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    Bajaj Riki in the E-Rickshaw Market

    Bajaj Riki P4005Last-Mile Mobility Demand Shapes E-Rickshaw Growth
    Rising demand for last-mile mobility across urban and semi-urban regions is a major requirement. Industry activity continues to grow as transport networks depend on short-distance feeder systems. Post-Covid movement patterns add volume, with monthly additions of around 45,000 e-rickshaws in circulation. Market participation expands as these vehicles support metros, suburban rail, and city bus routes. Reliability requirements persist due to frequent operating cycles. Safety considerations remain central given varied road environments and high utilisation.
    Industry dependence on small-format vehicles places attention on unorganised structures across the e-rickshaw category. Many operators function without consistent standards across build quality or operating conditions. Gaps appear in durability due to varied materials used. Gaps also appear in safety systems across models that lack structured engineering inputs. Passenger movement relies on these systems that commute daily across fixed and informal routes. Demand patterns establish steady utilisation throughout the day.
    Bajaj Riki C4005
    Bajaj Riki Connects Brand with 3W Driver Groups
    Bajaj Auto Ltd enters this context as a two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer with extensive domestic reach. Company involvement widens with new products in the e-rickshaw category. Launch of Bajaj Riki extends an existing relationship with three-wheeler drivers in multiple regions. Product placement targets consistent requirements across commercial mobility groups. Market participation leverages experience in mechanical formats familiar to fleet users.
    Riki forms part of the P40 series, with P4005 and C4005 as the two initial variants. P stands for passenger use cases, while C identifies cargo-based applications. P4005 operates with a 5.4 kWh battery supporting a listed range of 149 km. C4005 carries a certified range of 164 km for commercial loads. Cargo format includes a designated tray size suited to routine transport tasks. C4005 lists 28 percent gradability for movement across inclined surfaces in select zones.
    Bajaj Riki
    Bajaj Riki – Price Points Fit Electric Three-Wheeler Expectations
    Riki P4005 carries a price tag of Rs 1,90,890 ex-showroom. Riki C4005 carries a price of Rs 2,00,876 ex-showroom. Pricing is competitive with commercial vehicle positioning across electric three-wheeler categories. Operators often assess upfront cost in relation to route density and earning potential. Cost considerations remain central for fleet owners planning multi-vehicle additions.
    Monocoque chassis construction provides a single-piece frame architecture. Independent suspension supports varied road profiles. Hydraulic braking forms controls deceleration. Fast charging capability enables turnaround within recorded 4.5 hours. A 3-year battery warranty supports operational planning cycles for fleet owners.
    Bajaj Riki e3W
    Large scale Adoption
    Market observations highlight persistent problems across the existing e-rickshaw landscape. Low real-world range restricts daily operating coverage. Weak durability reduces long-term value for operators. Short vehicle life affects earning consistency. Corrosion and leakage remain issues within lead acid battery formats used by many unorganised players. Lack of hydraulics increases harsh braking. Instability concerns appear across uneven roads. Toppling risk emerges in congested areas. Limited service networks reduce uptime. Passenger ride conditions remain affected by these gaps.
    Customer deployment contributes structured input for Riki development cycles. Customer insights originate from operational conditions observed during early runs. Testing validates functional behaviour across typical routes. Service network support establishes continuity for region-wise adoption. Process design builds on requirements identified during pilot deployments.
    Bajaj Riki Electric
    Product Attributes Address Driver and Passenger Needs
    Pilot projects were undertaken across Patna, Moradabad, Guwahati, and Raipur. Data from these locations inform rollout plans. Model placement is to be scaled across more than 100 towns in Phase 1. Expansion spans Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Assam. This will meet demand concentration in high-traffic districts.
    Speaking on the launch, Samardeep Subandh, President, Intra-City Business Unit, Bajaj Auto Ltd said, “Riki brings Bajaj Auto’s trusted 3W engineering and dependability into the electric rickshaw segment at a time when drivers and passengers need dependable solutions. We’ve brought the best for the industry, the longest range, a monocoque chassis, independent suspension and hydraulic brakes. Riki is engineered to increase driver earnings, enhance passenger safety and comfort, and deliver the reliability India’s last mile ecosystem has waited for.” More

