As a hotbed for electric vehicle technology and home to the most EV Drivers in the Bay Area, Fremont is excited to welcome a new member to its EV ecosystem. Mahindra GenZe is pioneering a sleek new electric two-wheeler and once you learn more about it, we’re pretty sure you’ll want one for your university student, or for your own quick trips around town and to the train station.

1.In a nutshell, how do you describe the GenZe product and its target market?

The GenZe 2.0 is a two-wheeled all-electric eco ride that helps urban commuters and students get to where they need to go – with all their stuff – in the most efficient manner possible.

At Mahindra GenZe, we innovate to solve the problems of urban mobility. Whether you are a student on a university campus, or an urban commuter, it’s increasingly difficult and expensive to own, park and maintain a car.

What these customers need is an alternative, more efficient mode of transport . The GenZe 2.0 is just that. It does not require gas or maintenance. It has a removable battery pack and it occupies a small footprint, making parking much easier. The Genze 2.0 is a true commuter solution, designed not just to transport the rider,but the things that he or she needs to transport along the way. Indeed, the GenZe is built to accommodate bags of groceries, laundry and backpacks. There’s even a protected compartment under the seat that allows charging a laptop during the ride. We call it the ultimate mobile device.

2.Talk about the name GenZe—what does it mean?

The GenZe name (the word) has two meanings. It refers to both future generations, and to those that embrace zero emission vehicles.

3.Similar to Tesla, it seems you are paying particular attention to the customer experience for buying a vehicle and we hear this strategy is paying off!

It is! We have a completely new product that is not a traditional scooter or a bicycle – rather, it’s a completely new and easy-to-ride electric two-wheeler that will make commutes easier. To show people how friendly and fun the GenZe is, we want to tell them the our story and let them experience the ride. So, we have opened up a Customer Experience Center at 429 University Avenue in Palo Alto and are about to open up our second center at our Fremont Headquarters – 2901 Bayview Drive. Of course, the GenZe is also available online at www.genze.com. Our primary interface with the consumer, however, will be through Mobile Retail. We are taking the GenZe to the customerand meeting them at their pain points (trains stations, parking ramps etc.) to let them experience its advantages first hand.

So far, reception has been great. We’ve already pre-sold a substantial number of GenZe’s, which will be delivered late this year.

4.We’ve noticed your robust marketing efforts, including the GenZe blog, which of course we admire! How else are you connecting with customers?

We are bringing test rides to town in August. We’re excited to show just how easy it is to hop on and ride. To that end, we are sponsoring product giveaways and organizing experiential events all around the Bay Area. Social media is, of course, is also a large part of the connection puzzle. Customers can connect with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mahindragenze or on Twitter at @MahindraGenZe to find out more about test ride events and our exciting promotions.

Right now, we are running an exciting contest where you can win a GenZe by entering at: http://contest.genze.com/urban-commuters-need-smar…

5.It’s important to talk about the fact that you are manufacturing the product in the U.S. What drove the decision to manufacture domestically?

We developed the GenZe though extensive research with urban commuters and college students right here in California and North America. The design specifications and features were conceived to meet our customers’ daily transportation needs. To continue that ask first, design next consumer driven approach, we needed design and engineering teams who really understand the US consumers needs. We’re also committed to building the product where the talent and resources exist.