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      Royal Enfield 650 INT Gets A Scrambler Makeover – The Real Highness

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      Royal Enfield 650 ModifiedThis mod job has been presented in two different formats and colour schemes; more variations possible based on customer specificationsFor customization projects, one of the preferred options is Royal Enfield motorcycles. Their simple architecture allows bike modifiers a free hand to experiment with various ideas and concepts. In a recent project, two Interceptor 650 motorcycles have been transformed into powerful-looking scramblers. The project has been executed by Delhi-based Neev Motors.650 scrambler modification detailsMuch of the customization is common across both modified bikes. For a beefier look and feel and for improved traction, the bikes have been fitted with balloon tyres. A number of components have been blacked out such as headlamp, turn signals, engine assembly, wheels and exhaust. A custom-made leather seat has been used, which comes in a quilted pattern.Front and rear fenders have been replaced with customized units. Tail section has been shortened and the grab rail has been removed. To ensure the bikes remain usable even in the rainy season, a custom built rear tyre hugger has been added. Another key change is the custom-made exhaust with sporty mesh-type insert.The custom exhaust is a lightweight unit, around 12 kg lighter than the stock version. This will improve performance with a higher power to weight ratio. The exhaust has extra loud output, significantly higher than the stock unit. It is not sure if it would be street legal. In recent times, traffic police have been taking strict action against illegal modifications including loud exhausts.Royal Enfield 650 ModifiedTalking about individual aspects, one of these bikes gets a grey and black colour scheme. It has been aptly named as ‘falcon’. Changes that are specific to falcon include a tank plate and 3D elements on side panels. For a cleaner front section, the instrument pods have been moved to the right side.Second bike utilizes a combination of red and black. It comes with classic leather bags on the sides and a leather pouch with straps mounted on the fuel tank. Colours on both bikes have been entirely repainted. That everything has come out in perfect finish highlights the superior skills of the modifier.650 scrambler modification costIn this modification project, around 50-60% of the bike’s parts and accessories have been modified. This is excluding core components like engine, chassis, suspension and braking, which have been retained in their original form. With a high level of customization and aftermarket components, cost of this project is minimum Rs 2 lakh for each bike. This is around 2/3rd of Interceptor 650 price, which starts at around Rs 3 lakh.A good thing about this project is that much of the customization can be reversed if the user feels the need for it. This ensures that users don’t need to get stuck with something they no longer want. To get their own ideas implemented, enthusiasts can contact the bike modifier. More

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      Top 10 200cc To 500cc Motorcycles Dec 2021 – Classic, Bullet, Pulsar, KTM