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    Electric Origin SUV usage – XEV 9e, BE 6 as everyday cars

    Electric Origin SUV usage – XEV 9e, BE 6XEV 9e, BE 6 – Sales, Distance, and the Quiet March
    Mahindra Electric sales data shows 30,000 units on road within a seven-month period. Market records indicate one unit sold every ten minutes during this period. Revenue touched Rs. 8,000 crore in H1 FY26 for a market share position at No. 1. Figures reflect the Electric Origin SUV line’s momentum across retail channels across regional markets.
    XEV 9e and BE 6 were shown to the market in November 2025. Within a year, both models contributed to early traction for the Electric Origin SUV story. This is backed by steady availability across cities.
    Daily driving – XEV 9e, BE 6
    Electric Origin SUV usage data
    Usage metrics illustrate how owners utilise Electric Origin SUVs as part of daily mobility cycles. More than 1,000 units crossed 20,000 km. A section of vehicles achieved 50,000 km within seven months. Data indicates vehicle use across commuting routes and intercity travel clusters.
    Driving patterns reveal frequent use across working days. Sixty-five percent of the fleet runs daily. Seventy percent covers more than 1,000 km per month. Ten percent exceeds 3,000 km per month. These patterns reflect reliance on EVs for routine travel cycles and extended use cases.
    Electric Origin SUV usage – Daily Running Patterns
    Range behaviour emerges from City Range outcomes. Sixty percent achieve more than 500 km within City Range parameters, defined as operation below 100 kmph. Thirty percent completed 400 km single-day trips. Multi-state journeys appear in logs, indicating capacity for long-distance travel under varied conditions.
    Owner behaviour data points to a use of EVs as primary vehicles. Two of three vehicles operate every working day. Cumulative owner distance has reached 200 million km, indicating reliance on electric mobility solutions.
    First-Time Ownership Trends
    Customer base composition highlights significant entry of new segments into the brand. Eighty percent of buyers are new to Mahindra. Eight of ten represent first-time Mahindra ownership. Data signals broader demographic adoption into the Electric Origin portfolio.
    Collaborations formed a part of the engagement strategy for Electric Origin SUVs. BGMI x BE 6 marked the first appearance of an Indian auto brand in this gaming platform. Batman x BE 6 sawthe limited edition run of 999 units sold out in about two minutes.
    Market patterns indicate how Electric Origin SUVs respond to daily commuting needs and long-distance goals. Data across sales, usage, range behaviour, and owner characteristics supports buyer adoption trends. More

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    Hero Sales Breakup Oct 2025 – Splendor, HF, Xtreme, Xpulse, Karizma

    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R Reach ShowroomsHero Splendor continued to hold top spot on company sales chart in Oct 2025 while it was also the best-selling motorcycle in India
    Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters by volume, has seen sales decline in Oct 2025. There was the Splendor and HF Deluxe that led the list, though both these bikes suffered steep YoY decline. However, demand was more positive for scooters such as the Destini 125, Pleasure and Xoom 125.
    Hero MotoCorp Sales Oct 2025
    Hero MotoCorp sales stood at 6,03,615 units in Oct 2025. It was a 7.71% YoY decline from 6,54,063 units sold in Oct 2024 marking a volume de-growth of 50,448 units. This decline was despite hefty price reductions on account of reduced GST tax structure and the festive month when two wheeler sales usually peak.
    Hero Splendor was the best-selling model on this list with 3,40,131 units sold last month. It was a 13.15% YoY de-growth over 3,91,612 units sold in Oct 2024, a volume decline of 51,481 units though it held on to a 56.35% share.
    In second spot, HF Deluxe too suffered an 8.32% YoY de-growth to 1,13,998 units from 1,24,343 units while Hero Glamour saw 18.34% higher sales at 28,823 units from 24,356 units sold in the same month last year. The Destini scooter seems to hold strong appeal to buyers in the country thanks to its stylish design and competitive pricing. Its sales rose by 83.93% to 26,754 units last month from 14,546 units sold in Oct 2024.
    Hero Sales Breakup Oct 2025
    Sales of the Hero Passion dipped by 4.58% to 26,640 units while Xtreme 125R too suffered a YoY setback of 38.14% to 24,582 units from 39,735 unit sales of Oct 2024. Vida electric scooter saw its sales go up by 60.22% to 14,019 units, well over 8,750 units sold in the same month last year. The company has also teased a new electric motorcycle concept called Vida Ubex which could go in to be the manufacturer’s first electric motorcycle for our markets.
    Hero Pleasure, Xoom, Xtreme Sales Oct 2025
    Lower down the sales list, but witnessing nominal sales growth was the Hero Pleasure with 12,915 units sold last month marking a 1.46% YoY growth. It was followed by the Xoom 125 with 7,581 units sold, a 31.25% YoY improvement. Xpulse saw its sales more than double by 111.86% to 4,161 units from 1,964 units on a YoY basis while there were 2,670 units of Xtreme 160/200 and 833 units of Xtreme 250R sold last month.
    Hero Xoom 160, a relatively new comer to the list has 453 unit sales last month Karizma 210 also showed off strong demand with a 685.71% YoY growth to 55 units from 7 units sold in Oct 2024 while Mavrick 440 accounted for 0 units. More

