After unveiling the Tesseract performance e-scooter at its tech day in Bengaluru recently, Ultraviolette Automotive has announced that the respective product has attracted 50,000 pre-bookings. Terming the development as groundbreaking, the CEO and Co-Founder of the company, Narayan Subramaniam, said, "The response to the Tesseract has been absolutely phenomenal. Crossing 50,000 pre-bookings in just two weeks reflects the appetite for a truly advanced mobility solution. The Tesseract is not just another electric scooter—it is a revolution in the way people perceive commuting. It is a proud moment for us to see such enthusiasm and support from all corners of India. Our goal is to keep pushing the boundaries of technology, design, and performance, and we are thrilled to see such excitement around it.”
“The e-scooter features a segment first integrated radar and dashcam, seamlessly coupled with Omnisense mirrors, providing advanced safety technologies such as blindspot detection, lane change assist, overtaking assist and real-time collision alerts,” he added. 
Informing that the electric two-wheeler is equipped with traction control and dynamic regeneration to ensure superior safety and energy efficiency, Subramaniam averred, “The Tesseract has a seven-inch touchscreen TFT display and multi-colour LED displays embedded in the ORVMs to further enhance rider awareness and reduce the risk of accidents.” 
With a peak power output of 20 bhp, the Tesseract e-scooter has a range of 261 km (IDC). It can be fast charged to 80 percent in less than an hour. The overwhelming pre-bookings for the vehicle account to a development that comes against the background of Ultraviolette Automotive floating an IPO. Backed by TVS Motor Company and Qualcomm Ventures, the Bengaluru-based company is looking to raise US$ 500 million in 2026-27, claim industry sources. 
Ather Energy, backed by Hero MotoCorp, is scheduled to raise US$ 400 million next month through listing and share sale, the sources underlined. The Ultraviolette Automotive IPO, they added, will be the second largest after Ola Electric, when floated in 2026-27. Ola Electric raised INR 61.45 billion through its IPO in August 2024.  
 

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the launch of its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) finance program for its first ‘Made-in-India’ electric vehicle – the Carens Clavis EV.

Through a dual-loan structure supported by major financiers – including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Bajaj Finserv – customers can now finance the vehicle chassis and the battery through separate accounts.

The BaaS model reduces the upfront ‘sticker price’ of the Carens Clavis EV by over INR 500,000, replacing the battery cost with a usage-based rental fee.

The vehicle body can be financed for up to 60 months, while the battery component offers an extended tenure of up to 96 months.

Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “Sustainability is not limited to introducing electric vehicles, but about creating a complete ecosystem. The BaaS model enables customers to experience advanced EV technology with reduced upfront acquisition costs and greater financial flexibility.”

The Carens Clavis EV, launched in 2025, recently received its MY26 update with refreshed bumpers and new alloy wheels. The Standard range offers a claimed 404 km (MIDC), while the Extended range provides a claimed 490 km on a single charge.

The EV comes with a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS with 20 safety features, a 26.62 cm dual panoramic display and 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. Kia Carens Clavis EV customers also get access to the K-Charge platform via the MyKia app, connecting them to over 15,000 charging points across India.

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Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has successfully completed a landmark journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) with its Eicher Pro X EV.

The expedition, titled #XpertHaiTohPossibleHai, saw the electric commercial vehicle become the first and fastest in its category to traverse the 4,100-kilometre route under fully loaded conditions.

Starting from Lal Chowk, Srinagar, and concluding at the southern tip of India in six days, the journey was independently adjudicated by the India Book of Records, resulting in four new national records. The initiative was designed to address industry concerns regarding range anxiety, charging infrastructure and the operational reliability of electric vehicles (EVs) in the B2B sector.

The journey tested the vehicle across India’s most diverse terrains and climates, including the Himalayas, the Deccan Plateau and coastal ghats. The Eicher Pro X EV travelled through temperatures ranging from -2deg Celsius to 40deg Celsius. The EV relied entirely on public charging stations, coordinated through the MyEicher App. The trip was conducted with the vehicle at full load capacity to simulate authentic logistics operations.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, SCV - Sales & Marketing, VECV, said, “The K2K milestone is a strong validation of the Eicher Pro X EV’s engineering capability under real-world operating conditions. The initiative not only builds confidence in electric mobility as an economical source of providing logistical solution but also strengthens trust through proof, not promise.”