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      Image – Being Superr IndianOut of the top ten motorcycles from the 200cc-500cc category sold in December 2021, the top five belonged to Royal Enfield, accounting for over 85% shareThe 200cc-500cc segment of motorcycles witnessed a slight improvement in sales volume of December 2021 in comparison to November. A total of 71,927 motorcycles with engine displacement between 200cc and 500cc were dispatched across India in the last month of the concluded calendar year.In comparison, only 50,140 bikes from this space were sold by OEMs all across India in November which has resulted in an MoM growth of 43.45 percent. Sales were still marginally lesser than December 2020 when OEMs sold a total of 73,900 motorcycles in this space.Top 10 200cc To 500cc Motorcycles Dec 2021The sales chart was as usual dominated by Royal Enfield with Classic 350 taking the top spot with a total sales volume of 34,723 units. The retro roadster witnessed a YoY growth of 11.69 percent but managed an impressive MoM growth of 77.15 percent. Classic 350 recently got a generation upgrade in September last year. It was railed by its cruiser sibling- Meteor 350.The cruiser recorded a sales volume of 10,977 units in December 2021 as opposed to 6,775 units in November which resulted in an MoM growth of 62 percent. During the same month previous year, Royal Enfield dispatched a total of 8,569 units which led to YoY growth of 28 percent. The company’s oldest running motorcycle- Bullet 350 occupied third place with a total volume of 8,061 units sold in December.Motorcycle Sales 200cc-500cc Dec 2021 vs Dec 2020 (YoY)The fourth spot was taken by Himalayan which accumulated a monthly volume of 4,611 units in December which led to a massive YoY growth of 390 percent and an MoM growth of 39.31 percent. Trailing at fifth spot was Royal Enfield Electra, which is essentially the kick-start version of Bullet 350. A total of 4,521 units of Electra were sold in December which led to an MoM growth of 6 percent and a YoY decline of 7.32 percent.Bajaj, KTM, Honda Break Into ListBaja broke into the list with its latest offering in the form of Pulsar 250 (N250 and F250) at the 6th spot. The quarter-litre motorcycles cumulatively accounted for a monthly sales volume of 2,621 units in December as opposed to 4,498 units in December 2020 and 644 units in November 2021. This led to a YoY decline of 41.73 percent and an MoM growth of 307 percent.Pulsar 250 was followed by another quarter-litre offering from Bajaj in the form of Dominar 250 which recorded a sales volume of 2,207 units resulting in YoY and MoM growths of 506.32 percent and 53.26 percent respectively. Honda H’Ness CB350 dropped to eighth place with 1,364 units sold in December. The modern classic roadster witnessed YoY and MoM decline of 12.79 percent and 41.26 percent respectively.Motorcycle Sales 200cc-500cc Dec 2021 vs Nov 2021 (MoM)KTM broke into the list with the 250 range comprising Duke 250 and Adventure 250. Together, the quarter-litre offerings from the Austrian brand registered a volume of 909 units in December which resulted in YoY and MoM growths of 17.44 percent and 23.67 percent.The tenth place was taken by Dominar 400 with a total recorded volume of 588 units. Other motorcycles which were in the segment include Avenger, Apache 310, Gixxer 250, Ninja 300, KTM 390, Husqvarna 250, CB300R, FZ25, CB500 and Mojo. More

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      2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen, Vitpilen Debuts With New Styling

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      2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401The updated Husqvarna trio- Svartpilen 125, Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401, although made in India, are not available for retail hereHusqvarna has revealed its lineup for international markets which includes three updated naked motorcycles- Svartpilen 125, Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401. All three motorcycles are produced by Bajaj Auto in India at the company’s facility in Chakan, Maharashtra.The Swedish brand is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KTM which is an alliance partner of Bajaj. All three models have undergone subtle updates in styling for the year 2022. Each motorcycle boasts new body graphics in its latest iteration. The models continue to share their internals and running gear with their respective KTM cousins.2022 Husqvarna Svarpilen 125: SpecsStarting with the brand’s entry-level motorcycle- Svartpilen 125 borrows components from the KTM 125 range including the likes of RC 125 and Duke 125. It is powered by the same 125cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which pumps out 14.3 bhp and 12 Nm of peak torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. Cycle parts of Svartpilen 125 are also borrowed from KTM 125 siblings.This includes a trellis frame suspended on upside-down front forks and a mono-shock at rear. Braking duties are taken care of by front and rear disc brakes aided by a single-channel ABS. The 125cc engine displacement offers an A1 licence-compliant, suitable for inexperienced and amateur riders in European markets.2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 1252022 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 & Svartpilen 401: StylingHowever, the styling of Husky siblings is completely different from their KTM counterparts as the former duo flaunt a completely naked body style with minimalist body panels. Both Svartpilen and Vitpilen are hard to distinguish from each other due to their near-identical design. However, there are subtle variations that distinguish the two.For instance, the handlebar in Svartpilen is straight and taller while Vitpilen gets a low-set clip-on handlebar. This also results in the latter having a more committed and aggressive riding posture in comparison to Svartpilen which offers a slightly more upright and comfortable riding posture. Further, Svartpilen rolls on knobby dual-purpose Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres which can do a bit of soft-roading.Specs & FeaturesOn the other hand, Vitpilen rolls on road-biased tyres. Hence, the Svartpilen is termed as a scrambler whereas Vitpilen is deemed to be a street naked cafe racer. That said, both motorcycles get the exact same mechanical configurations including a 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill mated to a 6-speed gearbox. This motor kicks out 43 bhp and 37 Nm of peak torque.2022 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401Suspension setup comprises inverted forks up front and a mono-shock at rear sourced from WP Apex. Braking duties are handled by a disc brake at both ends with callipers from ByBre and aided by a dual-channel ABS from Bosch. Both motorcycles boast a digital instrument console and a ride-by-wire throttle. More