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    350cc to 450cc Motorcycle Sales Oct 2025 – RE, Triumph, Honda, KTM

    Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Sundowner OrangeIn this mid-capacity segment, Royal Enfield once again commanded top 4 spots, with each model displaying sound YoY growth
    Motorcycles in the mid-capacity segment (350-450cc) has shown off strong performance in Oct 2025 with a 17.93% YoY rise to 1,35,800 units. This was a 20,651 unit volume increase over 1,15,149 units sold in the same month last year. Top sellers continued to post improved demand while lower down the sales list, most models suffered a severe YoY decline.
    Royal Enfield Commands Strong Hold
    Royal Enfield continued its dominance with 4 of its models at the top of this list. The Classic 350 has posted 46,573 unit sales last month, a 21.61% YoY rise over 38,297 units of Oct 2024. It commanded a 34.30% share and was followed by the Bullet 350 with 25,560 unit sales. This was a 13.65% YoY growth over 22,491 units sold last year.
    Hunter 350 followed with 21,823 units, up 2.22% YoY. It is this bike from Royal Enfield that finds more favor among younger buyers, owing to its affordability factor. There was also the Meteor 350 at No. 4 contributing 14,748 units, and recording a strong 32.44% YoY rise. Meteor 350 got a new Sundowner Orange Edition at Motoverse 2025 which comes equipped with cross-spoke tubeless aluminium wheels.
    Jawa Yezdi was at No. 5 on this list with 6,922 unit sales, a steep 59.90 rise over 4,329 units sold in Oct 2025. The Triumph 400 too saw improved sales at 6,145 units, a 53.43% YoY growth as compared to 4,005 units. Showing off a healthy 84.71% improvement in sales was the Honda CB350 with 3,395 units sold last month.
    350cc to 450cc Motorcycle Sales Oct 2025
    It was back to Royal Enfield with its Himalayan 450 selling 2,561 units in October 2025. This was a 16.46% YoY growth from 2,199 units of Oct 2024. Honda H’ness suffered a 25.80% YoY decline to 2,056 units while it was the KTM390 that increased its sales tally by a massive 251.66% to 1,804 units. There had been just 513 units sold in the same month last year.
    350-450cc Motorcycle Sales Oct 2025
    Thereafter sales of motorcycles in this segment declined sharply. RE Guerrilla suffered a 24.49% de-growth to 1,196 units while Harley Davidson X440 sales dipped by 46.09% to 1,186 units. Sales also fell for the Bajaj Pulsar 400 and Dominar 400 to 1,183 units and 481 units respectively.
    Aprilia RS457 suffered a 66.67% YoY de-growth to 117 units while the Tuono 457 added 21 units to its sales tally. Ninja / Eliminator/KLX and 17 units sold last month along with the Husqvarna 401 of which 12 units were sold with each of these suffering a steep YoY decline. Hero Mavrick, of which 196 units were sold in Oct 2024 sold 0 units last month. More

