Autocar Professional - Latest Articles

Royal Enfield HunterHood Brings Street Culture Festival To Kochi

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:03:46

Royal Enfield’s HunterHood street culture platform held its sixth edition in Kochi on August 8, bringing together music, art, skateboarding, urban sports and creative communities.

The event, inspired by the Hunter 350, featured participants from across Kerala’s street culture ecosystem, including musicians, artists, skaters, designers and urban sports enthusiasts. The Kochi edition followed events in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Shillong and Lucknow.

The main stage featured performances by Tribe Mama MaryKali, Ranj x Clifr, GABRI, MC Couper, Baby Jean and Dabzee, while the community stage included rapper Ameekha Liyana Ansar, DJ Dsco Patrol (Nihell), street culture collective We Are The Boom and Chenda Melam performances.

The event also featured skateboarding showcases by the Fly Squad Skateboarding Community and Kovalam Skate Club, alongside workshops and experiences covering skimboarding, football, cricket, basketball and graffiti. Live graffiti, visual art and interactive installations were presented by artists and collectives including HH Art Spaces, Alan Pappy, Trespassers, SquidWorks, Karthik Venugopal, Samriddhi Arora and Om Chopra.

The event also featured custom motorcycles from XLNC Customs, JD Customs, Garuda Machina, Kunwar Customs and Eimor Customs.

Ahead of the main festival, Royal Enfield hosted a HunterHood Community Pre-Jam on August 7 in collaboration with Loop Skatepark, bringing together local skaters and street communities.

The Kochi event also included an immersive light tunnel featuring moving lights, Malayalam conversations and cinema dialogues, designed around the city’s streets, sounds and cinematic culture.

Triumph to Introduce New Moto2 Race Engine in 2027

Arunima Pal — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 16:45:20

Triumph Motorcycles will introduce a new race engine for the Moto2 World Championship from 2027, with track testing scheduled to begin in the coming months. The new power unit is expected to deliver around 6% higher peak power than the current engine and will also bring a change in engine capacity.

Triumph has been the exclusive engine supplier for Moto2 since 2019, when it replaced Honda. The new engine represents the most significant performance update to the Moto2 power unit since Triumph began supplying the championship.

The development has been based on data gathered from nearly two million kilometres of racing since 2019, along with feedback from Moto2 riders. The existing 765cc three-cylinder engine, derived from the Street Triple 765 RS, has received several updates over the years, including gearbox changes aimed at improving performance.

According to Triumph, the new engine focuses on increasing airflow into the cylinders. It features a redesigned cylinder head, a lower-inertia valvetrain, higher-flow ports and a new combustion chamber. These changes are intended to enable a higher compression ratio and increase torque across the rev range.

The crankcases and internal components have also been redesigned to handle the additional power and torque. Despite the performance increase, the revised engine is around 2kg lighter than the current unit.

The engine upgrade will also require Moto2 chassis manufacturers to develop new designs for the 2027 season. Changes will be required to the air-intake positioning and engine mounting points, among other areas.

Triumph said it has been working with chassis manufacturers for the past 12 months to provide the technical information required for the new engine. The power unit will be made available to Moto2 teams ahead of private testing, with its on-track debut planned for later this year.

Since Triumph became the Moto2 engine supplier, the championship has recorded close to 100 improvements in all-time and race lap records, according to the company.

Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles, said the new engine marks a step forward in the company's partnership with MotoGP and builds on the development work carried out since 2019.

The new engine will make its competitive debut in the Moto2 World Championship in 2027.

Hero MotoCorp to Launch First Electric Motorcycle in 2027

Kiran Murali — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:18:05

Hero MotoCorp is expected to launch its first electric motorcycle in 2027, with India's largest two-wheeler maker indicating that its debut battery-powered motorcycle will arrive next year as it plans to expand its electric vehicle portfolio beyond scooters.

Speaking to investors on Friday, Hero MotoCorp CEO Harshavardhan Chitale said the company is making steady progress on its electric motorcycle programme and would share more details in the coming months. "We are also further advancing on our electric motorcycle range and you should also hear more about that soon from us," Chitale said.

Autocar Professional had earlier exclusively report that Hero MotoCorp is preparing to enter the electric motorcycle segment in 2027 after strengthening its electric scooter business.

When asked about the timeline for the electric motorcycle programme, Kausalya Nandakumar, chief business officer of Hero MotoCorp’s Emerging Mobility Business Unit, said: "Not this year. We will be looking at products coming in from the next year."

Hero's Electric Motorcycle Platforms — UBEX and VXZ Explained

The upcoming motorcycles will be based on two dedicated platforms that were first showcased at EICMA 2025. Nandakumar said the first concept, codenamed Project UBEX, is an urban-focused naked motorcycle aimed at riders seeking the "thrill and acceleration" of an electric motorcycle while remaining practical for city use.

The second platform, internally codenamed VXZ, is being developed in collaboration with U.S.-based Zero Motorcycles and is positioned as a high-performance electric motorcycle for customers looking for an adventure-oriented product.

"These will be new platforms. While we do take a lot of learnings from our scooter platform, the motorcycle platform now caters to the needs of a motorcycle consumer, and therefore these are new platforms that we are developing with learnings from the scooter platform, but with technology that is suited to what a motorcycle consumer is actually looking for in terms of performance, rideability, gradeability, and range," she said.

Hero MotoCorp's Broader EV Production and Vida Scooter Plans

The electric motorcycle programme forms part of Hero's broader electric mobility strategy. In the medium term, the company plans to increase its monthly EV production capacity to 45,000 units in the current financial year 2027 from 15,000 units at the end of the previous financial year, supported by rising demand for its Vida electric scooters. It has also expanded the Vida lineup with new variants to cater to different customer requirements and expects them to contribute meaningfully to volumes over the coming quarters.

Hero MotoCorp is the largest shareholder in electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy, whose co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta recently said the company has no near-term plans to enter the electric motorcycle segment, underscoring the different product strategies being pursued by the two companies.

E3 Electric Offers its First E-Scooter that Local Mechanics can Repair

Anurag Chaturvedi — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:04:57

E3 Electric.Ai has built a detachable rim into the Trion's hub motor, allowing a damaged wheel with the attached motor to be repaired at a local workshop rather than at a dealership. The company says it does not intend to earn from servicing.

