With Hi-Tech Tractors In Shed, Can This Startup Bring The Next Big EV Revolution In India

India’s EV landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift as the nation moves beyond electric two- and three-wheelers to embrace heavy-duty electric vehicles. 

For context, electric buses are slowly becoming more common on Indian roads. In addition, thanks to the country’s growing EV infrastructure and the government’s policy initiatives, electric truck manufacturers are also entering the picture.

Besides, heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles for sectors like construction and agriculture are soon to become a common spectacle in the Indian EV space estimated to breach the $110.74 Bn mark by 2029.

In his recent interview with Inc42, Kunal Khattar of AdvantEdge, one of the top EV investors in India, said that it is the B2B and commercial use cases, more than personal mobility, that will prompt the adoption of EVs in the country.

At this crucial stage, Delhi NCR-based AutoNxt Automation wants to spearhead the country’s EV revolution with its electric tractors that can be used for agricultural purposes, like farm tilling and carrying agricultural products, as well as for industrial use.

AutoNxt, with its electric tractors, not only aims to aid the country in getting rid of pollution-causing, diesel-guzzling tractors but also help farmers lower their farming costs. 

Currently, in its portfolio of offerings, the startup only has one electric tractor, with more innovative tractors on the anvil.

With its range of electric tractors, AutoNxt has set its eyes on capturing the Indian tractor market. Notably, as per the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), the apex body representing tractor and agricultural equipment manufacturers in India, data total sales of tractors, including exports, stood at over 6 Lakh units in the first eight months of 2024. 

While demand in this market fluctuates each year due to seasonal factors, it remains largely robust, driven by exports and non-agricultural sectors. All in all, AutoNxt’s larger aim is to lock horns with legacy players, including Mahindra & Mahindra, John Deere India, and Swaraj Tractor.

Now, before diving into the startup’s plan of action, let’s take a look at its origin story.

AutoNxt’s Inception Story 

AutoNxt was founded in 2016 by Kaustubh Dhonde, who was then a fresh electronic engineering graduate from Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune. 

As an engineer with a passion for robotics and autonomous technology, Dhonde found himself at a career crossroads after graduation. Rather than pursuing a conventional path, he chose entrepreneurship.

Coming from a farmers’ family, Dhonde knew that operating old tractors was a big challenge for farmers due to costs and difficulty in finding labourers to operate them. This made him focus on electric tractors, paving the way for the birth of AutoNxt.

While AutoNxt was founded particularly to solve the issues that farmers face with diesel tractors, the initial years of the startup were difficult as the EV wave had yet to gain significant traction in the country.

At the time, the venture was unique, so raising external funding was difficult for the founder. In a bid to survive, AutoNxt began producing GPS tracking devices and securing MSMEs as customers.

In 2021, AutoNxt was back to its original goals and started working on building electric tractors. The startup picked up momentum when Pankaj Goyal joined AutoNxt as the cofounder and chief operating officer, bringing with him decades of experience from his stints at companies like Schneider Electric, Maruti Suzuki, and others.

“Pankaj was the missing piece in the puzzle that I needed to get the concept and R&D to a product level. We had already developed an R&D prototype, but that was not enough for us to make it commercially viable,” founder and CEO Dhonde said. 

The duo then worked on building a 45 HP tractor, which is a popular choice in India. Finally, after two years, in August 2024, the startup launched its tractor, securing all certifications, including from iCAT.

Currently, AutoNxt’s electric tractors are deployed at 10 sites, per the founders. They added that while their 45 HP tractor is suitable for both agricultural and non-agricultural use cases, the startup is witnessing more traction from enterprise customers who want to use its tractors for various commercial purposes.

In the current fiscal, FY25, AutoNxt is aiming to clock INR 15 to INR 20 Cr in revenue by selling around 150 electric tractors.

Recently, the startup raised about $3 Mn (around INR 24 Cr) in a funding round led by Saama Capital. Google’s Amit Singhal and KKR Capstone’s Suveer Sinha also participated in the round. The startup has raised INR 30 Cr since its inception.

At The Core Of AutoNxt’s EV Tractor

According to its founders, the startup has mastered the entire value chain for building and manufacturing its electric tractors. Although AutoNxt has designed all the parts of its tractor, it does not have in-house manufacturing and leverages a network of Indian manufacturers for tractor components. AutoNxt holds the copyright for its design and has filed patent applications for its technology.

Currently, the startup sells only one electric tractor, X45H2, which comes with a 32 KW motor and produces 45 horsepower. Priced at INR 16.5 Lakh, the tractor is capable of pulling 10-12 tonnes of weight. 

It takes five to six hours to get fully charged and offers a work time of eight hours. With a three-phase power supply charger, X45H2 can be fully charged in about three hours. The tractor is also capable of conducting crop health analysis.

On the contrary, the tractor costs more than a diesel one. However, the machine is quite economical in the long run. In fact, the tractor can do three-four acres of farm work on one charge, reducing diesel costs.

What’s Next For AutoNxt?

Currently, AutoNxt is working on two additional variants of its electric tractor — one with a larger power capacity of 60-65 HP and another smaller model with 20-25 HP. These new vehicles are expected to launch within the next six months. It is also working on building an autonomous electric tractor.  

In sync with its orderbook and growing traction, AutoNxt aims to double or triple its production capacity from the current 75 tractors per month at its phase zero facility.

“We believe the way the traction for our vehicle is growing, we will need to expand to 500 tractors a month capacity in the next three to four years,” Goyal said.

The startup is also planning to build a new production facility in the Delhi NCR region. Besides, AutoNxt is also exploring opportunities in the export market with a sharp eye on some Asian, African, East European, and South American countries. 

To support these ambitious growth and expansion plans, AutoNxt is planning another fundraising round.

For now, as India charges forward with its EV goals to become a clean energy superpower, AutoNxt’s journey will be one to watch closely.

[Edited By Shishir Parasher]

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