Ather

Ather plans on its third factory to keep competition from Ola, Chetak and TVS in checkAther Electric ScooterAther has been one of the most successful EV startups in India. The company strives to make the Indian scooter market eco-friendly and be a part of the green revolution. In that regard, they only manufacture electric vehicles and plan to stay that way.But as more EV startups are entering the electric scooter market, more are the no of EVs on road with cheap and lower quality parts. This has resulted in dangerous electric scooter fire instances. Making EVs is not the hardest part. Making good EVs is. In this regard, Ather has come off as a solid performer and a consistent at that too.Ather Electric Scooter New Third PlantAther currently has two models on sale in India, 450X and 450 Plus. Both of them are manufactured at Ather’s manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. It has a production capacity of 1.2 lakh vehicles annually. Ather is also working on its second manufacturing facility in Hosur itself.Production at the 2nd plant has not started yet. When up and running, this second factory is capable of taking Ather’s total production up to 4 lakh units per annum. But with increasing competition in the Indian electric scooter space with prominent new entrants like Ola and Simple Energy and mainstream manufacturers like TVS, more production is always better.Existing Ather Electric Scooter Production Plant at HosurAdding to the competition, Bajaj’s subsidiary Chetak recently inaugurated its EV production facility at Akurdi. So, Ather has to ramp up its production and invest in new products to stay relevant in the game. Ather is reportedly in the final rounds of talks with various state governments like Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.Ather is looking for land up to 100 acres for its third manufacturing facility. This new plant will have production capacity of 15 lakh units annually, making it the largest Ather Energy plant yet. The EV startup is expected to finalize a location among the above-mentioned states by the end of next month.Ather Energy Fund Raising CampaignAther has been backed by Hero MotoCorp since early stages. Hero has been consistently supporting Ather since 2016 and currently holds a 35% stake in Ather Energy. With positive growth and consistent monthly sales, Ather has been doing really good in the EV market. It also recorded its highest-ever monthly sales in May 2022.Ather Energy, with its consistent growth, has attracted a lot of funds. Last month, it raised around Rs. 990 crores from National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd’s Strategic Opportunities Fund, Hero MotoCorp and some other investors. With 38 Experience centers across 32 cities, Ather is one of the prominent electric scooter manufacturers in India. With new fundraisers and two more manufacturing facilities, Ather is on its way to a new level.Source More

Ather Energy rides high in May 2022; reports sales at sells 3,787 units – MoM sales stable and greenAther Electric ScooterIndia already has a target for the number of electric two-wheelers it expects to see on the road by the end of the decade. That goal is slowly being realized, one electric scooter at a time. For starters, the electric two-wheeler industry is dominated by e-scooters. Unlike the predominant trend where manufacturers sell motorcycles by the dozen, e2W growth is being fuelled by scooters.And it’s no surprise, most names in the marketplace are new. Ather being one of them. With tech leading the charge, new age EV manufacturers are rapidly modernising the industry. At the same time, early adopters are able to choose from a wide range of products. This is made possible through robust R&D and the competitive nature of the growing industry. For starters, e2W manufacturers are keen on product launches to meet market demand.Ather Electric Scooter Sales May 2022Given market growth, and increased market awareness, Ather Energy has ended May 2022 on a high note. A YoY comparison isn’t possible owing to unavailability of sales figure for May 2021. And that’s not the only limitation. Even if these numbers were available, they wouldn’t make for a meaningful comparison.A year earlier, Covid-19 had a stronger grip, and heightened severity. This led to multiple lockdowns and production slowdowns to ensure personnel safety, and limited people movement. MoM sales has improved marginally. Volume gain stood at 8 units, from 3,779 units in April 2022 to 3,787 units in May 2022.Ather Electric Scooter Sales May 2022Growing electric scooter salesWhere sales are considered, the e2W industry has a new leader. Ola. While Hero Electric held the spot for the longest time, Ola Electric has made an impactful entry. It has curated its own business plans, and is hurrying towards dominance. Ather Energy has in the meantime strengthened its position in the middle order as it continues to report sales growth.In fact, last month Ather outsold TVS once again. TVS iQube sales for May 2022 are reported at 2,637 units. The latter closely competes with Bajaj Chetak EV. It’s easy to see competition is rife even though sales volumes for now are small. This competitive edge is what’s going to help the industry power on.Ather 450X and 450 Plus scootersRavneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, “Ather delivered 3787 scooters to customers in the month of May’22. We achieved the highest ever monthly sales in May, which reiterates the strong faith that consumers have in our well-engineered, reliable and safe 450X and 450 Plus scooters.With the new round of funding, we are excited to have NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund) onboard along with Hero MotoCorp, who continue to make fresh investments in our business. The fresh round of funding will focus largely on expanding manufacturing facilities, investing in R&D, charging infrastructure, strengthening the supply chain, and growing the retail network.” More

