Quantum, an electric citycar , will arrive in the Mexican market in 2023 with the aim of becoming the most accessible battery model in the Mexican market. The brand has two models, E3 and E4, both with capacity for three passengers and with a price that in the Mexican market will be less than 200,000 pesos.
Behind these models will be the company Quantum Motors Mexico, whose partners are the Mexican Industrial Power and the Bolivian manufacturer Quantum.
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said this week that the arrival of this model in the Mexican market, the product of a joint effort between Mexico and Bolivia, represents one of the most important steps in the change to more affordable and cleaner mobility schemes in Mexico.
Initially, these vehicles will be manufactured jointly between Mexico and Bolivia, although the intention in the medium term is to develop a local supply chain. Today, the engines and the chassis are already manufactured in Mexico, while the local production of the suspension is underpinned.
The idea is that both companies combine knowledge in the market for small electric vehicles. Quantum has experience in issues related to the manufacture of these vehicles, while the Mexican Industrial Power will support with facilities and production capacity.
“The idea is that the assembly and manufacture of these vehicles be kept in Mexico,” said Roberto Gottfried, CEO of Poder Industrial, a company of Mexican origin, in an interview with Expansión .
The goal is to manufacture around 500 units in 2023. Depending on demand, the company will develop “an action plan” that allows it to increase its production capacity.
What features will Quantum have?
Gottfried explained that the Quantum vehicles have a range of between 70 and 100 kilometers, depending on the customer’s needs. Owners will be able to recharge the vehicle at any 110-volt outlet, with a charge time of four to six hours.
The manager foresees that these cars will be “very attractive” for last-mile companies that are looking for small electric charging solutions or even for patrolling in historic centers, Magical Towns and areas that are difficult to access for large vehicles.
Likewise, he sees an area of opportunity in people who live in small and medium-sized cities, who are looking for a “simple and reliable solution to go and return to their offices”.
What price will it have?
Gottfried points out that his goal is for any unit in the Quantum range to be offered for less than 200,000 pesos, however, he highlights that the price list is still being detailed, as a consequence of the breaks in the supply chains and the increase in prices of some inputs, mainly lithium batteries and power electronics.
A price below 200,000 pesos would make Quantum a model
Until now, the most affordable electric citycar in the Mexican market is the JAC E10x, which can be had from 420,000 pesos. The rest of the models exceed 700,000 pesos.
The price still represents a barrier to the massification of technology. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, at the end of 2021, 1,140 electric vehicles were sold in Mexico, equivalent to 0.1% of the total number of new models sold last year.
“We believe that this solution is key for the electrical transition in Mexico to be carried out in an organized and safe manner. We are aware of the challenge we have but we are also confident that we can move forward, hand in hand with our partners in Bolivia and in general with the entire chain of Mexican suppliers that currently has Industrial Power”, he concluded.
