Japanese electric two- and three-wheeler manufacturer Terra Motors is preparing to restart exports of its electric rickshaws and e-autos to Africa by the end of 2025. At the same time, the company is looking to strengthen its presence in India with a new manufacturing plant in Bengaluru, according to a senior official from the company.
Founded in Tokyo in 2010, Terra Motors has become a significant player in the electric mobility space in Asia. The company operates manufacturing units in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Japan, serving markets across South and Southeast Asia. Since entering India in 2014, Terra Motors has grown rapidly, with over 400 dealerships across the country.
Terra Motors’ journey in India began with a plant in Kolkata, which now produces between 36,000 and 50,000 e-rickshaws annually. The company also operates a second facility in Manesar, Haryana, with a production capacity of 5,000–10,000 L5 vehicles per year.
Now, the company is focusing on southern India, where it plans to build a new L5 vehicle manufacturing unit in Bengaluru. Additionally, its Kolkata facility will be expanded to include L5 production. Though the exact capacity of the Bengaluru plant has not been revealed, company officials have shared that with the launch of their electric auto, the “KYORO+,” they plan to open 100 dealerships and produce 60,000 units annually by the end of 2025.
“We have seen strong demand for L5 vehicles in markets like West Bengal and Assam. By directly dispatching from our Kolkata plant, we can significantly lower transportation costs, which gives us a major competitive advantage,” said Masanori Takahashi, CTO and Director of Terra Motors. “With our new Bengaluru facility, we can better serve the southern markets, while the Manesar plant will focus on the northern regions, including Delhi and surrounding areas,” he added.
The company is also planning to resume its exports to African countries like Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, markets which were temporarily disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Terra Motors is in talks with local dealers to re-enter these markets. “We are in discussions with potential partners in Africa, but for now, our primary focus is on expanding our operations in India,” said Go Suzuki, Managing Director at Terra Motors.
Additionally, Terra Motors is looking to expand into nearby South Asian nations such as Bangladesh and Myanmar, where demand for electric three-wheelers is steadily rising. “There’s a huge opportunity in these markets,” Takahashi said. “We are witnessing growing interest in electric three-wheelers, particularly in regions where traditional petrol vehicles are less available.”
In terms of financials, the company generated Rs 250 crore in revenue from its electric three-wheeler and financing business in the 2024–25 fiscal year. Terra Motors is now targeting Rs 350–400 crore in revenue by the end of 2025–26, with a long-term goal of exceeding Rs 1,000 crore by 2030.
India’s electric three-wheeler market remains the country’s largest EV segment, with over 60% market penetration. According to the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2025, India has now become the world’s largest electric three-wheeler market for the second consecutive year. India recorded nearly 700,000 e-three-wheeler sales in 2024, a growth of 18% compared to the previous year, outpacing China, which saw a 6% decline in its electric three-wheeler market.