"The roads in India are really bad. The abuse of two-wheelers in India is massive. What if a rim bends? Are you going to take the whole rim and the motor back to the service center and wait for it to come? No way," said Sanjeev P, founder and chief executive. He said rim bends are common even on a well-built vehicle.

How the Detachable Rim Hub Motor Works

The Trion uses a direct-drive permanent magnet synchronous motor, or PMSM, mounted inside the wheel. Removing the transmission is what makes the arrangement efficient and what makes it hard to service. "The direct-drive PMSM hub motor is a brilliant solution for great range and performance. But the problem with that is being able to service it," Sanjeev said at the launch. E3's answer is a one-piece rotor ring developed in-house, which pairs the motor with a detachable 14-inch rim.

The motors going back to plants are not failing motors, he said. "People wait for motors to come back from their plant. This is not to blame any other EV company. It's also not their fault, because they didn't know that so many motors would fail. It is not motor failure; it's a wheel failure, rim failure."

What's Covered: Dealership Service vs. Local Repair

He was specific about how far the arrangement goes. "This is one problem statement we're talking about related to the ring. The other core elements of service are done in the service center of our dealership. We follow a dealership model," he said. Service income accrues to the dealer.

The company is not chasing that income. "The objective is not to build a company based on service income; it's about ensuring customers' uptime," Sanjeev said.

Open Service Network and Warranty Details

Asked whether the network would be captive or open, he said, "I think service has to be open. We have to obviously provide easy training. Our parts are extremely modular. If you take the entire powertrain, it's hardly five units, easily fastened," he said. High-voltage electronics are consolidated on one side of the scooter rather than distributed through it, so a single panel opens the system.

The eight-year or one lakh kilometre warranty announced at launch covers the battery. Unfastening a rim does not open the motor and does not affect the motor warranty, he said.

E3 works with more than 60 tier-one partners and intends to own little else. "We are a very asset-light company. Our focus, money, and energy will go only on innovation and tech that makes the experience. Nothing on depleting assets," Sanjeev said.

Keeping work out of the workshop matters most where there are few. Ola Electric, which recently shifted to a dealer-led model that now covers sales and repairs, drew 10,644 complaints to the National Consumer Helpline in the twelve months to August 2024 and a show-cause notice from the Central Consumer Protection Authority.

But an open base in E3’s model is also harder to hold to a standard than a captive one, and it has not said who will certify the mechanics it trains.

E3 launched the Trion in Bengaluru on Thursday from Rs 99,999 ex-showroom. Its first service centre, at Koramangala, opens on 15 August. Deliveries begin the following month.

E3 Electric Signs 30 Dealers, Promises 90 Markets in the First Year

Anurag Chaturvedi — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:16:14

E3 Electric.Ai has signed about 30 dealers ahead of first deliveries in September and has promised at least 90 markets within 12 months.

Dealers will fund the E3 network. "The capex for putting up the dealership comes from the dealer," said Sanjeev P, founder and chief executive. "That's part and parcel of the ROI package. That's where they get exclusivity for a particular zone." Working capital also sits with the dealer. Sanjeev said the arrangement is no different from the model established by two-wheeler makers.

Sanjeev said a manufacturer cannot reproduce what an independent retailer does on the ground. "There's a bit of negotiation, the bit of ownership, that last customer promise and connect. That cannot happen if you're just owning your own showrooms," he said. "What we are owning is the platform that runs the ownership experience."

How E3 Electric's Dealer Data Platform Works

That platform is where he places the difference from the networks he has worked in before. He was Chief Operating Officer of Ampere Electric's two-wheeler business from 2019 to 2022 and business head for electric vehicle entry segments, charging and micromobility at TVS Motor Company from 2022 to 2024.

At E3, data from vehicles to a central command centre is pushed into the dealer's management system to plan parts. "That intelligence flows back to them in the DMS, so they can plan for parts better. They're part of the system now," he said. By contrast, he said, the conventional arrangement ends at dispatch. "We make the product, we ship it out to them, and we are finished. Then the whole customer experience is broken."

E3 Electric's Expansion Plan: South India First, Then North

Sanjeev P said at the launch that expansion will run south first, through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana, then west and north, because southern buyers already ride scooters and need less convincing. "It takes less to educate anyone in the south why you have to buy a scooter or an EV," he said. "Spend less on awareness and spend more on technology." He put scooter penetration in markets such as Jaipur and Udaipur at 20 to 30 percent, but plans to reach there gradually. Bengaluru will get four experience centres. The first is at Koramangala, which opens on 15 August and also functions as a service centre.

Who Are E3 Electric's Dealer Partners?

The dealers signing up are largely from outside two-wheelers. Sanjeev said they include dealers of tier-one four-wheeler brands, which he declined to name, and attributed their interest to his record. "They've seen me in action for a long time," he said.

That record was built during stints at legacy companies with significant balance sheets. Based on his account, at Ampere, a Greaves Cotton subsidiary, the network passed 350 dealerships across more than 300 markets. And at Honor, Huawei's smartphone brand, he oversaw expansion to 22,000 retail outlets within 24 months.

E3 raised Rs 100 crore in equity and debt in July, led by BluVenture Holdings, and does not plan to spend it on demand generation. "We're not going to do heavy marketing, branding," Sanjeev said. "We focused all the money, all the resources just to make great products."

E3 Electric's ₹100 Crore Funding and Ather Comparison

The promise of 90 markets in 12 months is a faster ramp than the segment's most successful startup network has managed. Ather Energy went from 351 experience centres in March 2025 to 700 a year later, and from 277 service centres to 500, as a listed company.

In April 2025, E3 said it would have more than 1,000 showrooms across over 600 towns by 2030. The figure did not feature at Thursday's launch.

E3 Electric.Ai Eyes Fleet Vehicles from its First Scooter Platform

Anurag Chaturvedi — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:09:58

E3 Electric.Ai has said the prospect of more utilitarian vehicles was the one of the top reasons it built its first electric two-wheeler, the Trion scooter on a modular platform.

"That's the first reason why we brought the modular platform," said Sanjeev P, founder and chief executive. "You're asking me, will there be subsequent products that are going to be more utilitarian? The answer is yes. More details will follow."

The remark came in answer to a question on whether E3 would replicate the business-to-business fleet channel Sanjeev built at Ampere Electric. He did not commit to a fleet channel and gave no timing, format or customer.

