Prasanna Pant, who became CEO of MAW Vriddhi following the success of Nammi electric vehicles in the Nepali market, is one of the youngest CEOs in the Nepali automotive industry. At MAW Vriddhi, he is overseeing the Seres and Nammi EV brands. In an interview with MeroAuto, Pant talked about reasons behind Nammi hatchback’s success in Nepal, after sales service and new products. Excerpts:
It has been eight months since the launch of Nammi 01 hatchback in Nepal. How has been the response?
Most consumers who have driven the hatchback so far are satisfied. We have found that all consumers are happy with the range offered by Nammi 01. We have not heard any issues regarding defects in the product itself. Therefore, we expect the hatchback to perform even better in the coming days.
Nammi 01 was launched in Nepal when premium hatchbacks were doing will in the market, while there were also budget-friendly options like the Tata Tiago EV. What you you think are the main reasons behind Nammi 01’s strong performance?
During the launch, the Nepali EV market in Nepal was dominated by Tata Tiago EV. However, our car was significantly larger than the Tiago and there were no compromises on features. Features typically found in cars priced at Rs 6-7 million rupees were available in Nammi 01. That is why consumers confidently chose Nammi. The combination of price, features and luxury in a car priced below Rs 3 million attracted consumers toward this hatchback.
Hatchback buyers are typically middle-class families, and they use these cars as family vehicles. This makes it an ideal choice for them. In terms of looks, style, features, range and power, Nammi 01 stands unrivaled. We are approaching consumers with these qualities.
The combination of price, features and luxury in a car priced below Rs 3 million attracted consumers toward Nammi 01.
How are you addressing issues related to after sale service?
MAW’s dedicated EV service center is already operational. Additionally, we are building a new service center in Balkumari, Lalitpur, which will be operational by mid-August). This service center will have sufficient spare parts and skilled manpower. Furthermore, we have already installed over 100 DC fast chargers. Outside the Kathmandu Valley, our dealers will provide 3S (sales, service and spares) services. Necessary works are progressing in this direction. I want to assure consumers that, within the next six months, our service centers will be highly efficient, equipped with complete tools and skilled manpower, and capable of providing services in any part of the country.
Nammi-06 has been spotted in China. What are your plans to bring it to Nepal?
It will definitely come to Nepal. We plan to showcase it at the upcoming Auto Show. The vehicle will first undergo road test for about 5,000 kilometers. If any improvements are needed based on the test results, we will communicate with the manufacturer to make those changes. Our plan to start selling the Nammi-06 SUV before the Dashain festival.
Chinese products are far more feature-loaded compared to Indian vehicles. It is not wise to compare on the basis of parts only.
With just one product, you have captured 5-6% of the market. What is your plan for after the Nammi-06 launch?
There are currently 17-18 models in the hatchback market. We have captured 22% of that market. The market share of SUV will be even larger. With two models, we aim to achieve a 10-12% market share. For this, we are working on pricing, service and dealer networks. We plan to soon expand to 15 dealers to build a strong network across the country. Through all these efforts, we aim to position the Dongfeng Nammi as the number one brand in the market.
MAW Group has faced accusations of charging high prices for services and spare parts. What do you say?
Chinese products are far more feature-loaded compared to Indian vehicles. It is not wise to compare on the basis of parts only. EVs have crystal headlamps, which are naturally more expensive than standard ones. Even the side mirrors in EVs come with sensors, cameras and other features. We need to explain these aspects to consumers. The higher cost is due to these premium features. We are always in a position where we need to invest in the service business. Profit is a distant goal for us now.
Another point is that we can only source genuine parts from China. There is no possibility of bringing parts from the grey market. May be the perception of high costs arose from this. We plan to sell parts at fair prices in the market.
