Zelio E-Mobility Ltd Q2 FY2026 Concall Summary & Transcript Notes

Source transcript PDF: https://www.stockscans.in/document/rtchrkzuu9nyekxgpkqwdp7b.pdf

# 1. Financial Performance

## A. Key Figures
   * **Revenue:** **₹134.78 Cr** H1 FY26 (+80% YoY)
   * EBITDA: ₹15.36 Cr H1 FY26 (+71% YoY)
   * **PAT:** **₹11.8 Cr** H1 FY26 (+70% YoY)

## B. Revenue Growth
   *   **Strong Top-Line Acceleration:** Revenue surged on robust demand and potential expansion into new product categories, with H1 FY26 sales reaching **~₹130 Cr**—a significant jump from prior-year levels.
   *   **Volume Validation:** E-Mobility unit sales of **531 vehicles in 2025** support commercial traction, with pricing held at **₹45,000 per unit**.

## C. EBITDA & PAT
   *   **Healthy Margin Resilience:** 2-wheeler segment maintains a **13% EBITDA margin**, underpinned by efficient operations and growing urban adoption.
   *   **Margin Improvement Pathway:** 3-wheeler margins currently depressed due to outsourced manufacturing, but poised for recovery upon commencement of **in-house production**.

## D. ROE & ROCE
   *   **Capital Efficiency:** Solid returns achieved despite early-stage scale, with **zero subsidies**, **minimal marketing spend**, and **no post-IPO equity dilution**, highlighting capital discipline.

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# 2. Volume & Sales Trends

## A. Key Figures
   * **2-Wheeler Sales:** **11.4 lakh** high-speed EVs FY25 · **8.2 lakh** slow-speed EVs FY25
   *   **2-Wheeler Sales:** **37,000 units** FY25 · **30,000 units** H1 FY27
   *   **3-Wheeler Sales:** **400 units** H1 FY26 (**1,000 unit** full-year target)
   *   **Cumulative Sales:** **Over 70,000 vehicles** sold to date
   *   **Market Share:** **4–5%** current · **2–3%** prior year · targeting **>5–6%** next year

## B. 2-Wheeler Sales
   *   **Strong Volume Growth:** High-speed and slow-speed 2-wheeler segments both show robust momentum, with slow-speed nearly half the size of high-speed and growing in parallel.
   *   **Accelerating Demand:** H1 FY27 sales of 30,000 units already match prior full-year volumes, indicating a sharp uptick in adoption and scaling.

## C. 3-Wheeler Sales
   *   **Livelihood-Driven Adoption:** 3-wheeler demand primarily fueled by unemployed individuals upgrading from 2-wheelers to electric rickshaws for income generation.
   *   **Strategic Network Buildout:** Focus remains on establishing dealer and sales networks ahead of volume ramp, with Zelio E-Mobility data fully aligned with official 3-wheeler industry reporting.

## D. Market Share
   *   **Outperformance vs. Industry:** Zelio’s **84% 3-year CAGR** far exceeds the sector’s ~30% growth, driven by rural dominance, Bharat-centric design, and compelling dealer economics.
   *   **Ambitious Share Target:** Despite a fragmented market, management targets **20–25% share** long-term, supported by new model launches, **geographic expansion into Odisha and Tier 1 cities**, and R&D-led product refinement.
   *   **Data-Backed Market Entry:** Expansion strategy relies on ground-up market surveys by fresh sales teams to assess competition and potential before structured rollout across cities and states.

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# 3. Manufacturing & Capacity

## A. Key Figures
   *   **2-Wheeler Capacity:** **72,000 units/year** current · **120,000 units/year** post-expansion (Feb)
   *   **3-Wheeler Capacity:** **2,000 units/year** current · **24,000 units/year** post-expansion (Apr)
   *   **New Facility Output:** **50,000 units/year** (Odisha 2W) · **24,000 units/year** (Patan 3W)
   *   **Capex:** **<₹3 Cr** for Odisha plant (assembly-focused, low-cost setup)

## B. Plant Utilization
   *   **Full Utilization:** Current Hisar facility operating at **full capacity** for 2-wheelers, underpinning urgency for expansion.
   *   **Vertical Integration Shift:** Transitioning from third-party manufacturing to **in-house production of major components**, enhancing control and margin potential.
   *   **Near-Term Priority:** Focus remains on **completing new facilities swiftly**, prioritizing 2-wheeler scale-up before aggressive 3-wheeler volume push.

