With the electric two-wheeler industry  gaining great momentum, albeit with the help of government incentives, new dealers are emerging in almost every nook and corner of cities. As representatives of electric two-wheeler manufacturers, many of whom are start-ups, the scene is getting more and more active with every passing hour. Some dealers are experienced businesses and some are entirely new. Rajni Jose of Motoring Trends spoke to Jay Sumit Patwa, Chief Visionary Director, Patwa Group of Nashik and Bhushan Shah, CEO, Miracle 5 of Pune, about their experiences. 

How different is it to sell electric two-wheelers over your other business concerning mobiles, FMCG goods,  plastics and furniture?

Patwa: It feels exciting to have diversified into automobiles. Especially in the EV category with a brand like Ather, which has its aura and goodwill.  The reason for diversification is that  EV is the future. There is also a social cause attached to it, which will create an  indirect impact.

From a revenue perspective, how do you fare with electric two-wheelers with far less moving parts than a conventional two-wheeler does?

Patwa: Yes, there are  fewer components as compared to IC engine vehicles. The profit margins however are good and helps in building up a sustainable business model that results in  dealership revenue.

Shah: We do not look at servicing vehicles from a revenue generation perspective. It is only an add-on business with EVs. We consider it more like a customer interface and customer relationship management. Even spare parts replacement is not a viable revenue generation point for EVs considering the lack of replacement needs. Selling an EV is the only source of revenue.

How will FAME II drive the business?

Patwa: We are banking on the  FAME policy to have a big impact on the pricing of electric vehicles that we sell. It is a good initiative by the Central Government as well as state governments for the proliferation of electric vehicles. the EV industry.

Shah:  We are still in the process of obtaining the approval. Our vehicles are in the testing phase. We should be all set in two months. Our FAME II products will be 80 percent localised. Only some  20 percent of the parts will be imported. These would be majorly electrical and electronic in nature. With higher subsidies we are expecting higher sales volumes. 

How do you look at the current charging infrastructure?

Patwa: Ather Energy has a dedicated business vertical called Ather Grid, which is solely in charge of making and installing charging stations in cities where it has opened its Experience Centres. Currently, in Nashik, we have more than five charging stations. 

Shah: We have a few around Pune, but charging infrastructure is not an issue when it comes to our vehicles. A user’s daily commute can be fulfilled in a single charge. In the future however, we are expecting charging stations and charging infrastructure to mushroom like STD and PCO booths.

Does the dealership provide financing and insurance options?

Patwa: Yes, we provide finance and insurance. We also provide leasing options to our customers. We have tied up with renowned brands like Aditya Birla and Bajaj,  HDFC, IDFC and Hero Fincorp for finance, and with Autovert for leasing. 

Shah: Yes, we provide finance options. We have tie-ups with Bajaj Finance, LoanTap and Manappuram Finance. We also have tie-ups with cooperative banks. However, due to the need for a guarantor in such banks, most customers prefer the former options.

How is the market response for electric two-wheelers? 

Patwa: In Nashik, we are seeing good demand. We are experiencing  daily walk-ins of over 100 people that are interested in buying an Ather electric scooter.

Shah: More and more people are starting to accept electric two-wheelers. Especially with the pandemic, the need for personal mobility has surged and two-wheelers are found to be the best way to address that. In cities like Pune where public transport is not very efficient, we are getting buyers that range from  housewives to children. We are getting buyers that are delivery boys. They are keen to use our vehicles as they are efficient and cost effective. With the entry of big household automobile brands in the electric two-wheeler space, more and more people are getting the assurance that they can make the shift.  

What has Covid-19 affected sales?

Shah: Sales were largely down throughout last year. Our business was closed for more than half the year. Things picked up during December-February. They witnessed a drop in March 2021 once again as the second wave hit. With the fuel price hike, things have once again started to pick up. 

How many outlets do you have? Any plans for expansion? 

Patwa: We currently have one showroom and are focused on stabilising it. We are assessing the demand.  Depending on the same we will be chalking out our plans for expansion. In 2022, we could look at opening Ather sales points and service centres. 

Shah: We have various touch points across India for test drives, product viewing and booking services. We currently have dealerships in Mumbai, Indore and Pune, and are looking at expanding to other cities in the next six months.  (MT)

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has launched an updated version of its TVS Radeon motorcycle, introducing styling revisions and updated lighting components ahead of the domestic festive season. The commuter motorcycle model currently maintains a customer base exceeding 1.1 million units in India.

The updated TVS Radeon features revised body panels across the fuel tank, side sections and rear cowl, alongside new graphic schemes. Lighting updates include a full LED headlamp unit with integrated signature lighting, LED turn signals and an LED tail lamp incorporating a multi-dimensional lens effect.

The motorcycle retains core functional components from the previous iteration, including its segment-length seat layout and a reverse LCD instrument cluster with real-time mileage indicator functions.