Sanjeev was Chief Operating Officer of Ampere's two-wheeler business, a Greaves Cotton subsidiary, from September 2019 to April 2022. He built its institutional channel around Domino's, BigBasket, Bounce, Amazon, Reliance Jio and eBikeGo, which placed an initial order for 2,000 units. By his own account, Ampere's monthly revenue over that period rose from about Rs 2 crore to about Rs 100 crore and the network passed 350 dealerships across more than 300 markets.

Entrepreneurs were named as one of three buyer groups in the launch presentation, alongside families and young riders travelling to college and office. Asked at the launch what else the platform would carry, Sanjeev said there would be formats other than a scooter, that work on them had already started, and that he did not want to unveil more. On motorcycles, he said the company would do whatever the market required, and that scooters account for 96 to 99 percent of electric two-wheelers sold in India.

The entry variant is the closer fit for fleet duty. The C1 sells at Rs 99,999 ex-showroom in Bengaluru with a removable 2.3 kilowatt-hour pack and 108 kilometres of IDC range, the only Trion with a detachable battery. Removable packs suit high daily utilisation because the vehicle does not stand idle while charging.

Others are moving on the same demand. Ola Electric is reported to be developing scooters specific to fleet operators, aimed at urban delivery and quick commerce. Zypp Electric, which rents to delivery riders for Zepto, Blinkit and Swiggy, runs the one of the largest electric two-wheeler fleet in the country.

Institutional orders would test the pace E3 has set itself. The company has signed about 30 dealers so far, begins deliveries in Bengaluru in September and has said it will expand market by market. Fleet volumes arrive in blocks, carry thinner margins than retail and draw on service capacity the network has not yet built.

E3 has not said whether a utility vehicle would be sold through the same dealer network or direct to fleet operators.

Bajaj Auto Expands Pulsar N160 Range With New N160 S And N160 SS

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:28:43

Bajaj Auto has expanded its Pulsar N160 range with the launch of the new Pulsar N160 S and Pulsar N160 SS, adding two variants equipped with electronic rider aids, a revised 165cc four-valve engine and new connectivity features. The motorcycles are priced at INR 1,33,511 for the N160 S and INR 1,42,585 for the N160 SS (both ex-showroom, Delhi).

Pulsar N160 S, N160 SS: Engine, Ride Modes and Features Explained

The two motorcycles are powered by a new 165cc, four-valve engine producing 18.5 PS. Bajaj Auto has also introduced an Intelligent Throttle (ETB) system that enables four ride modes—Rain, Sport, Road and Off-road—along with features such as Crawl Technology on both variants. The N160 SS additionally gets traction control and a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster with Google Maps mirroring.

Pulsar N160 Range Sees 60% Growth, Bajaj Expands Lineup

According to the company, the N160 range has recorded 60% growth during the first six months of the calendar year, with the new variants introduced as an expansion of the existing lineup. The standard Pulsar N160 will continue to be offered alongside the new models.

Pulsar N160 SS: New Colours, Styling and Ergonomic Updates

The N160 SS also receives styling updates including new graphics, coloured alloy wheels, revised handlebar positioning and seat height. Both new variants will be available in Atlantic Blue, Pearl Metallic White and Brooklyn Black.

"We are taking that success further. The Intelligent Throttle (ETB) forms the foundation of this new generation, enabling advanced technologies such as responsive ride modes, Crawl Technology and Responsive Traction Control while delivering segment-leading performance," said Sarang Kanade, Chief Business Officer, Two-wheeler Business Unit, Bajaj Auto.

Hero MotoCorp Sees 2W Industry Growth Approaching Double Digits in FY27

Kiran Murali — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:44:58

Hero MotoCorp now expects India's two-wheeler industry to grow at close to double digits in the current financial year, citing sustained demand across internal combustion engine and electric vehicles, even as a high base from last year's GST-led recovery is likely to moderate growth in the second half.

The strong momentum seen in the April-June quarter has continued into the current quarter, with July retail sales remaining robust, giving it confidence that the industry will maintain healthy growth through the year despite a tougher comparison base in the second half.

"Two-wheeler industry, in quarter one, the total industry, ICE plus EV put together, grew about 14% in quarter one. We see a similar trajectory for quarter two, looking at how July has started," Hero MotoCorp CEO Harshavardhan Chitale told investors on Friday.

FY26 Two-Wheeler Sales: A Strong Base Effect Going Into FY27

"The second half does have a base effect because of a big jump that happened in sales in H2 last year post-GST. Hence, from a base perspective, the year-on-year growth will be lower, but given the current momentum, we still expect positive growth in H2, and our plans right now are for the full year to approach double-digit industry growth," he said.

Earlier in May, the company had said that it expects the industry to post high single-digit growth in FY27.

ICE and EV Demand Both Firing on All Cylinders in Q1 FY27

India's two-wheeler market entered the current financial year after a strong recovery in FY26, when industry volumes rose 26.4% year on year to 21.71 million units. Demand received a boost following the GST reduction announced midway through last year, helping volumes surpass pre-pandemic levels. Motorcycle sales grew 6.6% to 13.06 million units, while scooter volumes rose 18.5% to 8.12 million units.

Chitale said the demand environment continues to remain favourable across both ICE and electric vehicles. "Starting first with the underlying demand trend in Q1 FY27... two-wheeler industry volumes grew 14% year on year in terms of Vahan, or retail sales, of which 11% was growth in ICE and 67% was in EV," he said. "So, both ICE and EV had strong demand momentum in Q1. This growth was broad-based, supported by improved affordability post-GST rate cuts, as well as healthy urban and rural demand and continued acceleration in EV adoption."

He added that "this strong demand momentum has continued in Q2", with July recording 28% year-on-year retail growth. The management noted that the entry-level motorcycle segment continues to expand, although higher-capacity motorcycles are growing at a faster pace.

Vida EV Lineup Expansion Fuels Hero's Electric Scooter Push

"The 100cc category is also growing, but other ranges, 125cc and above, are growing faster," Chitale said, adding that the affordability gains from the GST cut continue to support first-time buyers entering the market.

Hero MotoCorp remains optimistic about the electric vehicle segment, where it reported a 151% increase in wholesale volumes during the June quarter. The company said demand continues to outpace supply, with minimal inventory at dealerships.

