Saietta VNA to start electric drive production in Delhi in 2023

Saietta VNA, the joint venture between Saietta Group plc (Saietta) and Padmini VNA, will begin eDrive (electric drive) production in India in 2023. Saietta VNA has developed a new electric Motor targeted specifically at the Indian market.

The construction of Saietta VNA’s new high-tech manufacturing facility in Delhi is on track, with volume production slated to start in 2023. Groundworks for the 30,000 sqft factory started in Q1 2022, and the outer shell is complete. Fit-out will begin in Q1 2023.

About Saietta VNA electric drive solution

The electric motor (RFT85-65) is based on Radial Flux Technology (RFT), and has been developed for lightweight two and three-wheel applications for the Indian market. It has been designed by Saietta’s Light Duty eDrive (LDE) team in conjunction with Saietta VNA. The compact air-cooled unit produces 4 kW of continuous power at 48V, is lightweight and efficient, and can be fully integrated with Saietta’s power electronics and transmission.

The RFT85-65 is anticipated to be produced in India alongside Saietta’s AFT140, an Axial Flux Technology (AFT) eMotor ideal for premium motorbikes and lightweight three and four wheel applications between one and two and a half tonnes, such as last-mile delivery vehicles.

Saietta VNA has appointed Prad (Pradumna) Walimbe as its managing director, and he takes on the responsibility for leading the company’s Indian operations. Walimbe said, “India is one of the largest and most strategic auto and electrification markets in the world, and we have high ambitions for it. Our focus will be on strengthening the strategic partnership with Padmini VNA to secure market share and valuable contracts and help our customers and partners transition to electric mobility faster by enhancing access to our ground-breaking technology and engineering expertise.”

Wicher (Vic) Kist, CEO of Saietta Group, said, “Through our joint venture with Padmini VNA, we are delivering a portfolio of turnkey eDrive solutions that are ideally suited to the market, and – crucially – they will be produced in India, for India. We are currently working with a number of OEMs and Tier 1 partners in the L-Category segment and will release more information on this over the coming months.”

Kabir Bhandari, managing director of Padmini VNA, said, “Should India achieve its EV ambitions and targets, the market opportunity for the decade to 2030 is estimated to be worth around $206 billion by 2030, and the Government has a clear commitment to electrify the auto sector, and we are determined to be a key enabler to fast-track lightweight vehicles to electric propulsion and contribute to cleaning up the chronic air pollution in India.”