Bengaluru-based Ather Energy is charging into the public market with an INR 29.81 billion initial public offering (IPO), marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of India’s electric mobility space. The IPO, which opens for public bidding on April 28 and closes on April 30, reflects growing confidence in India’s electric vehicle (EV) market, even as global trade dynamics remain uncertain.
Priced between INR 304 and INR 321 per equity share, Ather’s offering consists of a fresh issue worth INR 26.26 billion and an Offer for Sale (OFS) of approximately INR 3.55 billion. Early stakeholders offloading shares include co-founders Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, as well as prominent institutional investors such as Caladium Investment, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund II and Hero MotoCorp-backed venture arms.

A Strategic Leap 
Founded in 2013, Ather Energy has built a reputation for innovation and quality in the Indian two-wheeler segment. Best known for its flagship 450X electric scooter and the recently launched family-oriented Rizta, Ather has maintained a premium positioning in a price-sensitive market, a feat achieved through a blend of robust design, cutting-edge tech and consistent consumer engagement.
Now, as the company seeks to raise capital for the next leg of its journey, the strategic intent behind the IPO is clear. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to ramp up manufacturing capacity, enhance the product portfolio, pare down debt and invest in corporate infrastructure. This expansion is crucial for Ather to retain its competitive edge against deep-pocketed rivals, including legacy automakers and well-funded start-ups.

Driving Growth
At a recent press conference, Chief Executive Officer Tarun Mehta struck an optimistic note on the state of India’s EV ecosystem. “While the entire tariff situation is open, in our opinion, the Indian consumer story, specifically the EV adoption story, remains unchallenged because it’s driven by very secular truths,” he said.
Mehta highlighted three primary factors underpinning the surge in electric two-wheeler adoption including a significantly lower total cost of ownership, greater ease of use and long-term structural shifts favouring clean mobility. These drivers provide insulation against short-term geopolitical disruptions and policy volatility.
That confidence appears to be resonating with both retail and institutional investors with many market watchers calling the IPO a barometer of the Indian EV market’s maturity.

IPO Mechanics and Market Positioning
The offering is being made under Regulation 6(2) of the SEBI ICDR Regulations via a 100 percent book-building process with shares set to list on both the BSE and the NSE. Anchor investor bidding opens on April 25, ahead of the general subscription window.
 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer River Mobility has closed a USD 120 million Series C funding round comprising equity and venture debt.

The funding round was led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital, with equity participation from Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, 360 ONE Asset, JIF Capital and HDFC AMC. Existing investors including Yamaha Motor Corporation, Al Futtaim Group, Mitsui & Co., Alteria Capital, Innoven Capital and Stride Ventures also participated in the round.

The company plans to utilise the capital to expand manufacturing capacity at its factory, construct a greenfield production facility, introduce products in the utility vehicle segment and support margin expansion and EBITDA targets.

River Mobility launched its Indie model in 2023 and operates over 75 retail locations across India, with plans to expand to 350 stores by March 2028.

At present, the company says its monthly EV sales have reached 5,000 units.

Aravind Mani, Co-Founder & CEO, River Mobility, said, "This funding marks an important milestone in River's journey. The confidence shown by both our existing and new investors reinforces our belief that there is tremendous opportunity to build India's first utility and design based mobility brand. This capital gives us the ability to accelerate our product roadmap, expand our manufacturing footprint and presence across the country."

Navin Honagudi, Managing Partner, Elev8 Venture Partners, said, “The electric two-wheeler market in India is entering a defining growth phase, driven by strong consumer adoption, improving economics, and increasing demand for differentiated products. River stands out for its sharp product thinking, exceptional execution capability, and a highly differentiated positioning in the market. Aravind, Vipin and the team have built a brand that resonates deeply with consumers looking for brilliant design, utility and durability. We believe River is well-positioned to emerge as one of the defining EV companies from India.”

Sekhar Garisa, Managing Director, Claypond Capital, said, “River has combined disciplined execution and thoughtful product differentiation to rapidly grow and garner customer love in a competitive market. We are excited to support the team as they scale further while contributing to the country’s energy transition and domestic manufacturing ambitions.”