"We have pretty much no channel inventory. You know, it's two to three days, depending on the region. So whatever we are supplying and shipping is actually retailed immediately," Chitale said.

The company recently expanded its Vida electric scooter lineup with the VX2 Plus 4.4 kWh and VX2 Go 3.1 kWh variants and said both are expected to contribute meaningfully to volumes as they gain traction.

Hero MotoCorp to Ramp Up EV Production Capacity to 45,000 Units Per Month in FY27

Kiran Murali — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:03:55

Hero MotoCorp aims to raise its electric vehicle production capacity to 45,000 units per month by the end of the current financial year, tripling capacity from the level at the close of the previous financial year, senior company officials said on Friday.

The company ended the last financial year with a monthly EV production capacity of 15,000 units. That has now increased to nearly 30,000 units and is expected to reach about 45,000 units before the end of financial year 2027, according to the management.

Nil Dealer Inventory Driving Faster EV Rollout

"As we stand today in the first week of August, it has already increased to close to 30,000 per month, and you should see us go to close to 45,000 per month before the end of this financial year," Hero MotoCorp CEO Harshavardhan Chitale said. "So, as we had committed, we are tripling our EV capacity in this financial year."

The company said the capacity addition is backed by robust retail demand, with very little inventory at dealerships. "We have pretty much nil channel inventory. You know, it's 2-3 days, depending on the region. So whatever we are supplying and shipping is actually retailed immediately," Harsh Vardhan said, adding that the company expects the additional capacity to be absorbed quickly.

Vida VX2 Plus and VX2 Go Boost Q1 EV Volumes

Hero MotoCorp has also expanded its Vida electric scooter portfolio during the first quarter. It launched the Vida VX2 Plus 4.4 kWh variant with an IDC-certified range of 187 km and later introduced the VX2 Go 3.1 kWh variant aimed at customers with convenient home and office charging access. Management said both variants are expected to contribute significantly to volumes as they gain traction.

Hero MotoCorp reported a 151% year-on-year increase in EV volumes in the June quarter and said EV revenue stood at around Rs 660 crore. The company expects electric vehicles to contribute a larger share of its revenue as production capacity increases and the product portfolio expands.

Meanwhile, the company said it is also preparing to expand its electric motorcycle portfolio. Harsh Vardhan said Hero would have "a range of motorcycles into the market" before the proposed Delhi EV policy comes into effect.

Hero MotoCorp's Electric Motorcycle Plans: UBEX, Zero Motorcycles Tie-Up

Hero MotoCorp's Emerging Mobility Business Unit Chief Business Officer, Kausalya Nandakumar, said motorcycles based on the UBEX platform and the company's collaboration with Zero Motorcycles are planned for launch next year.

E3 Electric.AI Launches E3 TRION Electric Scooter Starting at Rs 99,999

Dev Vadchhedia — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:08:14

Bengaluru-based startup E3 Electric.AI has launched its first intelligent electric scooter, the E3 TRION, with introductory pricing starting at Rs 99,999 for the base C1 variant (ex-showroom, Bengaluru).

E3 TRION Price and Variants: C1, C1x, C2 Explained

The scooter is offered in three variants: C1, C1x priced at Rs 1,09,999, and C2 priced at Rs 1,19,999. The C1 features a removable 2.3 kWh portable battery pack, while the C1x and C2 variants are equipped with a 3 kWh fixed battery. The C1x delivers an Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) range of 165 km, while the C2 top speed reaches 82 km/h with 0–40 km/h acceleration in 6 seconds.

E3 TRION Range, Speed and Key Specifications

Built on a modular frame architecture with LFP battery chemistry, the scooter integrates 14-inch wheels, IP67 weather protection, dual projector LED headlights, and up to 52 litres of total storage. The model features connected IoT systems offering real-time diagnostics, predictive service alerts, and smartphone integration. Pre-bookings have opened in Bengaluru, supported by an extended warranty of up to 1 lakh km or 8 years.

Sanjeev P., Founder & CEO of E3 Electric.AI, said at the launch, "We set out to build an electric scooter where predictive intelligence is core to the architecture. The E3 Trion has been crafted keeping Indian families in mind, where daily commuting demands reliability, practicality, and peace of mind."

Operational Scaling Nears Profitability for Motherson Wiring’s New Plants

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:15:50

Motherson Wiring has achieved a pivotal operational milestone, confirming that its greenfield projects have reached breakeven status. According to management, these newly established facilities achieved a revenue run-rate of approximately Rs 450 crore in Q4FY26 and sustained this level through the first quarter of FY27.

While these projects are currently neutral to the company's bottom line, they represent a significant step in the firm’s capacity expansion strategy, with meaningful contributions to overall earnings anticipated within the next one to two quarters as operations continue to scale, as per an update by Nuvama Research.

Growth Momentum vs. Margin Pressure:

This operational progress comes at a time of robust top-line expansion. Motherson Wiring reported a 37% year-over-year revenue surge, significantly outperforming the broader passenger vehicle (PV) industry, which grew by 17% in the same period. The growth was fueled by volume gains, premiumisation, and a rising contribution from electric vehicles (EVs), which now account for 8.5% of total revenue.

However, this rapid scaling has encountered temporary profitability hurdles. The company’s EBITDA margin contracted by 220 basis points year over year, landing at 7.6% for Q1FY27. This decline is primarily attributed to a sharp 53% increase in average copper prices and substantial minimum wage revisions across multiple states.

From an industry perspective, the margin squeeze is largely a function of timing. In the automotive component sector, raw material price increases**, particularly** for copper, typically involve a pass-through lag of one to two quarters. Management is currently engaged in constructive discussions with customers to recover these costs.

Way Forward

As the greenfield projects move beyond the breakeven point and the copper cost pass-throughs take effect, the company is positioned to translate its market-leading revenue growth into renewed margin stability. Automotive industry observers will be closely watching the next two quarters to see if the projected earnings from these new facilities materialise as the industry continues its shift toward high-value electrical content.

Simple Energy Expands Siemens Software Stack for Electric Vehicle Engineering

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:40:06

Indian electric two-wheeler manufacturer Simple Energy has expanded its deployment of Siemens cloud-based software to scale product engineering and manage growing vehicle portfolio complexity.

