Ather opens first international retail outlet in Kathmandu

Smart electric scooter OEM Ather Energy has officially launched its first international Experience Centre, Ather Space, in Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal. The Ather Space has been opened in association with Vaidya Energy, a subsidiary of Vaidya's Organisation of Industries and Trading Houses (VOITH). Since announcing its entry into Nepal last month, Ather states that it has received a phenomenal response for the Ather 450X e-scooter from customers across Kathmandu.

Ather, in partnership with Vaidya Energy, will soon open its second Experience Centre in a month’s time to expand its presence in the capital city of Kathmandu. Furthermore, the EV startup has ambitious plans to expand its presence to seven cities, with the goal of establishing 10 outlets to cater to the increasing customer base.

Vaidya Energy will not only facilitate the sales and service of Ather products in Nepal, but will also spearhead the establishment of Ather Grids across the country. Ather intends to introduce the 450X to customers in Nepal as an alternative to petrol two-wheelers.

Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather said, “The electric two-wheeler market in Nepal is at a nascent stage, akin to the Indian market’s position 5–6 years ago. From experience, we know that the best way to unlock market potential is to bring high-quality, high-performance vehicles. We believe the market will upgrade to high-performance EVs, and consumer demand will witness explosive growth.”

Commenting on the partnership with Ather, Suryansh Vaidya, CEO, Vaidya Energy said, “The Ather Experience Centre is not just a showroom: it’s a hub for innovation, electric mobility and sustainability. The Ather team in India played a significant role in enhancing my experience in constructing the EC. We collaborated closely on numerous tasks that ultimately led to the successful completion of this project.”

Speaking to Autocar Professional last month, Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy had said: “Ather has pioneered the electric scooter segment in India and while we continue growing domestically, we are really excited about expanding our business footprint to international markets. We have had incredible in-bound demand from multiple markets, and Nepal is the first step in our journey of going international.”

In India, Ather Energy is the first No. 3 player, after Ola Electric and TVS Motor Co. In the first 10 months of CY2023, the company has retailed a total of 88,390 units, accounting for a 13% market share of the total 688,442 electric two-wheelers sold. 

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