There are about 51 electric three-wheeler manufacturers in India as per the data of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Of this a good number of companies could be termed as startups. They are young and dynamic. They are technologically very well oriented and belong to the 400 startups that are estimated to be currently operating the auto sector. 

Perhaps the most vibrant and diverse with a unique mix of entrepreneurs and technologists as part of the core team, the electric three-wheeler manufacturers seem better poised to grow because of their ability to understand and address the various segments on the passenger side as well as the cargo side. 

There’s competition from the unorganised sector, the products of which – mainly catering to last mile passenger segments – are found in many cities of North India such as Amritsar and old parts of Delhi. 

To add excitement to an already happening category in the Indian automotive market, US-based Biliti Electric Inc (Biliti) will conduct ‘ground breaking’ ceremony for its electric three-wheeler plant on the road that connects Hyderabad and Zaheerabad on 05 October 2023. 

A young company that was founded in 2021 in California, Biliti is a growing global mobility player guided by a clear mission to provide smart, efficient and affordable electric mobility solutions, as per the description on its website. 

Buoyed by the rising preference for electric vehicles and the way they seem poised to shape urban mobility and the cities of tomorrow, the American company engaged in the development of future-proof technologies will produce 240,000 units every year, according to sources aware of the development. The current plan is to make electric three-wheelers, they add.  

Stating that the plant would be the world’s largest of its kind, the sources mention that the investment towards it is roughly USD 150 million. The ‘ground-breaking ceremony’ will be done at the hands of the Telangana Chief Minister K C Rao in the presence of government officials and members of the senior management of the company, the sources inform.  

While the Biliti factory in Telangana is expected to provide employment to 3,000 people, it is also indicative of how the manufacturers are finding it worth making electric three-wheelers rather than electric two-wheelers or electric four-wheelers. The target audience or buyer/operator of a three-wheeler is grounded and knowledge enough to understand that suits his application needs in terms of the TCO, mentioned an industry observer. IT is therefore that companies like Omega Seiki, Euler and Altigreen has chosen to build electric three-wheeler over other types of electric vehicles, he added. 

The B2B nature of electric three-wheeler business is perhaps the reason why so many unorganised players are a part of it, albeit at a different level. Many of them are job shops with far less investment than the startups. 

The legacy players in the electric three-wheeler market and figuring in the list of SIAM (Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers) are of the deep pocket variety. Those such as Bajaj Auto Ltd, Mahindra Electric (an arm of Mahindra & Mahindra) and TVS Motor Company are well diversified and technologically well entrenched. They are also well entrenched in areas like supply chain, manufacturing infrastructure and abilities, etc. 

If the lower entry barrier in the EV space has attracted new and young players in the three-wheeler category, the legacy players are fast closing the gap. It is somewhat like what is happening in the electric two-wheeler space, the industry observer mentioned. He drew attention to how white spaces or segment gaps in this space are also being plugged. 

Manufacturers like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland are offering electric four-wheel light trucks to change the dynamics of the electric three-wheeler market the way it happened with the launch of the Tata Ace in 2005, he explained. 

The competition is turning complex and it is essential therefore that electric three-wheeler manufacturers up the ante by employing more advanced technology; by offering superior TCO than their vehicles currently offer and give more bang for the money that the buyer is ready to pay them. 

Among the young electric three-wheeler manufacturers, the likes of Altigreen, E-Trio, Omega Seiki and Euler Motors seem to be better placed to sustain and grow despite the competition from legacy players. The game seems to be about who offers the best TCO with the aid of technology. Incentives don’t seem to be a helping only to a point after looking at how the FAME Phase II policy was restructured for electric two-wheelers a few months ago. 

The Government is keen to make electric vehicles in the country grow but does not seem to be in favour of much incentivisation like China did to make its EV industry rise. The PLI scheme for batteries is a welcome initiative though. 

The effect of restructuring the subsidy for electric two-wheelers is not hidden. Their sales over the last few months have very well indicated it. The effect may be temporary, the fact is the Indian vehicle buyer is highly cost conscious. 

The TCO factor matters most in the case of electric three-wheelers therefore. It is either the deal maker or deal breaker. To ensure a superior TCO is absolutely necessary. A lot of homework in this direction is yet to done.  