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      Revolt Vs Tork Electric Motorcycle – Specs, Price Compared

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      New Tork Electric MotorcycleBoth Tork Kratos and Revol RV400 come with three ride modes namely Eco, City and SportTork Motors recently launched Kratos which is touted to be the first electric motorcycle to be completely indigenously developed in India. Kratos is based on the pre-production prototype called T6X which made its debut back in 2016. While the electric bike segment in the two-wheelers space in India is still very thin, it holds great promise in the future.Currently, Kratos has only one significant rival in the form of Revolt RV400 which made its debut in India back in September 2019. Unlike Kratos which has been completely built from scratch indigenously, RV400 has roots with the Chinese EV brand Super Soco.While Revolt also offers a less powerful version of its battery-powered motorcycle called RV300, Pune-based Tork Motors has a more powerful version of Kratos called Kratos R. However, Kratos and RV400 are matched more closely in terms of pricing and specs. Hence, we have kept rest of the variants out of this comparison study. Let us find out which motorcycle edges past the other, on paper at least.Revolt Vs Tork Electric Motorcycle – Powertrain SpecsStarting with their powertrain setups, Kratos is easily more powerful than RV400. The former receives a larger 4kW motor in comparison to the 3kW motor offered by Revolt. Kratos also receives a higher peak power output of 7.5kW (10 bhp) as compared to 5kW (6.7 bhp) in RV400. However, RV400 offers more torque on wheels as opposed to Kratos.Revolt RV400 vs Tork Kratos Electric MotorcycleTork also offers a slightly larger 4kWh battery pack in comparison to the 3.24kWh battery offered by Revolt. This results in a larger 180km range on a single charge in Kratos as opposed to a 150km range offered by RV400, according to the Indian Driving Cycle (IDC). However, the real-world driving range of Kratos is claimed to be 120km on a single charge.In terms of performance, Tork Kratos trumps RV400 as the former has a top speed of 100kmph, which is 15kmph faster than the latter. Battery pack in both motorcycles takes between four to five hours to get fully charged. The major difference, though, RV400 gets a removable battery pack (which weighs around 19kg) while the Kratos has a fixed battery pack.DynamicsWhen it comes to dynamics, both bikes boast similar underpinnings comprising disc brakes at both ends, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a rear mono-shock. However, RV400 offers more premium upside-down forks instead of conventional telescopic forks offered in Kratos. At 108 kilos, RV400 is also a lot lighter than its nemesis which weighs 140kg. RV400 also offers a whopping 215mm ground clearance in comparison to 165mm offered in Kratos.Revolt RV400 vs Tork Kratos Electric MotorcyclePriceWhen it comes to pricing, after taking into consideration Fame II and various state subsidies, RV400 is priced at Rs 90,799 while Kratos is pegged at Rs 1,07,999 (both prices, ex-showroom, Pune). However, these prices will differ from state to state. Revolt also offers RV400 through a unique subscription model which costs Rs 4,000 per month. More

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      New Honda Vario 160cc Scooter Debuts – Yamaha Aerox 155 Rival