The company extended its adoption of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, incorporating Teamcenter X for product lifecycle management and Designcenter X for advanced 3D vehicle engineering, replacing its legacy CAD systems. The technology stack includes variant configuration tools enabling a 150 percent bill of materials approach, allowing engineering teams to generate specific vehicle configurations from a master digital architecture.

Simple Energy Chief Technology Officer Kiran Poojary said the software integration provides greater control over complex variants and large assemblies, accelerating development timelines. Siemens Digital Industries Software Vice President and Managing Director for India Matthew Thomas added that the integrated lifecycle platform supports the manufacturer's operational scaling targets.

BikeWo Signs MoU to Acquire Majority Stake in Enlite EV Care

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:01:29

BikeWo Green Tech Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire a majority stake in Enlite EV Care, an electric vehicle service and maintenance company, as it looks to expand its presence across the EV value chain. The proposed transaction is aimed at adding organised vehicle servicing, maintenance and lifecycle support to the company's electric mobility business.

The acquisition is intended to strengthen BikeWo's after-sales capabilities as electric vehicle adoption grows across commercial applications such as last-mile delivery, logistics and fleet mobility. As part of the plan, the company intends to establish a network of EV Care Centres focused primarily on B2B customers and commercial EV fleets.

EV Care Centres to Offer Maintenance, Diagnostics and Digital Fleet Tools

The proposed service centres will offer preventive maintenance, diagnostics, repairs, battery and electrical system support, periodic servicing and fleet uptime management. BikeWo and Enlite EV Care also plan to integrate digital tools including vehicle health monitoring, predictive maintenance, service scheduling, digital maintenance records and fleet performance tracking.

"As we prepare to scale our electric mobility operations, building a dependable service and maintenance ecosystem is equally important as expanding vehicle deployment. The proposed acquisition of ENlite EV Care represents a strategic step towards strengthening our capabilities across the EV value chain," said Hiten Pal Saklani, Chief Executive Officer, BikeWo Green Tech Limited.

BikeWo's Long-Term Strategy Across the EV Value Chain

According to the company, the acquisition aligns with its long-term strategy of expanding capabilities across electric mobility, fleet operations, logistics infrastructure, technology and renewable energy. The company said integrating vehicle deployment with organised maintenance and lifecycle management is expected to support the evolving requirements of India's commercial electric mobility sector.

No Near-Term Plans for E-Motorcycle, Probably More Than 2 Years Away: Ather’s Tarun Mehta

Kiran Murali — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:35:02

Ather Energy has no plans to enter the electric motorcycle segment in the near term, instead, it plans to focus more on expanding its new scooter platform even as several rivals prepare to launch battery-powered motorcycles in India.

According to Ather Energy co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Tarun Mehta, the company’s strategy is to first concentrate on rolling out products based on its new EL platform before entering the electric motorcycle space.

"At this point, we are focused on the EL platform and getting at least the first, maybe two products, maybe another product out on it in the next year," Mehta said to investors.

Ather had earlier said it is developing a dedicated motorcycle platform, codenamed Zenith, alongside its EL scooter architecture. The comments indicate that Ather is now taking a measured approach towards a segment that is still at an early stage of adoption.

"Motorcycles are starting to look interesting. But Ather may not be the pioneer this time. We may watch the market. We want to see how consumers respond, which segments show a willingness and an interest towards the segment before we make our maiden launch here," Mehta said.

He added that an electric motorcycle from Ather is not expected anytime soon. "So this, I would say, more than a year away, for sure. Probably two years plus," he said.

The company's strategy comes at a time when India's electric two-wheeler market continues to be led by scooters, while electric motorcycles account for only a small share of overall EV sales.

Several manufacturers have announced plans to enter the segment. Royal Enfield has unveiled its Flying Flea electric motorcycle brand, while startups including Ultraviolette, Revolt and Oben are expanding their presence. Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp are also developing electric motorcycle platforms.

Ather, however, plans to observe how the market evolves before committing resources to the category.

Instead, the company is prioritising its EL scooter platform, which is scheduled to be unveiled later this month. Mehta said production has already begun, homologation has been completed and high-volume trials are underway. The company plans to launch the new platform on August 29.

The EL platform is expected to underpin multiple future scooter models and forms part of Ather's strategy to expand production and meet rising demand for electric scooters.

Michelin Starts India Production of Passenger Car Tyres With Primacy 5

Darshan Nakhwa — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:00:07

Michelin India on Monday launched the Primacy 5, its first passenger car tyre to be manufactured in the country, as the company looks to expand its presence in India’s premium tyre market.

The tyre, produced at Michelin’s Chennai plant, has been developed for sedans and SUVs and is compatible with internal combustion engine, hybrid and electric vehicles, according to the management. It will be available from August through Michelin Tyres & Service stores and around 800 authorised dealers nationwide.

Michelin will initially focus on the replacement market and plans to explore supplying passenger vehicle manufacturers as production and volumes grow, Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said during a media interaction. “We will start and focus on getting our share together in the replacement market. As we grow and as we have opportunities, the OEM segment will also happen.”

The Primacy 5 will be offered in sizes ranging from 16 inches to 22 inches, with prices starting at around ₹10,000, depending on the tyre size.

Deshpande said the start of production fulfilled Michelin's commitment made about 18 months ago to manufacture passenger car tyres locally. “It is no longer a promise. It is actually happening. The tyres are being manufactured as we speak now in our factory in Chennai,” he said.

Shorter Braking Distance

Michelin is positioning safety as one of the main selling points of the Primacy 5. The company claims the tyre has been developed and tested on vehicles commonly used in India. It uses an optimised tread pattern, next-generation rubber compounds and Michelin’s EverGrip and EverTread technologies.

According to the company, the tyre offers a wet braking distance up to eight metres shorter than the average of competing tyres when new. The difference increases to nine metres when the tyres are worn. Michelin also claims a four-metre shorter braking distance in dry conditions.

The tests were conducted by Applus+ IDIADA at NATRAX in Indore during May and June 2026. A Hyundai Creta equipped with 205/65 R16 tyres was used for the tests.

In the wet braking test from 80 kmph to 20 kmph, the new Primacy 5 stopped in an average distance of 30.5 metres. The competing tyres recorded an average of 38.6 metres. When worn to a remaining tread depth of 2 mm, the Primacy 5 stopped in 37.6 metres, against the competitors’ average of 46.5 metres.