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    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R Launch Price Rs 1.3 Lakh – Cruise Control, New Cluster

    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R Launch
    Hero MotoCorp has been at the top of the game where budget commuter motorcycles are concerned. However, there is a major shift in the brand’s strategies towards making their premium products more feature-loaded. Especially the Xtreme motorcycle lineup which will vastly benefit from more equipment resulting in a boost in sales.
    In that regard, we recently saw the launch of 2026 Xtreme 125R with a host of new features and technology, making it unique in the segment. Now, a similar treatment has been given to Xtreme 160R 4V as well, making it one of the most feature-loaded 160cc motorcycles on sale in India today. Let’s take a closer look at everything new with 2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V.
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V Combat Edition
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R Launch
    Where pricing is concerned, 2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V has been priced at Rs 1.3 lakh (Ex-sh). This is a Rs 4,485 increment when compared to the standard Xtreme 160R 4V. There are four colour schemes to choose from – Neon Shooting Star, Matt Slate Black, Kevlar Brown and the just introduced Combat Edition with Matt Shadow Grey colourway, priced at Rs 1.34 lakh (Ex-sh).
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V
    Design-wise, we get an all new fascia with the same LED headlight cluster shared with its bigger brother Xtreme 250R. This makes the 2026 Xtreme 160R more menacing and sporty than before. Sculpted fuel tank is multi-layered with muscular tank shrouds. The new Combat Edition gets a unique Shadow Grey colourway with Neon Yellow highlights.
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V
    Front USD telescopic forks continue to be finished in a Gold shade and the rear mono-shock unit gets a Red finish. There are interesting graphics which can be seen on its fuel tank, side body panels, belly pan and more. Both the standard and Cruise Control variants get a single-piece seat.
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V
    New feature additions
    The main features added with 2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V include an electronic throttle that has unlocked features like Cruise Control along with Ride Modes – Rain, Road and Sport. There is a new colour LCD instrument cluster on offer as well which supports features like Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation along with a host of informatics.
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V
    2026 Hero Xtreme 160R 4V also comes with improved switchgear to operate the new cluster and newly added Cruise Control. All of the features and technology makes 2026 Xtreme 160R 4V a compelling proposition in its segment. Mechanically, it remains the same as before – powered by a 163.2cc single-cyl air-cooled engine with 16.9 bhp and 14.6 Nm, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. More

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    Top 10 Scooters Oct 2025 – Activa, Jupiter, Access, Ntorq, Dio, Chetak, iQube

    New Honda Activa – Vlogger Satyam GuptaHonda Activa, TVS Jupiter, and Suzuki Access continued as best-selling scooters while in the electric segment it was the Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube
    Following our earlier report on top 10 two-wheeler sales for the month of October 2025, here is a look at the top 10 scooters last month. Scooter sales have seen a 15.63% YoY growth. However, motorcycle sales declined marginally by 1.95%. Total of top 10 scooter sales, including both petrol and electric models, stood at 7,37,263 units. This was a 15.63% rise over 6,37,608 units sold in Oct 2024, while MoM sales too improved from 6,44,976 units in Sept 2025.
    Top 10 Scooters Oct 2025 – Honda Activa at No. 1
    Two scooters notable for their high sales volumes included the Honda Activa and TVS Jupiter. Of these, the Activa led by a considerable margin, registering 3,26,551 units sold last month. This reflected a 22.39% YoY increase from 2,66,806 units and a substantial MoM rise over 2,37,716 units sold in September 2025. In October, the Activa range reached the significant milestone of 35 million cumulative sales since launch, underscoring the brand’s reputation for trust and reliability among Indian buyers.
    Top 10 Scooter Sales Oct 2025
    TVS Jupiter too saw its YoY sales grow by 8.37% to 1,18,888 units, up from 1,09,702 units to command a 16.13% market share. It was followed by the Suzuki Access, the only scooter on this list to suffered lower sales. Sales fell by 6% to 70,327 units from 74,8134 units on a YoY basis.
    Demand escalated strongly for the TVS Ntorq with 41,718 units sold last month, a 4.13% rise from 40,065 units sold in Oct 2024. Honda Dio too saw its sales increase by 9.53% to 36,340 units whereas there had been 33,179 units sold in the same month last year.
    Top 10 Scooters Oct 2025
    Bajaj Chetak was the best-selling electric scooter in Oct 2025. Its sales went up by 13.89% YoY to 34,900 units from 30,644 units. Fuelled by this rising demand, the company now plans launch of the new Chetak in early 2026. Spy shots of the next gen Chetak have emerged with several design and feature enhancements.