## C. New Facilities
   *   **Strategic Geographic Expansion:** Odisha plant (Bhubaneswar) selected after **6–7 month logistics and market analysis**, set to boost **East & South India** reach and cut delivery lead times.
   *   **Low-Capex, High-Impact Model:** Odisha facility is a **minimal-investment assembly hub** with potential subsidies, enabling fast deployment and **immediate revenue generation**.
   *   **Dual-Phase Ramp-Up:** **Odisha plant operational by February** (2W only); **Patan 3W plant and integrated Odisha fabrication/paint shop by April 2026**, enabling full in-house 3-wheeler production.

## D. Production Capacity
   *   **Scalable Infrastructure:** Hisar plant designed with **modular assembly line**, allowing seamless expansion from 72,000 to 120,000 units annually.
   *   **Mass-Market Ambition:** Target to reach **200,000 units combined annual capacity** across 2W and 3W segments, signaling aggressive scale intent.
   *   **Cautious Volume Outlook:** Despite high capacity additions, management remains **conservative on near-term volume targets** due to ramp-up timelines and quality assurance.

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# 4. Product & Segment Mix

## A. Key Figures
   *   **2-Wheeler ASP:** **₹40,000–45,000**
   *   **3-Wheeler ASP:** **₹110,000**
   *   **Battery Replacement Cost (2-Wheeler):** **₹10,000** (lead-acid, ~2-year lifespan)

## B. High vs Low Speed
   *   **Strategic Focus on Bharat:** Company is squarely positioned in the **slow speed EV segment**, targeting mass-market, non-premium customers including students, women, and service workers in semi-urban and rural India.
   *   **Structural Growth Advantage:** Slow speed EVs dominate in **Bharat regions** due to no license/registration requirements, low cost, and alignment with daily mobility needs—representing a large, underreported growth engine.
   *   **Market Parallelism:** Both high-speed and slow-speed EV segments are expanding simultaneously, with management asserting that **one of every two future EVs** could be a slow-speed vehicle.
   *   **3-Wheeler Differentiation:** Focused on **L3 category e-rickshaws** with speeds ≤35 km/h, carving a niche distinct from legacy players like Bajaj and Mahindra.

## C. 2-Wheeler & 3-Wheeler ASP
   *   **Affordable Pricing Strategy:** 2-wheeler ASP deliberately set between **₹40,000–45,000** to appeal to middle-class households across urban and rural markets, enhancing adoption.
   *   **Battery & Service Model:** Lead-acid battery replacement at ~**₹10,000** after 2 years; **six mandatory services every two months**, with first two free, reinforcing customer retention and service network utilization.
   *   **3-Wheeler Tech Shift:** Full transition to **lithium-ion batteries** with 3-year warranty, driven by cost declines—improving product reliability and competitiveness despite shorter lifespan vs. legacy lead-acid.

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# 5. Supply Chain & Localization

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Localization Rate:** **30%** current level · Target of **80%** in upcoming years
   *   **Import Dependency:** **70%** of raw materials currently imported
   *   **Dealer Network:** **300+** dealers served nationwide
   *   **Field Service Engineers:** **7–8** deployed to support dealer service quality

## B. Indianization Progress
   *   **Strategic Localization Push:** Ambitious move from low base to **80% Indianization** targets key components like plastics, painting, and electrical systems—excluding battery cells—to build supply resilience.
   *   **Subsidiary Drives Integration:** Zelio Auto Components enhances **group profitability** and **spare parts availability** in an asset-light model, laying groundwork for vertical integration and deeper localization.
   *   **Vertical Integration Underway:** Shift from outsourced 3-wheeler fabrication toward in-house production at new Patan plant to improve **cost control and margins**.

## C. Import Dependency
   *   **Supply Chain De-Risking:** Active shift from **high import reliance** to indigenous sourcing, supported by planned Odisha plant that will cut logistics costs and boost regional sales scalability.

