What does it take to build an automotive technology company from the ground up in one of the world's most competitive mobility markets? In Episode 3 of Start to Scale, Autocar Professional's Prerna Lidhoo speaks with Narayan Subramaniam, Co-founder and CEO of Ultraviolette Automotive, about the company's evolution from a Bengaluru startup into one of India's best-known electric two-wheeler brands.
Narayan reflects on Ultraviolette's decade-long journey, explaining how Tesla's early strategy influenced the company's thinking, why it chose to begin with premium, high-performance motorcycles, and the challenges of developing core EV technologies in-house—from battery packs and thermal management systems to vehicle software, connected features and AI-enabled capabilities. He also discusses the company's fundraising journey, its focus on building proprietary intellectual property, and its expansion into European markets.
The conversation also explores Ultraviolette's next phase of growth, including upcoming products such as the X47, Tesseract and Shockwave, its plans to achieve operational break-even in 2026 and EBITDA profitability in 2027, and preparations for a future IPO. Narayan shares his broader vision of establishing Ultraviolette as a globally recognised mobility technology brand originating from India.