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      New Honda Vario 160ccHonda Vario 160 will not reach Indian shores anytime soon, however, the company might launch PCX 160 in India which is powered by the same engineHonda has launched a new power scooter called Vario 160 in Indonesia. It joins the existing Vario lineup which comprises Vario 125 and Vario 150. The latter has been sold out for the considerable future in Indonesia and hence will be joined by its more powerful sibling.The Vario lineup has been in production since 2006 and in its seventh generation, it not only gains cosmetic improvements but also performance upgrades. The scooter receives more edgy and sharper styling which mimics the styling of Maxi scooters. However, Vario 160 is not a proper maxi-style scooter.New Honda Vario 160cc DesignThe latest iteration of Vario 160 flaunts a sporty premium design with a body that is now bigger than the outgoing model. In a way, styling of Vario 160 is reminiscent of the Burgman range of scooters from Suzuki which receive a heavily faired front fender.Upfront, the scooter features an all-new twin-beam LED headlamp with LED DRL eyebrows extending to the top of the front apron which gives the scooter an angry face. Above the twin headlights, there are turn indicators that are accompanied by LED position lamps.New Honda Vario 160ccMoreover, the apron sides and under-seat panels flaunt a chiselled and muscular design. On the side of the front fender, Vario branding is pasted with 3D lettering. The edgy styling in front end of the scooter has been carried to the rear end as well with a sharp rear fender and a raised tail section.The chunky single-piece grab rail gives the scooter a rugged appeal. The blacked panels such as the floorboard, exhaust muffler, alloy wheels, rearview mirrors and a small visor on the handlebar give the scooter a nice and sporty dual-tone theme which accentuates its appeal.FeaturesAs far as features are concerned, Vario 160 gets a fully-digital instrument console that packs a wide range of information including fuel level, distance covered, average fuel consumption, speed, etc. However, there is no mention of any form of connectivity options. Under-seat storage isn’t huge at 18 litres but it does get a USB charger as standard.New Honda Vario 160ccSpecs & PricePowering Vario 160 is a 160cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that pushes out 15 bhp and 13.4 Nm of peak torque. These figures are nearly identical to Yamaha Aerox 155 which is considered as the direct rival to Vario 160 in Indonesia. Power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a CVT automatic gearbox.Vario 160 rolls on 14-inch alloy wheels shod with 90/80 section and 100/80 section of tyres. The chunkier tyres should offer better handling around corners. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at both ends complemented by dual-channel ABS. Honda is offering the scooter in two variants: CBS and dual-channel ABS. The former is priced at RP 25,800,000 (approx. INR 1.34 lakh), while the latter at RP 28,500,000 (approx. INR 1.48 lakh). More

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      Yamaha MT15 Based XSR 155 Modified As Flat Track Concept

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      Yamaha MT15 Based XSR 155 ModifiedYamaha isn’t going to launch XSR 155 in India anytime soon, the company instead launched FZ-X in the country last yearYamaha XSR 155 is one of the raging entry-level neo-retro motorcycles across several international markets, especially in Asia. It is undoubtedly one of the best looking bikes on sale globally by the Japanese bikemaker. As we all know, XSR 155 is based on a very versatile architecture that underpins a whole lot of models.These include YZF R15, MT-15, Aerox 155 and Nmax 155. The sheer versatility of the platform and engine is a major reason why aftermarket workshops are attracted to it. An Indonesian custom house named PapnMam has shown what the XSR 155 can be transformed into without changing its mechanicals.Yamaha XSR 155 turned Modern Flat TrackThe workshop has completely overhauled the stock neo-retro design of XSR 155 into a flat track concept and the modification carried out is simply radical. This customisation project is a part of the Yamaha Yard Built program which means the donor bike has been provided by Yamaha itself. PapnMam has named this custom-built motorcycle as ‘Modern Flat Track Concept’.The custom bike justifies its ‘modern’ tag as the modified XSR155 looks straight out from a science fiction movie with its futuristic styling. Since it is a flat track concept, body styling on the bike is flat and sleek with sharper edges and a flowy design with a distinct triangular shape. Speaking about modifications, not a single element from the attire of the stock XSR 155 has been retained.Modifications in DesignA flip-up headlight unit with a flat panel has replaced the circular LED headlight on the stock XSR 155. The fuel tank is flanked by metallic wings projected downwards extending towards the radiator, making the bike look edgy. It also features a metallic bash plate underneath the engine casing with a similar wing design.Tail section of the bike has been left exposed, giving it a unique floating look. Further, the contoured seat has been replaced by a flat seat with a pointed rear end. The stock single-port upswept exhaust has been replaced by a dual-port unit also encased under in a metal plate and placed under the seat.Upfront, the workshop has installed a flat track-style handlebar accompanied by downward hanging bar-end mirrors. The bike rolls on custom alloy wheels with a neon green rim lining that are shod with Pirelli radial tubeless tyres. The combination of aluminium and piano black finish accentuates the futuristic appeal of this custom-built XSR 155.Equipment on offerIn terms of equipment, this flat track concept gets a small round digital LCD instrument cluster whereas, as mentioned earlier, engine and hardware setup of the stock bike has been retained in this modified concept. The latter includes the same suspension and barking configurations. Powering the motorcycle is a 155cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor with VVA technology that produces 19 bhp and 14.7 Nm of peak torque. More