## D. Spare Parts Network
   *   **Service Infrastructure Scalability:** Dealer-based service model with **company-trained staff** and **dedicated field/corporate support teams** ensures consistent after-sales quality across urban and rural markets.
   *   **Open Spare Parts Ecosystem:** Genuine parts available to **third-party service providers**, expanding service reach beyond owned network and improving customer retention.
   *   **Efficient Battery Logistics:** Battery replacements executed **within two days** via optimized return logistics, enhancing uptime and customer satisfaction.
   *   **Inventory Discipline:** Maintained **sufficient inventory buffers** to ensure stable supply and on-time delivery performance.

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# 6. Risks & Competition

## A. Market Fragmentation
   *   **Differentiated Brand Positioning:** Zelio positions as the only organized player in the low-speed 2-wheeler segment, leveraging ISO certification and a trust-based brand strategy focused on **quality, durability, and A-class service**.
   *   **Affordable Mobility Vision:** Aiming to become a household name in India by prioritizing customer experience over aggressive marketing spend.

## B. New Entrants
   *   **Confident Competitive Stance:** Management expresses strong conviction in defending market position against potential entrants like Hero or Bajaj, citing **superior product quality, service network, and spare parts availability**.

## C. Demand Uncertainty
   *   **High-Growth 3-Wheeler Opportunity:** Strategic focus on 3-wheelers despite current capacity constraints in 2-wheelers, with past delays attributed to capex and working capital constraints.
   *   **Bullish Long-Term EV Outlook:** Industry projections cited indicate **25 to 5 crore** annual EV 2-wheeler sales by 2034–2035, driven by electrification tailwinds, though specific sizing for slow-speed segment remains unquantified.
   *   **Cost Competitiveness Improving:** Despite limited presence in Odisha due to pricing, expected cost reductions from new plant to enhance demand traction.

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# 7. Guidance & Outlook

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Revenue Forecast:** **₹260–280 Cr** FY'26 · **₹400–450 Cr** FY'27 · **₹800–1,000 Cr** FY'28–'29
   * Sales Volume Target: >60,000 units FY'26 · 100,000 units FY'27 · 17.5 lakh units slow-speed EV market by FY'28
   *   **3-Wheeler Volume Target:** **1,000 units** FY'26 · **3,000 units** FY'27
   *   **3-Wheeler EBITDA Margin:** **7–8% or higher** (post-ramp-up)

## B. Revenue Forecast
   *   **Dominant Facility Contribution:** Odisha plant set to drive majority of revenues, fueled by strong regional demand in East and South India.
   *   **Aggressive Scaling Trajectory:** Revenue outlook reflects ambition to double scale annually, supported by new models, deeper penetration, and expanding dealer network.
   *   **Urban Demand Momentum:** Growing adoption of slow-speed EVs in Tier 1 cities signals expanded market reach and future growth runway.

## C. Sales Volume Target
   *   **Market Share Ambition:** Targeting 5–6% share in slow-speed EV segment by FY'28, aligned with projected 17 lakh-unit total market size.
   *   **Production Ramp-Up:** Annual capacity targeting 1 lakh units by FY'27, underpinned by localization, R&D, and rising Bharat demand.
   *   **H1 Delivery Confidence:** First-half performance on track to deliver half of full-year FY'26 volume target, indicating execution discipline.
   *   **Odisha Demand Surge:** Regional sales expected to grow threefold, highlighting untapped potential and early-mover advantage.

## D. Margin Expectation
   *   **Margin Stability Commitment:** Company prioritizes maintaining current EBITDA and PAT margins despite competitive intensity, leveraging operational efficiencies.
   *   **Odisha Plant Leverage:** Improved plant efficiency expected to support margin resilience, enabling reinvestment in branding and innovation.
   *   **Segment-Specific Guidance:** 2-wheeler margins to remain stable with slight variation; 3-wheeler margins targeted above 7%, signaling path to profitability.
   *   **Sustainable Growth Model:** Strategic focus on financial discipline and market share capture without reliance on subsidies or inflated valuations.