Ather Energy Targets To Double Experience Centres To 700 Touchpoints

Ather Energy

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ather Energy has announced its ambitious plans to double its retail network to 700 experience centres by FY2026.

For context, Ather Energy currently operates 351 experience centres in India and 24 centres in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, 46 percent of the retail touchpoints are in South India alone. The expansion is part of the EV maker’s strategy to provide first-hand experience of the product, quality and peace of mind to customers.

The company with the recent launch of Rizta e-scooter targeted for families, is now looking to scale up its presence across the country, including tripling its store count in north markets. The Rizta, Ather’s first family scooter had recently crossed 100,000 units retail sales milestone within a year of its launch. The e-scooter has become popular in key states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Rizta alone now contributes to nearly 60 percent of Ather’s total sales, unlocking new cities and bringing in a wider base of family buyers, setting the stage for a much stronger retail presence in the coming months.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Rizta’s phenomenal success has opened up new markets and brought a much larger set of family buyers into the Ather ecosystem. We’re seeing demand coming in from cities where our footprint was previously limited, and that gives us the confidence to scale faster. Expanding to 700 Experience Centres is about staying ahead of this demand curve and ensuring that wherever our customers are, they have easy access to the full Ather experience.”

At present, the company operates over 3,578 fast-charging points across India through the Ather Grid. The EV maker is also expanding its service footprint along with the expansion of its retail network across India, including Gold Service Centres in key cities.

Ather Energy currently has two manufacturing plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, one each for vehicle assembly and battery manufacturing and an upcoming third manufacturing facility in Bidkin, AURIC, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, which will scale up its manufacturing capacity to 1.42 million electric two-wheeler per annum.

Aprilia Racing

Aprilia Racing has secured its first top 4th sweep in MotoGP history at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, with four RS-GP26 motorcycles occupying the leading positions at the finish line.

Marco Bezzecchi won the race from second on the grid, recording a lap time of 1:29.960. The victory marks Bezzecchi's 5th win of the season and his 11th in the top class, while representing the 300th premier class victory by an Italian rider in Grand Prix history.

Raúl Fernández of the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team finished 2nd, while Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martín completed the podium in 3rd place. Ai Ogura took 4th place to complete the sweep for the manufacturer. The result brings Aprilia Racing's season tally to 8 victories and 16 top-class wins overall, while moving Jorge Martín to the top of the riders' championship standings with 355 points.

"I’m happy with my race. I really wanted to leave Mandalika with a good result, and I’d been chasing this win since my injury at the Sachsenring. It felt really good. Clearly, with only five races left, the title is more lost than won. But that doesn’t change how I think or work, especially with my team. I’m not a rider who gives up. That’s who I am, and I’m happy to have met so many like-minded people along the way who I’m fortunate enough to work with," said Marco Bezzecchi.

"I’m happy with this podium because I achieved the best possible result. Marco and Raúl had something extra all weekend. I tried to close the gap, but they were faster. I’m still a little disappointed with yesterday’s result because I could have won, but I’m happy with today’s. As for the championship, the most important thing is to stay in the title fight and, above all, arrive in Valencia with a chance," said Jorge Martín.

Massimo Rivola, CEO, Aprilia Racing, said, "Once again, Aprilia means high drama, for better and for worse. Saturday started in the best possible way with pole position for Raúl Fernández, but the sprint was marred by a mistake at turn one and a serious error over Jorge’s front tyre pressure, for which we owe him an apology. At least Ai’s superb ride through the field salvaged something from it. Sunday, on the other hand, has been a day to remember, with four RS-GP bikes in the top four for the first time. We know it will be tough right to the end, but just as we don’t get disheartened when things go badly, we don’t get carried away when they go well. I want to congratulate everyone at Noale on their commitment and dedication, which are proving so valuable in this hard-fought season."

The result marks Aprilia's fourth podium lockout of the season, following previous finishes at Le Mans, Assen, and Silverstone, taking the Noale-based manufacturer to 310 total wins across all Grand Prix motorcycle classes.

TVS Motor Co Introduces Traction Controls System For Raider Motorcycle

TVS Raider 125

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has launched updated variants of its TVS Raider motorcycle, introducing active safety features to the 125cc segment.

The TVS Raider TFT DD and TVS Raider SXC DD models now feature a Traction Control System and Emergency Brake Warning functionality.

The Traction Control System manages rear-wheel power output during traction loss over wet surfaces, loose gravel or road hazards. The Emergency Brake Warning system flashes rear lighting signals during deceleration to alert trailing traffic.

Additional hardware updates include a wider rear tyre, a 27W USB Type-C device charger and established powertrain features including a 3-valve engine with iGO Assist boost functionality, Glide Through Technology for low-speed manoeuvring and a TFT display supporting connectivity software.

The TVS Raider SXC DD variant is priced at INR 100,330 ex-showroom Delhi, while the TVS Raider TFT DD variant is available at INR 103,170 across TVS Motor dealerships nationwide.

BSA Motorcycles Expands Gold Star 650 Range With Brooklands Black & Birmingham Blue Editions

BSA

BSA Motorcycles, part of Classic Legends, has expanded its Gold Star 650 lineup in India with the introduction of the Brooklands Black Legacy Edition and Birmingham Blue Edition. The launch increases the colourways and trim options available for the retro-roadster model across the country.

The Birmingham Blue Edition is priced at INR 355,950 ex-showroom New Delhi, while the Brooklands Black Legacy Edition is available at INR 364,950. Retail and service coverage spans over 450 touchpoints across India, supported by a standard four-year or 50,000-kilometre warranty package.

The Brooklands Black Legacy Edition incorporates black body paint with gold pinstriping, chrome fenders, a chrome-accented fuel tank and a quilted seat layout. The Birmingham Blue Edition introduces a blue paint scheme paired with a silver side-panel badge and a revised engine surface finish.

Both editions retain the underlying technical platform, powered by a 652cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 45 hp of power and 55 Nm of torque. Chassis hardware includes Brembo braking components, dual-channel anti-lock braking systems and wire-spoke wheels.

Anupam Thareja, Co-Founder, Classic Legends, said, "The Gold Star embodies everything we believe a modern retro-roadster should be. From its authentic British design to the distinctive experience of its big-single engine, every element reflects the craftsmanship, engineering and attention to detail that have defined the Gold Star for generations. The Brooklands Black Legacy Edition honours the moment when the Gold Star earned its legendary name, while Birmingham Blue offers a contemporary expression of the Gold Star, reinterpreting its iconic DNA for today's rider. Together, they represent two distinct chapters of the Gold Star story, united by the heritage and individuality that remain central to BSA."

Motohaus Partners With Italjet To Bring Italian Two-Wheeler Brand To India

Motohaus - Italjet

Motohaus India has announced a strategic partnership with Italian two-wheeler manufacturer Italjet, confirming the brand's formal entry into the Indian market.

Operating under KAW Veloce Motors – a subsidiary of the KAW Group – Motohaus currently manages the distribution and local manufacturing operations for international brands, including Brixton Motorcycles and VLF, from its production plant in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

The agreement with Bologna-based Italjet adds the Italian manufacturer's scooter and motorcycle lineup to Motohaus's distribution portfolio in India.

The partnership intends to leverage Italjet's engineering and design platform alongside Motohaus's assembly infrastructure and dealership network across the country. Specific details regarding the product portfolio, pricing, assembly arrangements and commercial rollout timelines for India will be formally presented at the EICMA 2026 motorcycle exhibition in Milan.