July 2021 was a month of much activity and announcements in the Indian electric two-wheeler industry. Much of it had to do with the announcement of Phase II of FAME II scheme by the Central Government, which seemed to favour the early adoption of electric two- and three-wheelers. Many states followed suit with a new or revised electric vehicle (EV) policy. Of the opinion that the new FAME II scheme will disrupt the two-wheeler market in India, Tarun Mehta, CEO and Co-founder, Ather Energy, said, “They could clock sales of over six million units by 2025.”

The increase in maximum subsidy limit from 20 to 40 percent in the case of initial acquisition cost has enabled electric two-wheeler OEMs to reduce the sticker price of their products a good deal. The arrangement is such that the government will reimburse the OEM the subsidy amount after it has sold the vehicle to its customer, the actual beneficiary. “Lowering the prices of electric scooters will help to persuade more riders to switch to an electric one,” said Jeetender Sharma, MD and Founder, Okinawa Autotech. Sohinder Gill, Director General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), informed, “The Gujarat State Government’s subsidy of INR 20,000 for electric two-wheelers that cost up to INR 150,000 has a potential to make it an EV hub,” Referring to the Maharashtra EV policy, which provides a subsidy of INR 10,000 on an electric two-wheeler, Nagesh Basavanhalli, MD and CEO, Ampere Vehicles, remarked, “The policy will not only boost electric vehicle growth, it will also provide employment.”

Helping electric two- and three-wheeler proliferate, the Phase II of FAME II and the EV policies of various states, it is clear, are looking at attracting investments and employment opportunities. These policies are also looking at creating a self-sufficient (Atmanirbhar Bharat) ecosystem of fundamental manufacture – that of chips, battery cells, motors and controllers. India has the software but needs the hardware, mentioned a source. He pointed at Ola’s high voltage campaign for its e-scooter, and said that the real slog will start only after the plant is up and running. It will begin when the e-scooter hits the road and starts competing against numerous others. Stressing on the presence of equally capable global, regional and local players, he explained, it is as necessary to understand the psyche of the market as much as it is to have the technology and the money to invest. Carrying with them the image of being premium and technologically superior, the Ather e-scooters have been attracting attention for some time.

Its dealer from Maharashtra mentioned that awareness for electric two-wheelers is growing and the number of footfalls after the fuel price hike. Range anxiety, however, remains to be a challenge, he said. Across segments – Ather e-scooters are said to be premium offerings compared to others with a price premium of roughly INR 30,000 to INR 40,000. Range anxiety is a factor that is proving challenging to many. Especially along with the higher initial acquisition cost. The innovative technological achievements like a detachable battery pack that could be taken out for charging at home or in the office are helping to an extent. They are also highlighting the efforts of the electric two-wheeler OEMs to understand the dynamic regulatory and market requirements.

Investments in technology involving materials and sciences are yielding better products no doubt. With the emergence of demand for commercial-use electric three-wheelers, companies like Komaki are quick to respond. Its XGT CAT 2.0 e-bike with a 350 kg payload is designed to address the needs of e-commerce logistics companies like Delhivery and Ekart, and aggregator platforms like Swiggy and Zomato. Looking at maximum uptime and reliability in the last-mile space, commercial electric three-wheeler users, tasked with attacking as many pin codes and as many customers as they could in a strict time stipulation, are keen to control costs as well as reduce their carbon footprint. Leveraging IoT and AI to analyse data, they are choosing between Lithium-ion powered and lead-acid battery-powered electric two-wheelers. (MT)

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive collaborated with the Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) of the Indian Army for a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu, by providing a fleet of F77 motorcycles.

The ride honoured the army Veterans and Veer Naris of Madras Regiment and the Armed Forces community in the region.

Under the aegis of the Dakshin Bharat Area, the rally covered six districts of Tamil Nadu - Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni and Coimbatore. The team of army personnel engaged with approximately 3,000 veterans and veer naris during the journey: addressing various concerns, sharing crucial information on entitlements, and providing immediate assistance. The F77s covered a cumulative distance of over 6000 kilometres.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, " Collaborating again with the Indian Army for this remarkable outreach initiative is an honour that resonates deeply with Ultraviolette's ethos. Our vision to create world-class technology is inspired by the spirit of the India - undaunted, resilient, and driven by purpose. The F77 embodies the very principles that define our Armed Forces - precision, performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To witness Ultraviolette playing a key role in this rally, honouring veterans, and their families, is not just a privilege but a defining moment in our journey".

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a leading manufacturer of two-wheelers in the country, has reported wholesales of 112,948 units for April 2025, which is 14 percent higher than 99,377 units it sold last year.

The company reported an 8 percent growth in its domestic sales at 95,214 units, as compared to 88,067 units last year, while exports grew by 57 percent at 17,734 units, as against 11,310 units for the same period last year.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “This positive start to the year fills us with gratitude. Each unit sold represents the beginning of a new journey with our customers and we are thankful to be a part of it. We will continue to work sincerely to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and contribute positively to their journey with us.”

Last month, the company further upgraded its product lineup, including the Hayabusa to be OBD-2B compliant.

Chennai-based two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company has announced its wholesales for April 2025. The company reported witnessing a 16 percent growth, selling 443,896 units, as against 383,615 units last year. 

The domestic two-wheeler sales include 220,527 motorcycles and 169,741, while exports accounted for 106,683 units.  

EV sales grew by 59 percent, rising from 17,403 units in April 2024 to 27,684 units last month.

Three-wheeler sales grew by 50 percent YoY from 9,023 units to 13,566 units.

Blending the pulse of street culture, community and high-octane energy, Royal Enfield hosted the first-ever edition of HunterHood in Mumbai and New Delhi during the last weekend of April 2025. 
Inspired by the spirit of Hunter motorcycle of the company, the HunterHood event – the latest cultural initiative built around the ethos of “From the streets, For the streets” – brought together riders, artists and urban explorers across the two Indian mega cities. 
The company also unveiled ‘The 2025 Hunter 350’ with three new colourways and upgraded features inspired by and designed for ‘The Coolest Neighbourhoods of the world’.
Featuring unique programming in the form of skateboarding sessions, spontaneous cyphers, vibrant graffiti art, live music jams, dynamic dance circles and exhilarating BMX stunts, the event witnessed high-octane performances by some of India’s top musicians like Dino James, Wild Wild Women, Shah Rule, Suggahunny, The Spindoctor, OG Shez, Ikka, DK Mocity, Dhanji, Lush Lata and Samriddhi Bhargav. 
The event saw over 12 homegrown, premium and emerging street-led brands spanning skateboarding, apparel, sneakers and the culinary space participate. It was attended by 5,000 people across the two mega cities.