Bijliride to Expand Franchise Network to 25+ Indian Cities

Bijliride, an electric two-wheeler rental platform, has announced plans to expand its franchise network across more than 25 cities in India, targeting approximately 150% growth in fleet operations over the next 12 to 18 months. The move marks one of the company's most significant scale-up efforts since its founding in 2020.

The company said it aims to onboard up to 30 franchise partners by March 2027 and grow its fleet from the current 4,000 vehicles to between 10,000 and 15,000 electric two-wheelers. Six new franchises have already been onboarded in Hyderabad as part of this initial phase, with the city's surrounding urban clusters also being considered for further expansion.

The expansion will operate under a Franchise Owned–Franchise Operated (FOFO) model, in which local partners own and manage their fleets while Bijliride provides centralised technology infrastructure and an operational framework. The platform offers real-time vehicle tracking, fleet performance analytics, rental management systems, battery management protocols, and standardised servicing processes — functions designed to maintain consistency across geographically dispersed operations.

Cities under evaluation span multiple regions of the country and include Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Surat, Kochi, Nagpur, Lucknow, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Goa, Pondicherry, Mysore, and Warangal, among others. The company said markets were shortlisted based on measurable demand from logistics operators, gig economy platforms, and urban commuters seeking alternatives to fuel-based transport.

A standard entry-level franchise fleet consists of around 50 electric two-wheelers, requiring an estimated investment of ₹14–16 lakh, depending on vehicle specifications and local market conditions. Under stable utilisation, Bijliride projects a break-even period of 12 to 15 months, with recurring revenue flowing from fleet rentals and enterprise mobility tie-ups. The model is positioned as an entrepreneurship opportunity for individuals looking to enter the EV mobility space without building technology or supply chain infrastructure from scratch.

Beyond fleet operations, Bijliride said it provides franchise partners with support in driver onboarding, local demand generation, and marketing. The company also acts as an intermediary, connecting franchise fleets with demand from gig platforms, logistics companies, and local delivery businesses — a function that the company says is important for maintaining strong vehicle utilisation rates, particularly in the early months of a franchise's operations.

"Electric mobility demand in India is growing rapidly, particularly among gig workers and last-mile delivery operators," said Shivam Sisodiya, CEO and Co-Founder of Bijliride. "At this stage, our focus is disciplined scale. The FOFO model allows us to grow responsibly by partnering with local entrepreneurs who understand their markets while leveraging our technology platform and operational systems. This structure enables us to expand faster while ensuring fleets are managed efficiently on the ground."

The FOFO structure also allows Bijliride to limit its own capital exposure while accelerating geographic reach — a model that has been used by companies in food and retail franchising and is increasingly being adopted by mobility and logistics startups seeking asset-light growth.

The announcement comes at a time when India's electric two-wheeler segment is seeing increased activity from both established automakers and newer entrants. Rising fuel prices, expanding government incentives under schemes such as FAME and state-level EV policies, and the growth of app-based delivery platforms have together increased demand for affordable, low-emission vehicles among working riders. Two-wheeler EV registrations in India have grown steadily over the past three years, with fleet operators and rental companies emerging as a notable demand segment alongside retail consumers.

Bijliride's model sits at the intersection of fleet management and platform services. Unlike consumer-facing EV brands, the company's primary customers are franchise operators and enterprises rather than individual end-users. Its platform includes 24/7 battery swapping and on-road support — services that reduce downtime for riders who depend on their vehicles for daily income.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New Delhi, Bijliride currently operates a fleet of over 4,000 electric two-wheelers across major Indian cities. The company's longer-term goal, as stated in its public communications, is to enable one million users on its platform by 2030.