Shabri Investments: Where Livelihoods Meet Clean Mobility

The NBFC segment in India, particularly EV and last-mile mobility financing, is going through a challenging period of liquidity crunch, increased scrutiny by regulators, and increased credit risk.

The pressure on lenders has been heightened by limited access to cheap capital, asset and liability mismatch, and rigorous compliance requirements.

Meanwhile, the underserved auto-rickshaw drivers also have their own complexities, including irregular cash flows, poor credit history, and operational risks due to vehicle downtime.

With the rise of electric mobility, NBFCs have to keep up with new technology, changing customer demands and expectations, and the sustainability and scalability of lending models.

Shabri Investments Private Limited has developed a unique, driver-centric strategy in light of this to assist clients in overcoming these barriers.

To address risk, the company offers flexible daily repayment, credit assessment strength, digital onboarding, and close monitoring of the portfolio.

Through powerful OEM partnerships and comprehensive domain knowledge of EV 3-wheeler funding, the company facilitates expansive growth and assists India in evolving into sustainable mobility.

Beyond Lending & Enabling Livelihoods

Shabri Investments has meticulously developed its services with a clear purpose of ensuring that underserved auto rickshaw drivers can shift to electric-powered mobility without any financial burden or operational inconvenience.

Being one of the pioneering NBFCs in India to specialize in EV financing, especially 3-wheeler funding, the company has a holistic, driver-centric service platform, extended well beyond traditional lending.

Our services are designed around the daily realities of auto drivers, not generic finance models. For us, financing is not just about lending, it’s about enabling livelihoods

Cedrick Tandong, Founder & CEO

The most fundamental aspect of what the company provides is customized EV financing, based on the actual patterns of cash flows of daily-earning drivers.

Unlike the conventional monthly EMI, the company offers a daily repayment scheme, which will enable drivers to repay small amounts based on their daily earnings.

The method has a major impact in reducing repayment anxiety and enhancing portfolio health and financial inclusion of drivers with limited or non-traditional credit histories.

Technology-driven processes are highly supportive of the services that the company provides. The speed, transparency, and easy access will be guaranteed by digital onboarding, simplified documentation, expedited loan approvals, and digital payment flexibility.

These online capabilities are enhanced by an excellent on-ground fieldwork team to offer practical assistance, which builds confidence and makes sure that drivers are not left alone to navigate systems.

One of the most significant points of divergence in the service portfolio of the company is the in-house vehicle repair and maintenance support. In the case of EV auto drivers, vehicle downtime is di­rectly related to daily earnings.

The company handles this painful aspect by providing fast repair services with its own staff and ensuring smooth integration with OEMs.

This combined assistance reduces the downtime to a minimum, ensures that driver liveli­ hoods are not compromised, and the company gains the credit risk, a win-win model.

The company also collaborates with OEMs and co-lending institutions, along with its associated company, Three Wheels United (TWU), allowing Shabri to provide competitive financing, quicker turnaround, and increased risk management.

“Our services are designed around the daily realities of auto drivers, not generic finance models.

For us, financing is not just about lending, it’s about enabling livelihoods,” says Pullak Gupta, COO, Three Wheels Capital/Shabri Investments.

Powering the EV Transition with a Driver-First Vision

Shabri Investment’s journey is deeply rooted in understanding the realities of India’s last-mile mobility ecosystem and started more than 15 years ago with TWU. “TWU aimed at assisting auto-rickshaw drivers in obtaining basic documentation and gaining access to conventional vehicle loans.

It has now developed into a more focused, purpose-driven NBFC that focuses on promoting electric mobility. This direct, on-the-job exposure to drivers provided the organization with a unique, first-hand understanding of cash-flow issues, earning patterns, and the daily risk exposure of this underserved segment,” says Cedrick Tandong, Founder & CEO, Three Wheels United/Shabri Investments.

The company is registered with the RBI, and it became one of the first NBFCs in India to finance EV 3-wheelers exclusively. The company has dealt with close to 40,000-50,000 drivers over the years and funded over 2,900 three-wheelers in Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Hyderabad that are powered by electricity.

Every milestone, such as funding 4-stroke auto rickshaws to EV adoption, has strengthened the driver-centric philosophy of Shabri.

Looking ahead, Shabri Investments' roadmap is rooted in growth, technology, and sustainability. Geographic expansion is another top priority, and the company intends to penetrate further in high potential EV markets in India.

Digital transformation will also facilitate the onboarding, credit checks, payouts, and repayments, improving transparency and turnaround time. The firm also strives to enhance its collaboration with OEMs, fintechs, and ecosystem participants in order to provide end-to-end EV ownership.

The strong leadership team comprising of Raghvendra, Rohita, Tejas, Sudhakar and Prabhu with 15+ years of experience, aims to drive holistic growth in the EV industry.

At its core, Shabri’s future vision goes beyond financing. The company aims to empower underserved drivers and also play an active role in the clean-energy transformation of India.

Through integrating inclusive finance, operational innovation, and environmental responsibility, Shabri Investments is not only becoming an NBFC but is also becoming a long-term partner in creating a more equitable mobility ecosystem that is greener.