A week after awarding a Rs 1,120-crore order for electric cars to Tata Motors, state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd has offered to give 40 percent of the order for 10,000 e-vehicles to Mahindra & Mahindra provided it matches the former’s bid.
EESL had in August floated a global tender for 10,000 e-vehicles to replace five lakh petrol and diesel cars used by the government over three to four years. Tata Motors quoted the lowest in the bidding process on September 28, at Rs 10.16 lakh per car without goods and service tax (GST). The vehicle will be provided to EESL for Rs 11.2 lakh including GST and a comprehensive five-year warranty.
Now, Mahindra, which was the second lowest bidder offering e-cars for around Rs 13 lakh each, stands a chance to win 40% of the order, given it matches Tatas’ offer, Kumar said. EESL has given the company a week to respond to the government, on the basis of which the letters of award will be given to the companies.
In the first phase of the procurement, EESL will buy 500 e-cars. The remaining order will be procured in a second phase. The e-vehicles are expected to start coming in by middle of November.
By Baishakhi Dutta