In the dry braking test from 100 kmph to a complete stop, the Primacy 5 recorded 38.1 metres, compared with the competing tyres’ average of 42.2 metres. These are Michelin’s claims based on tests commissioned by the company.

Comfort and Life

The company claims the Primacy 5 recorded a 9% better comfort score than the average of the rival tyres tested. Its new tread design is intended to reduce road noise and vibrations without weakening the tyre’s ability to handle rough roads.

Michelin also claims that the new tyre can last 8% longer than its predecessor, the Primacy 4ST. The mileage test was conducted on Indian roads using the same Hyundai Creta and tyre size.

The locally manufactured tyre uses the same basic compounds, machinery and quality standards as Michelin tyres produced elsewhere. However, additional material has been used to strengthen the tyre against road hazards in India. This makes the Indian version slightly heavier, said Jean-François RENE, Executive Director, Michelin Chennai.

The Primacy 5 has been designed to handle the additional weight, higher torque and different wear characteristics of electric vehicles.
Its rolling resistance is 6.5% lower than that of the Primacy 4ST. Lower rolling resistance can help reduce fuel consumption in combustion-engine vehicles and support a longer driving range in EVs.

“Primacy 5 is going to be good for ICE and it is going to be great for EV as well,” Deshpande said.

Competition in Premium Tyre Market

The Primacy 5 will compete with premium touring tyres such as the Bridgestone Turanza 6i, Continental UltraContact UC6 and Yokohama BluEarth-GT Max AE51. These were also the products Michelin used for its braking and comfort comparisons.

Bridgestone positions the Turanza 6i as a comfort-focused tyre for premium hatchbacks, sedans, crossovers and SUVs. It is offered in 36 variants ranging from 14 inches to 20 inches. Yokohama markets the BluEarth-GT Max on grip, fuel efficiency, comfort and durability.

Depending on tyre size and vehicle fitment, the Primacy 5 will also face competition from Indian premium products such as the CEAT SportDrive, Apollo Aspire 4G+ and MRF Perfinza. CEAT and Apollo position their products around low noise, grip and high-speed performance, while MRF offers the Perfinza range for premium cars and SUVs.

Larger Vehicles Drive Tyre Demand

The local launch comes as Indian buyers continue to move towards larger and more expensive passenger vehicles. The change is increasing demand for tyres of 16 inches and above, the segment that Michelin is targeting.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), utility vehicles accounted for about 68% of domestic passenger vehicle sales during the first quarter of FY2026-27. UV sales grew 28.6% year on year during the quarter, helping overall passenger vehicle sales rise 25.9% to a record 1.27 million units.

The premium trend is also visible at the top end of the market. Mercedes-Benz India’s top-end vehicle sales grew 16% in FY2025-26 and accounted for 27% of its total sales. BMW India’s overall sales rose 14% to 17,299 units during the year, while India’s luxury electric vehicle sales increased 61% to 5,404 units.

Michelin said improved highways, longer road journeys and higher average speeds were encouraging customers to buy larger, safer and more comfortable vehicles. These customers were also becoming more willing to pay for premium tyres offering better braking, comfort and longevity.

Chennai Plant to Add More Products

Michelin also plans to manufacture products such as the Pilot Sport 5 and LTX Trail in Chennai. The plant will gradually add more tyre sizes and product lines as it ramps up passenger car tyre production through the end of 2027.

The Chennai factory has a combined capacity of around 54,000 tonnes for truck, bus and passenger car tyres. Michelin said all the major investments required for the first phase had been completed, while further investments would be made in line with demand.

The domestic market will remain the priority for the company. However, it could also export passenger car tyres from Chennai. Michelin already exports truck tyres made at the plant to markets including North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

On the retail sales network front, Michelin currently has around 150 Michelin Tyres & Service outlets in India. These are multi-brand stores that follow the company’s standards for product display, tyre fitment and customer experience. It plans to expand the network further in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Ather Explores Accelerating Aurangabad Phase 2 Expansion if EV Demand Surges Continue

Kiran Murali — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:12:49

Ather Energy is exploring whether to accelerate the second phase of its upcoming Aurangabad manufacturing facility as demand for electric two-wheelers continues to outpace expectations, with the company saying its planned capacity could come under pressure if current growth trends persist.

Ather Energy co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Tarun Mehta said the company has begun considering an earlier rollout of Phase 2 after a sharp rise in demand in recent months. He added that the recently completed Rs 2,500-crore fund raise gives the company the flexibility to move ahead with the expansion without waiting for Phase 1 to mature.

"We did start thinking about this as a potential requirement, which is also what played a role in how we sized up our fundraise. So the overall Rs 2,500 crores in our mind also gives us the wherewithal to fast-track AURIC phase two without necessarily waiting for more proof of phase one. So we'll see in the coming couple of quarters if this trajectory holds up, I would not rule out a phase two fast-tracking, quite a material fast-tracking," Mehta told investors.

The management, however, said they are yet to take a final decision on fast-tracking the phase 2 expansion.

"We don't want to start phase two today or start giving guidance or a timeline today because it just feels like we should be a little bit more cautious. Just see phase one, at least go live in the next few months and then get going with phase two. So right now we are in the planning stage for phase two. If all looks well, maybe in a quarter or two max, we will have more formal timelines and guidance to share," he said.

Aurangabad (ORIC) Plant to Add 5 Lakh Units of Capacity

The comments come as Ather prepares to commission the first phase of its Aurangabad, or AURIC, manufacturing facility in a couple of months. The company currently manufactures electric scooters from its Hosur plant, which has an annual production capacity of 4.2 lakh units, or about 35,000 units a month. Mehta said the facility is now operating at almost full utilisation following a steady production ramp-up during the first quarter.

Once the Aurangabad plant comes live, it will add another 5 lakh units of annual capacity, taking Ather's total manufacturing capacity to 9.2 lakh units a year. He added that the Aurangabad facility is progressing as planned, with the assembly line already installed, the paint shop under trial and warehouse and utility work nearing completion ahead of commercial operations later this year.

However, Mehta said even that may prove insufficient if the current pace of demand continues.

