Terra Motors expects to roll out models of electric bikes in Viet Nam this year. — File Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub)  — Japanese electric bike firm Terra Motors said that it has started manufacturing electric bikes in Viet Nam in HCM City's Cat Lai industrial Zone.

It said that the US$ 10 million factory, which is wholly owned by Terra, manufactures e-scooters and e-bikes. "Terra Motors Viet Nam is planning to manufacture 9,500 e-scooters and 9,900 e-bikes in 2014," said General Director of Terra Motors Viet Nam Shingo Hayashi.

He added that Terra Motors, which is Japan's leading electric bike firm, plans to invest more for increasing the capacity to 50,000 units in 2015 and 100,000 units in 2016. "Our main market is Viet Nam, but we also export to the EU and the ASEAN countries" he stated.

The first model named A4000i, which has been completely designed in Japan and has new technology which can link it to an iPhone, will be launched in Viet Nam in June 2014. Hayashi said the people in Viet Nam are suffering from high gasoline prices and air pollution.

Founded in 2010, Terra Motors' headquarters are based in Shibuya, Tokyo, and has branch offices and factories in Viet Nam and the Philippines.

The company currently has over 1,000 dealers and 3,000 service networks in Japan. — VNS