New book traces Kinetic's journey from humble Luna mopeds to electric future

Automotive historian Adil Jal Darukhanawala has released a new 170-page book titled Kinetic's Electric Energy. The book details the history of Kinetic Engineering under the Firodia family during the final three decades of the twentieth century and explores its current push into the electric two-wheeler market.

The Luna Success

The book starts with the origins of the company and the massive success of the Luna moped. It details how the Luna helped move India from pedal power to motorized travel. Chapters such as 'Lunacy on the Luna' describe a 1982 journey where five college students called the Lunatix spent 90 days riding 18,000 kilometres across the country. Another chapter recounts a 1990 event where four Lunas outran the Deccan Queen Mumbai-Pune train. The book also highlights a team from Pune led by Satish Apte building the world's fastest Luna to beat a rival Hosur-based manufacturer.

Partnerships and Innovation

Later chapters cover Kinetic's partnership with Honda to launch the gearless DX scooter in India. Although the partnership did not last long, it built the brand's reputation for reliable and affordable products. The book also shares details about unused concepts for hybrid scooters and compact city cars created by the company's leadership.

Context

While Kinetic enjoyed massive business growth in the twentieth century, its twenty-first-century operations slowed down after stopping petrol scooter production and struggling with the Motoroyale superbike business. Today, the company aims to revive its past success with the return of the DX electric model in the modern electric vehicle market.