Ather’s TPMS sensors are housed inside the wheel and will replace traditional tubeless valve stemsAther Electric ScooterAther electric scooter was first launched in 2018. It is probably the first Indian startup EV manufacturer that strikes a perfect balance between premium-ness, safety and performance. Unlike some rivals, Ather electric scooters never had major bugs or had any reported fire incident.Getting the basics right in the first shot is hard and that’s where Ather has delivered. Company’s 450 Plus and 450X scooters have been the king of premium electric scooters until recently. With the launch of S1 Pro with its bigger battery, bigger range and minimalist design, Ola has taken the crown as the king of premium electric scooters. Ather wants to one-up Ola’s features list by introducing value-added accessories for their scooters in the form of a TPMS system. Ola currently lacks a TPMS system in both S1 and S1 Pro.Ather Electric Scooter TPMS systemTPMS system stands for Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. It is a novelty feature found on SUVs, cars and big bikes. But Ather says that TPMS is more necessary for EVs than IC engine-powered vehicles. When IC engine vehicles go to fill fuel, the filling station will always have a tyre inflator that reminds the owner of their tyre pressure. As electric scooters are mostly charged at home, EV tyre pressure is mostly neglected.Ather Electric Scooter TPMSAther has developed a TPMS system for their scooters which are housed inside the wheel replacing the valve stem. This is better than TPMS systems with sensors outside the wheel as it negates miscreants from tampering with the system. But the internal TPMS sensor’s battery can only be replaced by taking off the tyre.Ather Electric Scooter TPMSAther’s TPMS system connects to the scooter’s dashboard and Ather mobile app and provides tyre pressure data. It also has colour coded indications within the dashboard and app. Red denotes that pressure is too low, orange indicates that pressure is low and white indicates that pressure is okay. Ather recommends 30 psi at the rear and 32 psi at the front.Need for TPMSEven though TPMS is a novelty, it can be a convenient feature. Unlike car tyres that have a flat section, motorcycle tyres have a curved section that facilitates tilting the motorcycle to take turns. If tyre has too much pressure, the middle section of the tyre is more bulged out and is more subjected to wear. High tyre pressure also contributes to less traction and grip and also, a bumpy ride.Ather Electric Scooter TPMSIf tyre pressure is too low, it makes a wider contact patch with the road wearing out the tyre quicker. Low tyre pressure contributes to a saggy ride and increases the chance of damaging the wheel when riding on bad and unpredictable Indian roads.The TPMS system by Ather is its first official accessory. For the price of Rs. 4999, it is a very valuable addition for Ather’s customers. It also connects seamlessly with the scooter’s dashboard and also Ather app that the customer is already using, rather than an additional app just for this accessory. More

