the number of 'bookings' announced to be suspiciously the same number as OLA's and the series of tweets showing miscommunication between the CEO and the management, things are not looking good for them. Either they are just aiming high and/or are having some serious issues to deal with, or they are simply an electric version of freedom 251 scam, which seems likely at the moment.

I would love to see them succeed, but if it's this easy for a start-up to be a major EV manufacturer from the ground up, wouldn't it be more easier for the current giants to be one too?

[Livnletcarsliv]

For "Simple" Energy, I see everything tough and challenging.

Hope this is not another "Freedom 251".

[fazayal]

I'm waiting for Simple Energy to announce their Cab services which would be off course much bigger than Ola.

[udaikalra01]

It's all talks and nothing else. Why? The manufacturing facility they're talking about is their "second" facility, which will not even be under consideration right now. Heck, they don't even have the first one ready which will be much smaller! Most probably a statement just to make it to headlines and grab some eyeballs. They don't have the first facility ready as of now, talking about the second one without even starting deliveries/test rides makes literally no sense It's been 4 months since they presented that prototype, will be better if they actually give more information about their product, they're losing trust as seen in the above posts by fellow BHPians.

[starke]

We are better than OLA in all "numerical values" , Simple strategy

[amol4184]

This is mind boggling. You don't need 600 acre facility to copy Ather.

[whitewing]

Assuming they are serious about actually following up with this.
Phase 1 planned to be operational in "early" 2022 with the MOU signed in Dec 2021 seems even more agressive and optimistic than Ola's plans.

Wonder what makes the area around Hosur attractive to electric 2W manufacturers? While there must be a OEM vendor ecosystem around the TVS/Ashok Leyland factories, can't understand why an EV would want to be placed here.

[Abhikumar629]

Originally Posted by whitewing

Assuming they are serious about actually following up with this.
Phase 1 planned to be operational in "early" 2022 with the MOU signed in Dec 2021 seems even more agressive and optimistic than Ola's plans.

Wonder what makes the area around Hosur attractive to electric 2W manufacturers? While there must be a OEM vendor ecosystem around the TVS/Ashok Leyland factories, can't understand why an EV would want to be placed here.

Speed in clearance, ease of doing business, infrastructure support and massive tax rebates.

[samy1117]

Good investment for Tamil Nadu. This will generate lot of revenues and Jobs in TN.
Looks like something is seriously wrong with Karnataka's industrial policies that even companies having headquarters in Bangalore setting up their manufacturing units in neighboring Tamil Nadu.
Earlier it was Ola and now it is Simple Energy. I don't think TN has any geological advantage over and above Karnataka.
This is mostly down to industrial policies. Hope Karnataka government wakes up and comes up with industry friendly policies to attract investments into the state.

[Vid6639]

How do we believe anything of simple energy. Everything has been dubious till date and even the unveil was more hype than actual bike. the bike was running Ather plates.

Next they will announce they are competing with SpaceX and planning a manned flight to the moon.

Originally Posted by samy1117

Good investment for Tamil Nadu. This will generate lot of revenues and Jobs in TN.
Looks like something is seriously wrong with Karnataka's industrial policies that even companies having headquarters in Bangalore setting up their manufacturing units in neighboring Tamil Nadu.
Earlier it was Ola and now it is Simple Energy. I don't think TN has any geological advantage over and above Karnataka.
This is mostly down to industrial policies. Hope Karnataka government wakes up and comes up with industry friendly policies to attract investments into the state.

Same with Kia. All corporate offices in Banaglore but Factory is in Andhra Pradesh just on border of KA. It's like they want to be in KA but teh govt prefers them not to be so they go to border.

[samy1117]

Originally Posted by Vid6639

How do we believe anything of simple energy. Everything has been dubious till date and even the unveil was more hype than actual bike. the bike was running Ather plates.

Next they will announce they are competing with SpaceX and planning a manned flight to the moon.



Same with Kia. All corporate offices in Banaglore but Factory is in Andhra Pradesh just on border of KA. It's like they want to be in KA but teh govt prefers them not to be so they go to border.

Agreed. I do not really know much about this company. But when they claim world's largest 2 Wheeler manufacturing factory, at least there will be some form of accountability from the promoters.

When companies get into MoU with state governments, I think they are serious about the project and at least 50% of it would materialize as government agencies would work on land acquisitions and allotments for the project.

[Mohitkumaar]

They have recieved some new investment recently so the news seems to be floated with regard to investor pacification.

Anyone who has followed Simple so far can tell it is vapourware.

[maheshm619]

Google reviews point out that their office doesn't even have a sign board. Going by these stealth tactics , their 2-wheeler factory may never come before public eyes.