    No
    Top 10 Scooters
    Oct-25
    Oct-24

    1
    Activa
    3,26,551
    2,66,806

    2
    Jupiter
    1,18,888
    1,09,702

    3
    Access
    70,327
    74,813

    4
    Ntorq
    41,718
    40,065

    5
    Dio
    36,340
    33,179

    6
    Chetak
    34,900
    30,644

    7
    iQube
    31,989
    28,923

    8
    Burgman
    27,058
    20,479

    9
    Destini 125
    26,754
    14,546

    10
    RayZR
    22,738
    18,451


    Total
    7,37,263
    6,37,608

    Another electric scooter that continues to appeal to buyers in India is the TVS iQube. Sales were up 10.60% YoY to 31,989 units from 28,923 units. Sales growth was also seen for the Burgman with 27,058 units marking a 32.13% YoY growth while Destini 125 scooter sales saw the highest YoY growth by 83.93% to 26,754 units from 14,546 units sold in Oct 2024. At No. 10 on this list was the Ray ZR with 22,738 unit sales, a 23.23% YoY rise over 18,451 units. More

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    Top 10 Motorcycles Oct 2025 – Splendor, Shine, Pulsar, Apache, Raider, Platina

    New TVS Apache 160 – Akash VermaWhile Hero Splendor dominated sales charts, Honda Shine too commanded a strong 2nd position though both suffered YoY decline in sales
    Motorcycle sales faced some headwinds in October 2025, even though the overall two-wheeler segment ended the month on a positive note. Taking into account the top 10 motorcycles sold last month, this decline was despite it being a full blown festive month when sales generally peak. The GST cut that came into effect from 22nd Sept 2025 favored bikes up to 350cc, bringing the rate down from 28% to 18%. Motorcycles above 350cc saw a notable rise from 28% to 40%. This could have caused some turmoil across the segment.
    Top 10 Motorcycles – Oct 2025
    Top 10 motorcycles accounted for sales of 10,60,399 units, a 1.95% decline on a YoY basis. There had been 10,81,437 unit sales of Oct 2024 while MoM sales also declined sharply when compared to 11,01,572 units of Sept 2025.
    Hero Splendor continued to dominate the sales chart with 3,40,131 units sold last month. It was a 13.15% YoY decline from 3,91,612 units sold in Oct 2025 even as the Splendor commanded a 32.08% market share. At No. 2 was Honda Shine that also suffered a YoY decline by 11.04% to 1,74,615 units from 1,96,288 units.
    Top 10 Motorcycles Oct 2025
    Next in line was the Bajaj Pulsar range with a healthy 36.81% rise in demand. Sales went up to 1,52,996 units last month, well over 42,162 units from 1,11,834 units sold in Oct 2024. An 8.32% YoY decline was also reported for the HF Deluxe, sales of which fell to 1,13,998 units from 1,24,343 units. This was a volume dip of 10,345 units.
    TVS Apache range, on the other hand saw higher demand. Sales went up by 23% to 61,619 units in Oct 2025 from 50,097 units sold in the same month last year. Raider also saw its sales increase strongly by 9.64% to 56,085 units, up by 4,932 units over 51,153 units in Oct 2024. Raider 125 recently got updated and now comes in with several segment first features along with improvement in technology, performance, and safety. Sales declined for the Bajaj Platina by 14.52% YoY. Sales fell to 52,734 units from 61,689 units relating to a volume decline of 8,955 units.