India’s sovereign wealth fund, NIIFL, Hero MotoCorp lead Series E funding. Ather Energy raises $128 millionAther Electric ScooterAther Energy has reported a strong start in 2022. In April 2022, the manufacturer reported its highest ever monthly sales having delivered 3,779 units. Simultaneously, bookings for Ather 450X have been growing 25 percent quarter-on-quarter.Currently, the company’s retail sales network spans 32 cities with 38 Experience Centres. This will be expanded to 150 Experience Centres in 100 cities by 2023. And now the manufacturer boasts of yet another feather in its cap. It has bagged the first direct investment in the electric mobility manufacturing sector by the country’s sovereign wealth fund.NIIFL, Hero MotoCorp – Ather investorsThe Series E funding amounts to $128 million or Rs 991 crores. Investment agreements were signed with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited’s (NIIFL) Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF), Hero MotoCorp, a leading shareholder of Ather, and additional investors. The latest infusion of cash adds to the amount raised in earlier rounds of funding. To date, Ather Energy has raised over $230 million financing. Tiger Global and Flipkart cofounder, Sachin Bansal are investors.In this round, Hero MotoCorp invested $56 mil, about Rs 420 crore. Most of the remaining amount is invested by NIIFL. Other existing investors, including angel founders further boosted the round with minor investments. To date Hero MotoCorp is the largest investor. Ather Energy plans to remain independent with investor goals aligned towards an Initial Public Offering (IPO).Ather electric scooter fast charging techElectric two-wheeler segmentAs has been previously stated by the company, funding is earmarked to attain certain time-bound goals. This includes expansion of its manufacturing facilities, research and development, charging infrastructure, and retail network growth. Ather also has plans to launch new electric scooters, based on their current 450 series.Being NIIFL’s first direct investment in the manufacturing sector and in electric mobility bodes well. Both avenues have often been discussed and are key to ‘India’s green mission and decarbonisation goals’. NIIFL investment is a boost to the electric 2-wheeler sector in India. A segment in early stages development, and one with serious growth goals by the end of the decade.The funding directly supports 1st-gen local entrepreneur-manufacturers. Ather has already proven its growth potential with a limited line of new products built with a high level of indigenisation. SOF has previously invested in Aseem Infrastructure Finance, NIIF IFL, and Manipal Hospitals.Ather Energy capacity enhancementTarun Mehta, CEO, Ather Energy, said “The switch to electric is inevitable and FY 21-22 was the turning point for electric two-wheeler adoption in India. We are super excited to have NIIF come on board as an investor. They have been at the forefront of the country’s green transition through their investments and initiatives, and we look forward to our association.We would also like to thank Hero MotoCorp, our long-term investor and strategic partner who continues to support our growth. The current round of investment will help us enhance capacities across the board, bring additional focus on new platforms, expand into new geographies, expand our fast-charging network and double down on the reputation we’ve built for making a product that’s high on quality.” More

Ather Energy reports manifold growth in April 2022, sells 3,779 units; reports MoM and YoY growthAther Electric ScooterThe electric two-wheeler industry in India has over time seen many new entrants. The marketplace is open to tech-based companies who are focused on changing the face of mobility in the years to come. This is in tandem with overall industry transition targets.India has largely been driven forward on two-wheelers. So, it’s not surprising that the e2W transition is expected to be the highest by the turn of the decade. With serious transition goals by 2030, the switch to e2Ws is expected to be in the region of 80 percent. With two-wheelers completely fuelled by petrol, this transition would change the course of crude oil import.Ather Electric Scooter Sales April 2022Electric two-wheeler manufacturers are seeing positive sales growth in recent months. April 2022 sales support the trend. Ather Energy reported sales at 3,779 units. YoY sales are up from 1,064 units. Volume growth stood at 2,715 units.Unlike last time, where MoM sales declined – this time they too have registered growth. April 2022 Ather MoM sales are up from 2,591 units. Volume growth stood at 1,188 units at 46 percent growth rate. YTD sales stands at 11,237 units, up from 3,697 units sold in Jan – Apr, 2021.Ather Electric Scooter Sales April 2022. 8 April 2021 sales no are an estimate, on the basis of % growth reported by Ather.Ather Energy expansionAther Energy has serious expansion plans. To reach more customers, the company is keen on expanding into new cities, introducing experience centres, and open dealerships. In April 2022 alone, Ather expanded its retail presence having inaugurated three new experience centres– Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Tirur and Malappuram (Kerala). Apart from this, the company is focused on strengthening its charging network.With multiple aspects of e2W industry development being worked upon simultaneously, growth trends have been heartening. But with industry goals being larger than life, growth needs to be faster. And while a range of charts point to operating costs being cheaper, namely the need not to spend on petrol, electric bikes aren’t cheap. In fact, Ather offers its scooters at a starting price of Rs 1.18L.e-scooter sales growthTwo wheeler sales far exceed four wheelers here. And electric alternatives are now available with a range that automatically widens its scope. Low-speed scooters can almost be ridden by anyone, and don’t require registration and licence. With EV tech improving continuously, range anxiety issues are already being answered. Plans to improve the EV charging network further eases EV transition.New age manufacturers are essentially moulding the e2W industry. Currently, the number of new manufacturers far exceeds the number of traditional manufacturers who are offering electric bikes. While the Indian two wheeler industry continues to be dominated by motorcycles, in the electric space, its electric scooters have taken the lead. In fact, the number of electric motorcycles on offer or intended for launch are far lower than e-scooters available. More