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      Two Wheeler Sales Jan 2022 – Hero, Honda, Bajaj, TVS, Suzuki, Royal Enfield

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      Image – Vlogger Satyam GuptaEvery two wheeler maker on this list posted a YoY de-growth except for Suzuki, while exports ended on a more positive noteTwo wheeler automakers in India have not started off the New Year in a very positive way. However, the scenario could change in the months ahead with vaccination drives going full steam ahead along with a daily dip in COVID cases being recorded. Easing of restrictions across the country coupled with this year’s Union Budget that adds further impetus to the segment in terms of infrastructure and development, could see a notable increase in two wheeler sales.Two Wheeler Sales Jan 2022 – YoY and MoMTaking the leading two wheeler makers in India – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Suzuki and Royal Enfield, each of these reported a YoY decline in sales except for Suzuki. Yamaha has not revealed their sales yet. Total sales of the 6 brands stood at 10,87,496 units in January 2022 down 19.43 percent over 13,49,749 units sold in January 2021.Hero MotoCorp topped the list with sales of 3,58,660 units, down 20.13 percent from 4,49,037 units sold in January 2021 to command a 32.98 percent share in this list. MoM domestic sales of the company dipped 4.23 percent from 3,74,485 units sold in December 2021 when share percent had stood at 38.38.Honda sales dipped 24.36 percent YoY to 3,15,196 units in January 2022, down from 4,16,716 units sold in January 2021. Honda holds onto a 28.98 percent share which increased from 21.58 percent on a MoM basis from 2,10,612 units sold in December 2021. The company announced launch of new 2022 CB300R and CBR650R in India last month.Two Wheeler Sales Jan 2022A similar downhill sales trend was also recorded with other big two-wheeler players – TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto. TVS domestic sales dipped 18.23 percent in January 2022 to 1,67,795 units from 2,05,216 units sold in January 2021. MoM sales of TVS however increased 14.33 percent from 1,46,763 units sold in December 2021. Bajaj sales fell 13.92 percent to 1,35,496 from 1,57,404 units sold in January 2021 while the company made up in terms of MoM sales with a 6.19 percent increase from 1,27,593 units sold in the month of December 2021.Suzuki was the only two wheeler maker to report a YoY sales growth in domestic markets in the past month. Sales which had stood at 57,004 units in January 2021 increased 6.35 percent to 60,623 units last month. MoM sales increased significantly by 86.25 percent from 32,549 units sold in December 2021.Royal Enfield on the other hand saw its sales dip 22.75 percent to 49,726 units from 64,372 units sold in January 2021. MoM sales suffered a 23.72 percent de-growth over 65,187 units sold in December 2021.Two Wheeler Exports Jan 2022Two Wheeler YoY and MoM ExportsEven as total YoY exports dipped 3.86 percent to 3,53, 688 units in January 2022 from 3,67,872 units sold in January 2021, MoM shipment increased 9.96 percent from 3,21,654 units shipped in December 2021. Bajaj Auto was the leading two wheeler maker in terms of exports with 1,87,934 units shipped last month, down from 2,27,532 units shipped in January 2021. MoM exports also dipped 1.70 percent from 1,91,176 units exported in December 2021.TVS Motor also saw its exports decline 3.40 percent YoY and 2.58 percent MoM to 86,344 units. Honda (39,013 units), Hero (21,816 units) and RE (9,112 units) exports increased substantially both on YoY and MoM basis. Suzuki suffered a MoM decline in shipments to the tune of 49.09 percent to 9,469 units in January 2022 from 18,599 units sold in December 2021.Two Wheeler Total Jan 2022Total Two Wheeler Sales January 2022Taking domestic sales and exports into account in the past month, total two wheeler sales in January 2022 dipped 16.09 percent YoY but increased 11.08 percent MoM. Sales stood at 14,41,184 units in January 2022, down from 17,17,621 units sold in January 2021 but it was an increase from 12,97,442 units sold in December 2021.On a YoY basis, Hero (3,80,476 units), Honda, 3,54,209 units), Bajaj (3,32,430 units) and TVS (2,54,139 units) reported de-growth. Suzuki total sales increased 8.05 percent to 70,092 units from 64,869 units sold in January 2021 while MoM sales increased 37.04 percent over 51,148 units sold in December 2021. MoM sales of Hero and Royal Enfield also dipped 3.62 percent and 20.21 percent respectively. More