"GoLive of Auric will take our total capacity up from 4.2 lakh units to 9.2 lakh units later this calendar year. But we believe demand is ramping up very fast. 9.2 lakh units per annum is only 77,000 units a month. We believe on current demand trajectories, even this may be tight in the coming quarters. Which is why I think we were lucky here when we took Aurangabad land. We took larger land capacity and we had always planned for Auric phase two," he said.

EV Demand Outpaces Supply: Ather Says It Lost 13,000-15,000 Sales a Month

Demand has risen sharply over the past few months, according to the company, resulting in supply constraints across several markets. Mehta said dealer inventories have fallen from 14 days to just three days, while some dealerships have temporarily stopped accepting fresh pre-orders because waiting periods have stretched to around two months or more. The company estimates it could have retailed another 13,000 to 15,000 scooters every month if sufficient production capacity had been available.

"There are 50,000 pre-orders, despite the fact that in many states now, our dealers are no longer even accepting new pre-orders, because the waiting times are now hitting two months or even higher. The underlying demand we strongly believe is very, very high," Mehta said. "We believe today that of the 30,000 units that we retail average in Q1, we could have probably sold an incremental 13,000 to 15,000 units extra every month."

New EL Scooter Platform Set to Launch on August 29

Ather expects demand to receive another boost with the launch of its new EL scooter platform later this month. Production of the new platform has already begun at the Hosur plant, homologation has been completed and high-volume trials are underway. Initially, production will continue from Hosur before gradually shifting to Aurangabad as the new facility ramps up.

The company plans to scale manufacturing capacity for the EL platform to about 60,000 units a month across the two plants. The new scooter, whose commercial name will be unveiled shortly, will be launched on August 29.

Ather Energy Q1 Revenue Grows by 87%, Turns EBITDA Positive

Dev Vadchhedia — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:45:34

Ather Energy Q1 FY27 Results: Revenue Up 87%, EBITDA Turns Positive

Ather Energy Limited has reported a positive consolidated EBITDA of Rs 9 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, improving from an EBITDA loss of Rs 106 crore in the same period last fiscal year. Consolidated total income grew 87.2% year-on-year to Rs 1,260 crore, supported by higher sales volumes, calibrated price adjustments, and an expanding share of non-vehicle revenue streams.

Volume Growth, Pre-Orders and Margin Expansion

The electric two-wheeler manufacturer delivered 83,173 units during the quarter, representing an 80.5% year-on-year increase. Quarterly pre-orders rose 158% year-on-year to 150,000 units, while total customer enquiries grew 95% to 707,000 units. Consolidated net loss narrowed to Rs 51 crore from Rs 178 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Non-vehicle operational revenues, encompassing software subscriptions, charging infrastructure, spare parts, accessories, and service, accounted for 14% of operational revenue, up from 13% in the prior-year period.

Adjusted gross margin expanded 82.3% year-on-year to Rs 282 crore, supported by cost reduction measures, supplier negotiations, and product mix management, which helped offset commodity inflation across copper, aluminium, lithium, and crude-linked raw materials. The company's newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiary, Ather Insurance Limited, recorded a net loss of Rs 22 lakh during the quarter.

Ather Factory 3.0: Capacity Expansion at AURIC

To address production constraints, Ather is proceeding with Phase 1 of its Factory 3.0 at AURIC in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, which will add an annual production capacity of 500,000 units starting in the third quarter of fiscal 2026-27. Upon full completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 at the AURIC location, the company's total installed manufacturing capacity will reach 1.42 million units annually.

Studds Launches Raider Youth Full-Face Helmet for Young Riders and Smaller Adults

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:57:18

Studds Raider Youth: Price and Availability

Studds Accessories has introduced the Raider Youth, a new full-face helmet aimed at young riders and adults with smaller head sizes, expanding its helmet portfolio into a segment that has traditionally been served by open-face models. The helmet is priced from ₹1,175 (MRP) and will initially be offered in a Unicolour variant across 12 colour options.

Sizes and Who It's For: XXS, XS and Petite Riders

The Raider Youth is available in XXS (520 mm) and XS (540 mm) sizes and features a full chin-bar construction intended to provide additional facial protection compared with conventional open-face helmets. Studds said the model is also suitable for petite adults, including women, seeking smaller-sized full-face helmets.

Features, Build Quality and Colour Options

The helmet incorporates a high-impact ABS outer shell, an EPS liner, a Dynamic Ventilation System with top air exhausts, a scratch-resistant quick-release visor, a quick-release chin strap and a microfibre fabric liner. It is certified under the ISI (BIS) standard.

At launch, the Raider Youth is available in 12 colour options, including White, Black, Cherry Red, Flame Blue, Lavender Pink, Pastel Green and Military Green. Studds said additional decal variants will be introduced at a later stage.

Commenting on the launch, Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director, Studds Accessories Ltd., said, "The Raider Youth has been developed to address these evolving expectations through a purpose-built full-face design that delivers greater coverage for young riders while remaining comfortable and easy to use."

TVS Sells 300,000 E-Scooters in Just 7 Months, Races Towards 550,000 in CY2026

Ajit Dalvi — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:07:45

TVS Crosses 300,000 E-Scooter Sales in Record Time

It looks like there’s no stopping the advance of TVS Motor Co in the Indian electric two-wheeler market. The company, which became India’s No. 1 e-2W OEM in April 2025 and sold 315,082 units in CY2025, has already achieved 97% of that record total in just the first seven months of CY2026. As per the latest retail sales numbers, TVS Motor Co has delivered 307,288 e-scooters between January 1 and July 31 this year.

With this stellar show, TVS has become the fastest to reach the 300,000 sales milestone in a single year. In CY2024, the then market leader Ola Electric had taken a little over 8 months to achieve 300,000 sales and ended that year with a record 429,188 units, which remains the highest annual sales for an Indian EV maker. However, that two-year-old record is set to be broken in the next three months as TVS maintains its rapid pace of growth.

TVS clocked its highest monthly sales in July (55,465 units). With 307,288 units sold in the first seven months of this year, the iQube and Orbiter maker is well set to surpass 500,000 sales in CY2026.

TVS on Track to Cross 500,000 Units in CY2026

As the seven-month retail sales data table (shown above) depicts, TVS has averaged monthly sales of 43,898 units. Two of these months have seen 50,000-plus sales – March (51,632 units) and July (55,465 units) – with July witnessing a new high in monthly sales. Given that TVS maintains the same rapid pace of sales in the remaining five months of this year, which includes the upcoming festive season from mid-September, it can be surmised that the company is well set to add another 220,000-240,000 sales between August and December 31. This will mean that TVS will become the first Indian e-2W manufacturer to surpass the half-a-million retail sales milestone in a calendar year. Ola Electric still holds the record for the highest annual sales: 429,188 units in CY2024.