Hajime Jim Aota, Chairman of Yamaha India Group, said, “River’s focus on building vertically integrated electric vehicle technology platform has been a key driver of its success. Yamaha are proud to see the progress made by River so far and are excited about being part of the next phase of growth.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy is all set to introduce its latest offering the Konarc e-scooter.

The launch, scheduled for its community event Ather Community Day, will take place on 29 August 2026 in Bengaluru. The new EV is based on the company’s EL platform, which is said to be designed for versatility, scalability and manufacturing efficiency.

While most details are still under wraps, the upcoming scooter is intended to address the price segment of INR 100,000 to INR 125,000.

The EV maker has made rapid strides in perfecting the software and hardware on its product offering, and the introduction of Konarc is expected to further expand accelerate volume sales.

The 2025 Ather Community Day 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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched an assured buyback scheme for the Hyundai Creta Electric SUV, offering buyers a 60 percent guaranteed residual value for up to three years or 45,000 kilometres. The program aims to address depreciation concerns among buyers transitioning to electric vehicles.

The initiative follows the company's introduction of its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model for the Creta Electric, which carries an entry price of INR 1.09 million with battery rental rates starting at INR 3.9 per kilometre to lower upfront purchase costs.

The Creta Electric features ARAI-certified driving ranges of 510 kilometres for the 51.4 kWh battery option and 420 kilometres for the 42 kWh variant, with DC fast-charging capabilities that enable a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 39 minutes.

Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The next phase of electric vehicle adoption in India will be driven equally by advancements in vehicle technology and by greater customer confidence. Hyundai Creta Electric has been engineered to deliver an exceptional ownership experience backed by Hyundai’s global EV expertise and the trust of the iconic Creta brand. Our Assured Buyback Program, offering 60 percent assured buyback value, reflects our confidence in the product’s outstanding quality, reliability and long-term value. Together with our Battery-as-a-Service initiative, expanding charging infrastructure and future EV roadmap, we are building one of India’s most comprehensive EV ecosystems, enabling customers to embrace electric mobility without compromising on convenience, confidence or peace of mind.”

To support its electric fleet, Hyundai provides access to over 30,000 charging points via its digital app. The carmaker currently operates 183 DC fast-charging stations across 105 cities in India, with plans to expand its network to 600 stations by 2030 across highways, cities, and dealership locations.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bengaluru-headquartered Indofast Energy, the battery swapping joint venture between Sun Mobility and Indian Oil Corporation, has entered into a partnership with charge point operator Zeon Charging to expand battery swapping infrastructure across retail and transit locations in Southern India.

As per the understanding, Indofast Energy will deploy its Quick Interchange Stations (QIS) across Zeon Charging's network of sites, including shopping centres, metro parking facilities, and commercial hubs in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

The rollout has commenced with the installation of 6 QIS across two locations in Bengaluru, including Orion Mall in Rajajinagar. Plans are underway to expand the Orion Mall setup with 5-6 additional swap stations.

The partnership provides Indofast Energy with access to locations equipped with electrical infrastructure and positioning along urban transit corridors, targeting commercial two-wheeler electric vehicle drivers and delivery fleets. Indofast Energy currently operates a network of over 450 stations in Bengaluru, alongside more than 1,900 swap stations across 24 cities in India.

Subhash Bhat, Interim CEO, Indofast Energy, said, "Our collaboration with Zeon Charging enables us to bring battery swapping to some of the most accessible and high-visibility locations across Southern India. Premium malls, metro parking facilities, and commercial hubs are exactly the kind of high-traffic sites where EV users need seamless energy access. By partnering with an established CPO like Zeon, we are accelerating our network expansion into power-ready, strategically positioned locations. This is a natural extension of our mission to make battery swapping accessible wherever riders need energy, making it the most practical and accessible choice for EV users across India."

Akhil Venkateshwaran, CTO & Director, Zeon Charging, said, "At Zeon Charging, we are building future-ready EV infrastructure that serves the evolving needs of India's electric mobility ecosystem. Partnering with Indofast Energy unlocks a vital piece of this objective catering to both fixed-charging users and the rapidly growing battery swapping segment. This collaboration at strategic venues like Orion Mall in Bangalore proves that integrating swapping stations into premium retail and transit hubs is highly effective in creating a seamless, sustainable, and convenient experience for EV drivers across Southern India. We look forward to scaling this partnership rapidly across our network."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!