Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy has announced the expansion of its retail network to 700 Experience Centres (ECs) across India. The company added more than 350 locations over the past year, doubling its footprint from 331 centres recorded on 31 March 2025.

The expansion of the retail network has contributed to an increase in Ather’s national market share, which reached 18.7 percent in March 2026, according to Vahan data. Growth has been attributed to the Ather Rizta, the company's family scooter, which has recorded sales of over 280,000 units since its launch. Demand also remains consistent for the Ather 450 performance series.

The company’s aggressive expansion focussed on middle and rest of India regions, with scaling up presence in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Regional market shares increased by approximately 2X in targeted expansion areas.

To support the increased vehicle volume, Ather has expanded its service and charging infrastructure. It now operates over 500 authorised service centres nationwide and its fast charging network has reached 4,357 points.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “The last year has been about scaling our retail footprint as a key lever for growth. While we’ve increased our Experience Centre count across all geographies, the expansion in Middle India and to some degree in Rest of India has been particularly aggressive. This has allowed us to target new geographies and segments, which have led to strong volume and market share gains. We believe we still have headroom for growth, and will continue on this path over the next few quarters.”

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Kia India has officially introduced the Syros EV, marking its second mass-market electric vehicle offering in the country. The automaker has simultaneously initiated pre-bookings for the new model, requiring a nominal reservation amount of INR 25,000. These bookings are being accepted through the company’s official website and across its network of dealerships nationwide, signalling the brand's aggressive push into the growing electric mobility segment.

The core of the Syros EV’s proposition lies in its comprehensive ownership package, designed to tackle the primary apprehensions that typically deter buyers from transitioning to electric vehicles. The vehicle boasts a best-in-segment ARAI-certified range of 526 kilometres for the larger battery variant. To further bolster consumer confidence, Kia is offering a lifetime high-voltage battery warranty, an assured buyback programme to protect residual value, and a flexible Battery-as-a-Service financing option. These initiatives collectively address longstanding concerns regarding battery longevity, resale value and the initial purchase cost.

Underpinning its performance credentials, the Syros EV is built on Kia’s reinforced K1 platform and is available with two advanced Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery packs. The larger 51.4 kWh unit delivers a peak power output of 171 PS, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in a brisk 8.1 seconds. The alternative 42 kWh battery provides a range of 443 kilometres. Both units feature an IP67 certification and a liquid-cooled thermal management system, ensuring performance and safety across diverse Indian climatic conditions.

The Syros EV is distinguished by a suite of exclusive technologies aimed at enhancing the driving experience. These include paddle shifters for regenerative braking with an auto mode and i-Pedal functionality, alongside a vehicle-to-load internal system. The charging ecosystem is further strengthened by the K-Charge platform, which integrates over 20,300 charging points from 23 operators into a single interface on the MyKia app. This network is supported by more than 129 Kia dealerships equipped with high-capacity DC fast chargers and over 275 EV-ready workshops, ensuring comprehensive service support.

The exterior design adheres to Kia’s global electric vehicle philosophy, featuring a distinctive Digital Tiger Face and Star Map LED lighting elements. The interior is dominated by a first-in-segment thirty-inch Trinity Panoramic Display Panel, which merges the instrument cluster, infotainment and climate control interfaces. The cabin emphasises comfort with features like ventilated seats, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a 60:40 split rear seat with slide and recline functions, alongside practical additions such as a 16-litre frunk and multiple USB charging ports.

Safety is a paramount consideration, with the Syros EV equipped with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, encompassing 16 autonomous functions including collision avoidance and smart cruise control. These are complemented by 25 standard safety features, including six airbags, electronic stability control and a 360-degree camera for enhanced manoeuvrability. The model will be offered in seven trims across two battery options, with a choice of nine exterior colours and multiple interior themes, including an exclusive Onyx Black and Hunter Green option for the X-Line variant.

Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, “Our philosophy of 'Movement that Inspires' is about making future mobility meaningful, accessible and enriching for our customers. With the Syros EV, our second mass-market electric vehicle for India, we are democratising advanced electric mobility – not only through cutting-edge technology but by removing the anxieties that hold customers back. The Syros EV delivers a best-in-segment ARAI-certified range of 526 km – the first in its segment to cross the 500-km mark. Paired with a best-in-segment power output of 171 PS, it gives customers the confidence to go further without compromising on performance. Backed by a simplified and effortless ownership experience, including a Lifetime Battery Warranty, Assured Buyback and BaaS, we are addressing what matters most to Indian families, bringing them a decisive step closer to going electric.”

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Bengaluru-based electric mobility startup E3 Electric.Ai has raised INR 1 billion in a Series A funding round led by BluVenture Holdings. The company intends to use the capital to support product development and expand its presence across India ahead of the launch of its E3 TRION scooter.

The start-up focuses on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into electric scooters to manage safety, reliability and charging. Its platform utilises modular architecture to produce variants from a single chassis and incorporates AI for maintenance and routing.

E3 Electric.Ai maintains an R&D team and holds a portfolio of over 18 patents in modular architecture, battery systems and safety. The company positions its scooters as an alternative to the 110cc internal combustion engine segment.

P Sanjeev, Founder & CEO, E3 Electric.Ai, said, "At E3, we believe electric vehicles should predict, learn and continuously improve, making mobility safer, more reliable and affordable over time. E3’s DNA is defined by 3 words, Modular + AI + Human. Our Modular platform enables us to build multiple scooter variants from the same chassis. E3’s patented AI stack enables preventive maintenance check and smart routing to address range anxiety. E3 TRION is crafted with care and introduces best in class anthropometry-based ergonomics for a very comfortable ride. This investment enables us to accelerate our vision of making intelligent mobility accessible to millions of Indian families."

Shaun Dawson, LP with BluVenture Holdings, said, "As the world’s largest two-wheeler market, India is at an inflection point in its EV transition journey. E3 has built an impressive technology platform combining modular engineering with software-led intelligence that is tailor-made for electric scooters. Sanjeev’s deep expertise enabled E3 to build a profitable, sustainably scalable operating model instead of the industry's typical heavy-burn approach. E3 is smartly leveraging AI to track performance and health parameters, delivering predictive maintenance & value. We see the opportunity to build a category-defining company."

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy has announced that the fourth edition of its community event, Ather Community Day, will take place on 29 August 2026 in Bengaluru.

On 29^th August, Ather Energy will unveil its first e-scooter built on its EL platform, marking its entry into the mass-market scooter segment.

The EL platform is a vehicle architecture designed for versatility, scalability and manufacturing efficiency. The upcoming scooter is intended to address the price segment of INR 100,000 to INR 125,000. In addition to the vehicle, Ather will showcase innovations in technology, charging and ownership systems.

In what can be seen as a further interesting development, Hero MotoCorp, which was amongst the earliest backers in the EV maker, has approved an investment of INR 10 billion in Ather Energy.

At present, Hero MotoCorp holds 29.48 percent stake in the company. The new investment will further see subscription to equity shares or other eligible securities, including compulsorily convertible preference shares and warrants to be issued by Ather Energy on a preferential basis.

Ather Community Day serves as an event for owners, enthusiasts and partners to view product developments and company strategy. The 2025 event, held on 30 August, hosted over 4,000 attendees and featured the unveiling of the EL platform, the Redux concept vehicle, fast-charging technology and AtherStack 7.0.

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Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), one of the leading Oil Manufacturing Companies (OMCs), has conducted a series of inspections to monitor ethanol-blended petrol across its retail network.

Between 3 July and 13 July 2026, the company performed 1,385 regular field inspections, alongside 2,173 surprise inspections between 7 July and 13 July.

Additionally, HPCL’s Quality Assurance Cell completed 93 surprise inspections and 49 fuel samples were tested in mobile laboratories. According to HPCL, no irregularities, contamination, or issues regarding quality compliance were detected during these checks.

HPCL maintains a quality assurance system that includes field inspections, surprise checks and laboratory testing to ensure fuels meet specified standards.

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