The Italian-Indian partnership of Kinetic and Tonino Lamborghini has started off its journey with premium golf carts, but their business play may not be limited to this off-road segment only. As the electrification megatrend progresses, and the mobility landscape evolves, the two partners may tap opportunities in the on-road vehicle segment too. This is part of the potential long-term plans the partners are contemplating at this stage. “This joint venture is from the long term – so never say never. We already had some tools, some brainstorming of what the future may bring to us. But first things first. We will have a lot of time for this dream venture to evolve or to play a role in new products,” Feruccio Lamborghini, VP, Tonino Lamborghini, tells Acko Drive. Sulajja Firodia Motwani added saying, “Right now in our minds”, thus telling us clearly that discussions are ongoing.
While plans may still be more in the minds than on paper currently, the swiftly evolving mobility industry may present new opportunities for both parties to tap them with form factors beyond golf carts. The JV has already launched the Tonino Lamborghini Golf Cart range in India – designed in Italy and manufactured at Kinetic’s plant in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The venture now aims to expand across key international markets including the UAE, U.S., Southeast Asia, and Europe, targeting luxury hospitality, real estate, and leisure sectors.
While golf carts remain the anchor product of the JV for now, Lamborghini acknowledged that long-term ambitions may stretch into broader automotive categories.
It is noteworthy that both parties dabbled with four-wheelers/cars earlier. And both were aimed at urban mobility. While Tonino Lamborghini showcased its 'Town Life' electric micro car at the 1999 Bologna Motor Show, Kinetic showcased a micro car concept called Aixam at the 1998 edition of the Auto Expo. Will the next generation members of both the entrepreneurial families revisit such ideas, or develop some more innovative ones in tune with the disruptive times? That time will tell, but for now the focus is on building and scaling up the golf cart business, with which the partners want to create some disruption and gain a good foothold in both the Indian and some foreign golf cart markets.
