Electric motorcycles could witness a sharp increase in adoption over the next three years, following a growth trajectory similar to that of electric scooters, as demand for performance-oriented models increases and consumers become more comfortable with the technology, according to Ultraviolette Automotive Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Niraj Rajmohan.
Speaking at the Autocar Professional’s India EV Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Rajmohan said electric motorcycles were beginning to show signs of wider consumer acceptance, particularly in the premium and aspirational segments, where buyers increasingly consider electric alternatives to petrol-powered motorcycles.
He compared the emerging electric motorcycle market with the earlier growth of electric scooters, where penetration rose from around 1% to double digits over several years.
"I foresee that the next three years for motorcycles are likely to be that," he said, referring to the possibility of a similar increase in adoption.
However, Rajmohan stopped short of providing a specific market penetration forecast for 2030, saying adoption would vary across motorcycle categories, including commuter, street, sports, cruiser and adventure motorcycles.
The outlook comes as electric motorcycles remain a small part of India's two-wheeler market, despite the rapid growth of electric scooters.
According to JATO Dynamics, electric motorcycles accounted for just 0.2% of total two-wheeler registrations in September 2026, compared with 10.6% for electric scooters. Motorcycles, including petrol models, continued to account for 52.7% of the overall market.
Ultraviolette has previously expressed confidence in the segment's growth potential. In September, co-founder and CEO Narayan Subramaniam had said that electric motorcycles could account for as much as 20% of India's motorcycle market within two to three years.
Premium Motorcycles Could Lead Adoption
Rajmohan said Ultraviolette had deliberately focused on aspirational motorcycles after studying consumer preferences across different two-wheeler categories.
He explained that entry-level motorcycles, particularly those in the 100cc segment, are primarily purchased for utility, while buyers of motorcycles above 150cc increasingly seek performance, technology and an upgrade in riding experience.
According to him, these differences are important in determining which motorcycle categories are likely to electrify first.
"What we work towards is actually intersecting with the growth path and not necessarily looking to the past and saying, what has worked in the past will work in the future," he said.
Rajmohan also argued that Ultraviolette's motorcycles should be compared with petrol-powered models offering similar performance rather than cheaper commuter motorcycles.
He said several petrol motorcycles in the 200cc to 400cc categories were priced at around Rs 2.5 lakh or higher, putting Ultraviolette's products in a comparable price range.
The company recently launched the X-47 Venom at an introductory starting price of Rs 2.65 lakh, ex-showroom, for the first 5,000 customers. Built on the new VX-100 platform, the motorcycle offers a claimed range of up to 343 km with its 11 kWh battery option.
Ultraviolette is also preparing to expand into more affordable segments with its upcoming Shockwave electric motorcycle and Tesseract scooter, both expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Long-Distance Commuting, Rural Demand Show Wider Acceptance
Rajmohan said electric motorcycles were increasingly being used for longer daily commutes, challenging the perception that they were suitable mainly for short urban journeys.
Citing Ultraviolette's vehicle usage data, he said some customers were travelling 150-200 km daily on routes including Bengaluru-Mysuru, Bengaluru-Hosur and Mumbai-Pune.
"I'm not talking, you know, once a week, I'm talking about every day 150 kilometres, 200 kilometres," he said.
According to Rajmohan, lower operating costs make electric motorcycles attractive for customers covering such distances, despite their relatively high upfront prices.
He argued that the economics of electric motorcycle ownership had become increasingly competitive, although concerns about initial purchase prices and charging availability continued to influence consumer perceptions.
The company has also witnessed interest from smaller towns and rural markets, including areas where Ultraviolette does not yet have a sales presence.
Rajmohan said some customers had travelled as far as 400 km to purchase motorcycles before returning to their hometowns.
He added that such demand had prompted Ultraviolette to expand its service network before increasing its sales presence in some markets.
The company is investing in additional manufacturing capacity to support its expansion. According to a Reuters report, Ultraviolette plans to invest approximately Rs 779 crore over five years in a new facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, with an initial annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles, expandable to 500,000 units.
Battery Cell Localisation Remains a Major Challenge
While expressing confidence in future demand, Rajmohan identified India's dependence on imported battery cells as a major challenge for the industry's long-term growth.
He estimated that battery cells account for approximately 20-30% of the cost of an electric vehicle, making domestic cell production important for improving cost competitiveness.
Rajmohan questioned why India had yet to develop battery cell manufacturing at scale, despite the presence of numerous manufacturers in China and other Asian countries.
"We still don't get cells made in India. If it can be figured out and there are hundreds of companies in China, dozens of companies in Southeast Asia, why is it taking so long to be able to manufacture cells in India?" he said.
He acknowledged that several companies were attempting to establish domestic production and expressed confidence that these efforts would eventually succeed.
India has introduced a Rs 18,100 crore production-linked incentive scheme to support 50 GWh of advanced chemistry cell manufacturing capacity.
Rajmohan said semiconductors and rare earth magnets were two other areas where India remained dependent on imports, although investments were beginning to emerge in both segments.
He also highlighted the importance of expanding charging infrastructure and strengthening supply chains to support growing electric motorcycle demand.
Referring to the Middle East crisis, Rajmohan said geopolitical disruptions could simultaneously increase demand for EVs and raise raw material costs, creating uncertainty for manufacturers.
"We do live in uncertain times, but EVs are sure to grow and that is a positive thing," he said.