Eicher collaborated with commercial vehicle influencer Raman Nayak (Behind The Wheels) and a network of regional creators to document the journey. The multi-episode series focused on the practicalities of EV ownership, such as route planning and terrain management, presented in local languages to reach a broader demographic of fleet operators.

Bhagwan K. Bindiganavile, EVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, said, “In the commercial vehicle industry, trust is built through proof. Taking a production vehicle on a journey of this scale was a deliberate move to move beyond conventional marketing and demonstrate capability in a real, unfiltered and conclusive manner.”

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has announced that its first family electric scooter, the Rizta, has crossed the 300,000-unit sales milestone within just two years of its April 2024 launch.

The e-scooter has become Ather’s primary volume driver, significantly accelerating the company's growth in both its home markets and new regions.

The Rizta reached 200,000 units in December 2025 and added the most recent 100,000 units in just five months, reflecting a rapid surge in demand for family-focused electric mobility.

The Rizta has been instrumental in Ather’s ‘Middle India’ strategy, focusing on states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In these regions, Ather's market share shot up from 4.1 percent (Q1 FY25) to 17.3 percent (Q4 FY26). In Northern states, including Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, market share grew more than threefold during the same period.

In its home base of Southern India, the Rizta helped Ather retain its leadership position, contributing to a regional market share of 23.5 percent in Q4 FY26.

Interestingly, nearly 70 percent of Rizta owners are families with children, moving away from Ather's traditional enthusiast-only demographic. The e-scooter's success is attributed to its 56-litre total storage, spacious seat and safety features like SkidControl. In FY2026, the Rizta accounted for approximately 76 percent of Ather’s total sales volume.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Since its launch, the Rizta was sharply positioned as a family scooter and has resonated extremely well with the family audiences across the country. The Rizta has helped us gain a leadership position in FY2026 in Southern India. Additionally, the Rizta has played a crucial role in expanding our market share in ‘middle India’ by 4X since its launch in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In FY '26 the Rizta constituted about 76 percent of our portfolio and continues to lead our growth.”

Ather has maintained strong customer engagement through its AtherStack software. In September 2025, the company released AtherStack 7 via an over-the-air (OTA) update. This update introduced a touchscreen interface for existing Rizta Z models, pothole alerts & voice commands and advanced safety features including crash alerts, ParkSafe tow-zone detection and LockSafe theft prevention.

This milestone comes as Ather prepares to enter the mass-market segment with its upcoming EL platform and expands production capacity through its Factory 3.0 facility at AURIC, Maharashtra.

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Hyroad Energy has entered into an agreement with Toyota Motor North America to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks in Southern California. The announcement took place at the ACT Expo, where the companies outlined a framework covering vehicles, software, and fuel supply.

As per the understanding, Hyroad will provide the trucks along with maintenance and data services for Toyota’s logistics operations. On the other hand, Toyota will supply the hydrogen fuel via its refuelling infrastructure currently being developed in Ontario, California.

The fuel cell trucks offer a claimed driving range of up to 500 miles (804km) and refuelling time of 15-20 minutes, comparable to diesel vehicles. However, the trucks emit only water vapour. Each Class 8 truck carries approximately 70 kg of hydrogen, equivalent to the capacity of 12 Toyota Mirai sedans.

Hyroad operates as an equipment-agnostic provider, bundling vehicle procurement, maintenance and fleet management software. In August 2025, the company acquired 117 hydrogen trucks and intellectual property assets from the Nikola Corporation bankruptcy auction. It now provides parts and support services for existing Nikola truck owners alongside its own fleet operations.

“Accelerating the hydrogen economy requires collaboration, and Toyota is proud to work with Hyroad to move the heavy-duty sector forward,” stated Toyota in a release.

Dmitry Serov, Founder & CEO, Hyroad Energy, said, “Toyota has done exactly what great allies do — they've brought genuine hydrogen expertise to the table and made thoughtful, strategic decisions. They're not waiting for someone else to build this ecosystem. They're investing in it directly, and that's what makes this meaningful. When fuelling, vehicles, software and operational commitment all come together, hydrogen trucking works."

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