Ather has consistently expanded its dealer network and is now available in 30 cities across 15 statesAther Electric ScooterAn early entrant in the electric two-wheeler space, Ather Energy continues to mature as a reliable brand. The company has witnessed steady growth and is ranked among the top 10 electric two-wheeler brands. Sales will get a boost in coming months, as new dealerships are opened across the country.Ather dealer network updateWhen it had started out in 2018, Ather had presence in only a couple of cities. Around four years later, Ather has expanded across most of the major cities in the country. In the West, Ather has presence in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. Ather showrooms in northern and central India are available in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.Eastern states such as Assam and West Bengal have also been covered. Most dense network can be seen in the southern part of India, covering states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.Number of Ather dealerships are relatively more in this region, as compared to northern parts of the country. Ather is constantly looking to onboard new dealerships who may be willing to contribute to the EV revolution taking place in the country.Ather Electric Scooter Dealer Network as of April 2022Apart from expanding its dealer network, Ather is also focused on improving its charging infrastructure. Ather Grid currently has 350+ charging points across more than 30 cities. Users can quickly locate the nearest charging station via Ather app.Ather Grid points are equipped with DC fast chargers that can load battery power at the rate of 1.5 km per minute. Ather charging stations can be used by any electric vehicle that uses a 5 Amp charger. A lot more Ather Grid points are being added, which are playing a crucial role in eliminating the phenomenon of range anxiety.Ather electric scooter prices April 2022Prices of Ather electric scooters vary based on state subsidies and other exemptions such as NIL road tax and discounted RTO and registration charges. If we take Ather 450 Plus, it is the cheapest in Delhi. On-road price after FAME II and state subsidy is approx. Rs 1.24 lakh.Ather electric scooter prices – April 2022Delhi has been promoting the use of EVs by offering attractive subsidies. The state does not charge any road tax on electric two-wheelers and RTO / registration fee is among the lowest in the country. Other cities where on-road price of Ather 450 Plus is less than Rs 1.30 lakh include Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Nashik, Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai. These states too offer high EV subsidy and other concessions.Talking about Ather 450X, the scooter’s lowest on-road price is Rs 1.44 lakh in Delhi. At the other end of the spectrum, on-road price of the scooter is highest in Lucknow at Rs 1.75 lakh. 450 Plus is also costly at Rs 1.56 lakh in Lucknow. Other places where Ather scooters are relatively pricier include Noida, Gurugram, Malappuram, Tirur, Trivandrum, Kochi, Calicut, Siliguri, Guwahati and Indore. More

Currently, Ather offers 450 Plus for Rs 1.50 lakh and 450X for Rs 1.60 lakh (both prices ex-showroom)Existing Ather Electric ScooterFor a new startup to build the first premium electric scooter in India speaks volumes about the people involved in the firm. In a short span of time, Ather Energy has been able to attract a sizeable number of consumers toward electric mobility. The Bengaluru-based EV manufacturing startup currently retails two e-scooters- 450 Plus and 450X.In an interaction, Ather CEO, Tarun Mehta gave some insights into the company’s future. Ather Energy is looking to add two new battery-powered scooters to its lineup. Both these scooters will be built on the existing 450 e-scooter platform.Upcoming Ather 450 E-scooters450X is currently the higher sales volume generator, thanks to a piece of richer equipment and extra range on offer per full charge. A new version of the electric scooter is currently under development which will offer a higher range than 450X.The aforementioned goal may be achieved with a larger battery pack. This may lead to the scooter gaining a wider stance, as well as a larger bodywork to account for a larger power source. Top speed and performance are unlikely to witness any massive changes. Price of this scooter will be evidently more than 450X.Ather Electric ScooterComing to the second addition to the Ather lineup, this version of the electric scooter will receive cosmetic enhancements in form of new colour options, however, current design will be retained. In all probability, this scooter will be a sportier-looking derivative of 450X.Details about these two e-scooters are still thin. These new variants of Ather 450 are expected to make their debuts towards the end of this year or early next year. With rising competition in the electric two-wheeler space, Ather clearly wants to strengthen its portfolio of electric scooters.Ather 450X, 450 Plus updatesAther recently launched a new update for its electric scooters- 450X and 450 Plus. As per this new update, owners of both these e-scooters will benefit from an additional ride mode called SmartEco mode. The new ride mode has been designed to dynamically adjust range and performance. Latest SmartEco ride mode will only be available to users who have Ather Connect Pro subscription plans.450X is powered by a 6kW (8.04 bhp) electric motor that draws its energy from a Lithium-ion battery pack. It accelerates from 0-40kmph in 3.3 seconds and promises a real world range of up to 85km on a single charge. On the other hand, 450 Plus is powered by an electric motor that kicks out a peak output of 5.4kW (7.2 bhp) and 22 Nm of torque. True range is claimed to be 70km on a full charge.Source More