The model is available across authorised dealerships in three trim levels: the Base variant priced at INR 67,100, the Digi Cluster Drum variant at INT 70,100 and the top-spec Digi Cluster Disc variant priced at INT 73,100 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice-President and Head of Commuter & EV Business, TVS Motor Company, said, "Over the last decade, TVS Radeon customers have grown with a progressive India. More than 1.1 million customers have made TVS Radeon part of their everyday journeys, and as their lifestyles, aspirations and expectations have evolved, their motorcycle also has evolved with them. At TVS Motor, we have always put the customer at the heart of meaningful product evolution. The new TVS Radeon is a reflection of that belief, bringing a more youthful, dynamic and aspirational character to a motorcycle in line with its consumers from the New India of today. Radeon continues to stand for superior build quality, reliability, and its distinctive new lighting signature, contemporary graphics and confident design, makes it such a preferred ride. The new TVS Radeon is designed for customers who want their everyday motorcycle to be as progressive and expressive as the life and country they are building. We salute the nation building spirit of the Progressive Radeon rider."

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Vietnamese automotive company VinFast has signed Letters of Intent (LoI) with its first group of over 50 e-motorcycle dealer partners in India, establishing a distribution footprint across 15 states and 34 cities. The agreement was finalised at VinFast’s manufacturing facility in Hai Phong, Vietnam, during a delegation visit by Indian retail partners.

As per the terms, VinFast and its retail partners will open showrooms in locations including Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha. The initial expansion target focuses on commercial centres with high two-wheeler adoption rates as part of the manufacturer's network setup.

Vo Thi Cam Tu, Managing Director of VinFast E-Scooters Overseas Market, said, "India is one of the most important markets in VinFast's global growth story, and this partnership reflects the scale of ambition we hold for the region. As we expand our presence across markets worldwide, India stands out for its scale, its growing demand for electric mobility, and the opportunity it offers to redefine mobility. This LoI signing demonstrates our long-term commitment to India, as well as our expectations and confidence in the vast scale and potential of the market."

Anurag Saxena, Chief Executive Officer of VinFast India E-Scooters, said, "Partnering with more than 50 dealer partners across 15 states and territories and 34 cities marks the beginning of our journey to bring VinFast e-motorcycles across India. Alongside, we are also building charging infrastructure and strengthening after-sales services to ensure that customers across these locations receive the support they need throughout their ownership journey."

The company entered the Indian market in 2025 with electric car manufacturing and distribution operations. The latest agreement represents VinFast's first dedicated retail network for electric two-wheelers in India, where two-wheeler registrations reached 21.41 million units in fiscal year 2025-2026, with electric models accounting for 6.54 per cent of total sales.

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has announced pricing and opened bookings for the Honda XR300 L and Honda XR300 Rally. The announcement follows the initial unveiling of both models in July 2026 as part of the company's product expansion plans.

The XR300 L is priced at INR 183,000 ex-showroom Bengaluru, while the XR300 Rally is priced at INR 208,000 ex-showroom Bengaluru. Effective from 5 October 2026, bookings for both models have opened across the manufacturer's BigWing dealership network and online platform for a reservation amount of INR 5,000.

Both motorcycles are powered by a 293.5cc air-cooled engine equipped with an oil cooler; both variants come with torque control systems, rear suspension setups, front and rear disc brakes, switchable dual-channel ABS and an assist slipper clutch.

The XR300 L is designed for mixed city and off-road use and is offered in Extreme Red and Shasta White colour options. The XR300 Rally features bodywork designed for wind protection during long-distance riding, along with a TFT instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity.

The Rally variant is available in Extreme Red and True Black options. Both models form part of the manufacturer's domestic production initiative for local and export markets.

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Triumph Motorcycles, one of the leading premium motorcycle manufacturers, has expanded its lineup in India with the launch of the Bonneville T40, T40 Black and T4 models, with pricing starting at INR 279,999 ex-showroom, Delhi, while the latter is priced at INR 254,999 ex-showroom, Delhi.

The new models feature traditional styling elements, including a teardrop fuel tank, round headlight, twin rear shock absorbers and spoked wheels with aluminium rims. The motorcycles are available in two-tone schemes with hand-painted coach lining and peashooter silencers. The bikes offer an accessible ergonomic setup, featuring a low seat height that can be reduced to 770 millimetres with an accessory seat.

All three variants are powered by a 350cc iteration of Triumph's TR Series engine. The engine produces 29 PS of power at 7,000 rpm and 31 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm, tuned to deliver low-end torque and a distinct exhaust note.

The T40 and T40 Black feature a four-inch circular TFT instrument display with smartphone connectivity, including map navigation, phone and music controls. The models also come equipped with five ride modes, cruise control, cornering ABS and cornering traction control. The Bonneville T4 includes a colour LCD with turn-by-turn navigation, selectable ride modes, and dual-channel ABS.

Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles, said, “The Bonneville is one of the most significant motorcycles in Triumph's history, so introducing a new model carrying that name comes with a responsibility to get it right. From the outset, our ambition was not simply to create a smaller Bonneville, but to create a motorcycle that delivers the style, character and ownership experience riders expect from a genuine Bonneville. Bringing that experience to more riders is strategically important for Triumph, particularly as lower-capacity motorcycle categories continue to grow around the world."

"Working closely with Bajaj, we challenged ourselves to retain the details and qualities that make a Bonneville special, from the proportions and finish to traditional touches such as hand-painted coach lining, while also introducing a level of technology and rider-focused innovation not previously seen in this category. The result is a motorcycle that stays true to the values that have defined the Bonneville for generations while opening the experience to even more riders.” Sargent added.

The company has begun online bookings for the motorcycles starting 7 October 2026. Deliveries for the Bonneville T40 and T40 Black are scheduled to begin in the second week of November 2026, while deliveries for the Bonneville T4 will commence in the second week of January 2027.

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