TVS Well Ahead of Bajaj Auto and Ather Energy

Seven months into CY2026, TVS Motor Co maintains a solid lead over its rivals, particularly Bajaj Auto and Ather Energy. Interestingly, each of these top three OEMs is close to surpassing their highest annual sales achieved in CY2025.

At 307,288 iQubes and Orbiters sold in January-July 2026, TVS has achieved 97% of its CY2025 sales (315,082 units) and is 43,814 units ahead of No. 2 OEM Bajaj Auto, which, with 263,874 units, has achieved 94% of its CY2025 sales (279,687 units). TVS, at present, has a 107,239-unit lead over Ather Energy (200,049 units), which has achieved 93% of its CY2025 sales (215,033 units).

Hero MotoCorp, Ola Electric and Greaves Round Out the Field

Hero MotoCorp with its Vida scooters is ranked fourth with 128,978 units, which is already a 14% increase over its CY2025 (113,023 units) sales. Hero MotoCorp is the latest Indian e-2W to clock cumulative sales of 300,000 units, having sold the last 100,000 units in five months.

Fifth-ranked Ola Electric has, in the past seven months, sold 80,282 EVs, which makes for 39% of its CY2025 sales (204,534 units). And sixth-ranked Greaves Electric Mobility, with 53,938 units in January-July 2026, has achieved 93% of its CY2025 sales (57,699 units).

Hero Vida Sells 100,000 E-scooters in 5 Months, Crosses 300,000 Milestone

Ajit Dalvi — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:10:45

Hero Vida, Hero MotoCorp’s electric two-wheeler brand, has surpassed the 300,000 retail sales (customer deliveries) milestone in the Indian market. As per the latest Vahan numbers, cumulative retail sales from November 2022 till August 1, 2026 are 300,458 units.

Hero Vida's 100,000-Unit Sprint: Monthly Sales Breakdown

The surge in demand for the Hero Vida e-scooters is seen in the strong growth, particularly over the past year. While the first 100,000 units were sold in around 33 months, the run from 100,001 to 200,000 units took a little over seven months. Now the last 100,000 units – from 200,001 to 300,000 – have taken just five months, reflecting the surging demand for Vida e-scooters this year. Here’s how the CY2026 YTD numbers look: January (13,866 units), February (12,975 units), March (22,201 units), April (15,942 units), May (19,218 units), June (21,893 units) and July (22,883 units). July is now the new monthly high, beating the previous best of June this year.

Hero Vida Market Share Jumps to 11% in India's E-2W Race

From 4% in CY2024 to 11% in CY2026 YTD, Hero Vida has reaped strong gains in India’s booming e-2W market. Expect it to achieve total retail sales of around 225,000 units this calendar year.

As the retail sales data table (above) depicts, 182 Vida e-scooters were sold between November-December 2022, followed by 11,842 units in CY2023 and 45,764 units in CY2024. Demand for the zero-emission Hero Vida brand rose 147% YoY in CY2025 to 113,023 units, giving Hero MotoCorp a 4% share of the 1.34 million e-2Ws sold in India last year. In CY2026’s first seven months and one day of August, cumulative sales are 129,647 units.

Hero Vida’s market share has risen in tandem with the smart increase in sales numbers. From a minuscule 1% share of the 901,796 e-2Ws sold in India in CY2023 to the 11% share in CY2026 YTD, it’s been a noteworthy run for the world’s largest two-wheeler company in the EV space. Hero Vida is now the firm No. 4 e-2W brand after TVS Motor Co, Bajaj Auto and Ather Energy and is ahead of Ola Electric and Greaves Electric Mobility.

Petrol Price Hikes, Festive Season to Fuel Further Growth

With strong sales tailwinds emanating from a growing number of ICE buyers transitioning to e-mobility due to the multiple price hikes in petrol in May 2026 as well as the upcoming festive season, it can be expected that Hero Vida will maintain the same strong growth trajectory. This would mean Hero MotoCorp’s annual e-2W sales will cross the 200,000-units milestone in a single calendar year for the first time in CY2026. Estimate them to be in the region of 225,000 to 235,000 units.

BaaS Model and VX2 Range Powering Vida's Growth

Another strategic sales driver for Hero Vida has been the introduction of the Battery As a Service (BaaS) ‘pay-as-you-go’ ownership model which significantly reduces the upfront ownership cost, making electric mobility more affordable and accessible to a wider customer base, and has since been adopted by Ather Energy and TVS Motor among a host of other OEMs.

The VX2 Plus and Go with the BaaS option have powered demand for Hero MotoCorp’s Vida brand.

Focus on New Models, Network and Manufacturing Capacity Expansion

Given the growing demand for the Vida brand, Hero MotoCorp continues to up the ante on three fronts – products, network and capacity. On July 31, the company expanded its EV line-up to five models with the VX2 Go FB (3.1 kWh), priced at Rs 1,13,000 (ex-showroom New Delhi) and a 128km range on a single charge. The VX2 Go FB joins the VX2 Go (2.2 kWh), VX2 Go (3.4 kWh), VX2 Plus (3.4 kWh) and VX2 Plus (4.4 kWh).

The company, which opened its first Experience Centre in November 2022, currently has coverage across India with over 900 touchpoints spanning 415 cities and 700-plus dealers. Hero MotoCorp enables Vida users to access charging at over 5,900 locations including the Ather Grid network owned by Ather Energy in which Hero MotoCorp is an early investor (with a 29.48% stake at present) and has recently invested an additional Rs 1,000 crore.

Electric scooter manufacturing capacity expansion is also on the cards. In May this year, Hero MotoCorp revealed details of its planned capital expenditure of over Rs 1,500 crore in FY2027. Cognisant of the strong growth potential in its e-2W business, the company has outlined a strategic manufacturing expansion for its Vida brand. Having already ramped up capacity by 66% from 15,000 units per month to 25,000 units, the company has outlined plans for further expansion by doubling monthly capacity to 50,000 units at its plant in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh to cater to growing demand.

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