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      Ather Electric Scooter Sales Jan 2022 – 2,825 Units Sold, 366 Percent Growth

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      Ather Electric Scooters Jan 2022 SalesAther sales could have been higher, but production was impacted due to supply chain challengesIn terms of sale volumes, Ather Energy is currently ranked third in the list of electric two-wheeler manufacturers. While Ather is ahead of Ampere, TVS, Revolt, and Bajaj, it trails behind Hero Electric and Okinawa. This could change in future, as the company has accelerated its network expansion across the country.Ather Electric Scooter Sales Jan 2022Ather sold a total of 2,825 units in January 2022. This is YoY growth of 366%, as compared to sales numbers in January 2021. According to Ravneet S. Phokela, CBO at Ather Energy, the company has been witnessing increased demand for its scooters. However, shortage of auto components such as semiconductor chips continues to pose challenges. As and when the supply chain situation improves, Ather should be able to boost production to meet demand.As of now, the company has a strong order book. In January, new experience centres were opened in Nagpur, Lucknow, Chennai and Trivandrum. Several more cities are expected to be covered in coming months. Ather is also expanding its network of fast charging stations known as Ather Grid Points. These are crucial in terms of ensuring greater acceptability for electric two-wheelers.Ather currently has 29 retail stores spread across 24 cities. More than 300 fast-charging Ather Grid Points are available across these cities. By March 2023, Ather has plans to expand its footprint to 100 cities. Around 150 experience centres will be set up.Ather plans Feb 2022Ather second factoryAs demand for its scooters is expected to increase significantly in the future, Ather is working proactively to boost production. A prominent move is the setting up of a new manufacturing facility in Hosur. This will be in addition to the first facility in the same city. When the second plant is fully functional, production capacity will increase from the current 1.20 lakh units to 4 lakh units per annum.In addition to scooters, the new facility will also focus on battery manufacturing. It is to note that Ather has around 90% localization for its 450X and 450 Plus scooters. It includes the lithium-ion battery pack.The company currently has 13 patents related to design and manufacturing of its battery packs. Manufacturing battery packs in-house not only reduces cost, but also allows more freedom in terms of developing the powertrain and other components.Ather and Hero MotoCorpAther is among the well-funded EV startups in the country. Regular inflow of funds has helped the company to focus on R&D and come up with world-class products. Ather recently received Rs 420 crore from Hero MotoCorp that has been one of the first investors in the startup.It will be interesting to see how this partnership shapes up in the future. There could be a possibility that Ather could merge entirely with Hero MotoCorp all while retaining its unique brand identity. Even before this investment, Hero MotoCorp had 34.8 percent shareholding in Ather Energy. A significant percentage of fresh funds are likely to be utilized for expanding retail and fast-charging networks. More