    No
    Top 10 Motorcycles
    Oct-25
    Oct-24

    1
    Splendor
    3,40,131
    3,91,612

    2
    Shine
    1,74,615
    1,96,288

    3
    Pulsar
    1,52,996
    1,11,834

    4
    HF Deluxe
    1,13,998
    1,24,343

    5
    Apache
    61,619
    50,097

    6
    Raider
    56,085
    51,153

    7
    Platina
    52,734
    61,689

    8
    Classic 350
    46,573
    38,297

    9
    Unicorn
    32,825
    31,768

    10
    Glamour
    28,823
    24,356


    Total
    10,60,399
    10,81,437

    At 8th position on this list was the RE Classic 350 with 46,573 units sold last month. This was a 21.61% YoY rise over 38,297 units in Oct 2024. The Classic 350 continued to remain the company’s best-selling model in the 350cc segment with sales above that of the Hunter 350, Meteor 350 and Bullet 350, allowing the company to register a strong 14.68% overall sales growth.
    CB Unicorn and Hero Glamour also ended the past month on a positive note. Unicorn sales went up by 3.33% to 32,825 units. Glamour saw a strong 18.34% YoY growth at 28,823 units, well over 24,356 units sold in Oct 2024. More

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    Mahindra Charge_IN 180 kW ultra-fast charging network

    Mahindra Charge_InCharge_IN Mapping Its 1000-Point Target Across Corridors
    Mahindra Charge_IN is positioned as a nationwide fast-charging framework built around a 180 kW architecture. This supports consistent EV usage across major routes. A target of 1000 charging points by the end of 2027 will be attaiined through staged rollout of 250 stations. Locations veer towards predictable access patterns for highway commuters and high traffic points. Each site will operate on a uniform 180 kW specification to maintain compatibility across participating vehicle categories.
    Operational planning includes dual-gun chargers that enable simultaneous charging for four EVs at a location through two units with two connectors each. This is first being implemented in Hoskote on NH 7, and Murthal on NH44. These placements follow a pattern of selecting highway nodes with sustained vehicle movement.
    Charge_IN 180 kW
    One App, Many Stops: How Charge_IN Keeps Sessions Simple
    Such hardware allows 20 to 80 percent charging in about 20 minutes, which supports time-sensitive highway travel routines. This setup forms part of a structured placement strategy that emphasises high-traffic corridors and consistent spacing along national highways. Access options include Charge_IN by Mahindra app, which lists station availability, charging status, and payment flows for EV owners across all brands.
    This interoperability ensures all users can rely on the network for long-distance travel. Users can locate compatible chargers, initiate sessions, and manage billing through a single interface. This creates a consolidated interaction point for EV owners navigating multiple charging platforms and locations. Expanded app access supports the network’s aim to simplify public charging interactions.
    Mahindra fast Charger
    Convenience of Shared Systems
    Station design includes co-location with existing wayside amenities such as restaurants and cafés. This placement logic supports charging downtime by connecting EV users to services already present on major corridors. Amenity proximity helps avoid unnecessary detours and reduces overall travel disruption.
    Compatibility extends to Mahindra’s eSUV portfolio, including XEV 9e, BE 6, and the upcoming XEV 9S. Charging hardware uniformity simplifies operational planning by reducing the need for varied charger specifications across regions. For EV owners, current access charging points through apps helps bridge early-stage infrastructure limitations. EV owners gain visibility into available resources across operators, which reduces fragmentation in the charging ecosystem. Expandedinteroperability helps ease the journey.
    Range and Network Access Shape Travel Confidence
    Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Chief Executive Officer – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Executive Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd., said, “Electric mobility is about driving a larger shift towards cleaner, sustainable transportation. XEV 9e and BE 6, with their impressive 500 km real-world range, ensure drivers feel confident on long journeys.
    Meanwhile, with our ultrafast charging network by Charge_IN we will be creating an open and accessible network for all EV users. Our aim is to make long-distance travel with an electric vehicle effortless and reliable like conventional driving, thereby building customer confidence and accelerating India’s transition to electric mobility.” More