The beauty is that some of the young and dynamic players have already acknowledged this and are silently working in that direction. They are leveraging the advantage of lower break even. The legacy players are well versed with the superior TCO factor and working in that direction too. The gap is expected to close between the legacy players and the young and newer players sooner than later. Such a development is already visible in the case of electric two-wheelers. 

While technology, engineering, manufacturing, quality, durability, pricing, supply chain management and value chain management are some of the factors that will play a key role in shaping the future of electric three-wheelers, a prominent factor will be how co-operations work and are nurtured. 

Co-operations will be extremely important for electric three-wheelers to succeed in a competitive market place where there is the pressure to reach the market early, stay exciting, frugal and technologically intensive. 

While even the young electric three-wheeler companies have figured the art of sustenance and growth besides acquiring the necessary resources, engaging skilled manpower, supply chain partners and expanding their reach in the market, regulatory and technology changes will remain a constant. 

The Government, it is clear, is looking at the EV industry to reduce tailpipe emissions. With companies such as BYD, Avatr and Changan of China set to flood the European markets with electric cars that are on par with what some of the best-known electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla can offer at a price that is significantly lower, the unique status of the Indian EV market as the world’s largest micro mobility market in the making has the electric three-wheeler market in good stead.  

The definition of electric micro mobility is defined as vehicles weighing less than 2.5-tonne. Most of the electric three-wheelers as the contributor to Indian EV market’s growth as the world’s largest micro mobility market are well defined in the last mile delivery segment as e-commerce players among others exert to reduce their carbon footprint. The excitement lies is what lays beyond the application areas that have already been addressed. 

The semi-urban and rural markets are the ones that electric three-wheelers will next go to it looks like. As they do, yet another phase of strong growth and excitement will be unleashed.

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Epsilon CAM, the cathode materials business of Epsilon Group, has entered customer validation testing for its Gen 3.0 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Cathode Active Material with battery cell manufacturers across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States.

The material, launched in April 2026, records a discharge capacity of 159 mAh/g and an electrode density of 2.51 g/cc or higher. These metrics match performance benchmarks established by Chinese producers, who have historically supplied the majority of LFP cathode materials to international markets.

Epsilon CAM plans to construct a manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) by 2028, with targets to expand output to 100,000 TPA. The expansion aims to position the company as an alternative supplier of cathode active materials outside of China.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Group, said, "The global battery industry is entering an era where technology leadership must be complemented by resilient and diversified supply chains. The advancement of our Gen III LFP cathode material into customer validation with large global cell makers shows our commitment to providing cell manufacturers with high-performance, globally competitive and supply chain-resilient cathode solutions."

Product engineering for the material is conducted at Epsilon CAM's Cathode Technology Centre in Moosburg, Germany. The research hub operates alongside a 250 TPA pilot manufacturing facility and holds 149 patents in cathode chemistry, materials science and process engineering.

The non-Chinese origin of the technology and its manufacturing processes complies with United States Prohibited Foreign Entity (PFE) regulations regarding battery material provenance. This compliance provides automotive original equipment manufacturers and cell producers with a supply chain option that aligns with North American and European regulatory frameworks for electric mobility and energy storage products.

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E3 Electric.AI, a Bengaluru-based electric mobility startup, has officially entered the passenger scooter segment with the launch of the E3 TRION, a vehicle positioned as India’s first artificially intelligent electric scooter. The company unveiled the model as a new category contender, combining human-centric design with predictive intelligence and a modular architecture that enables continuous learning and adaptation over time.

The E3 TRION is built on the proprietary TRIAXISFRAME modular platform, which supports both portable and fixed battery configurations. This scalable architecture allows for multiple variants, namely the C1 with a removable battery, the C1x offering an IDC range of 165 kilometres from a three-kilowatt-hour pack and the C2 variant that achieves a top speed of 82 kmph and accelerates from 0 to 40 kmph in six seconds in Sport mode.

Central to the scooter’s intelligence is the E3 COMMANDCENTER, which includes the proprietary intelligent IoT core and cloud-based monitoring systems. This setup continuously tracks each connected vehicle, predicts potential failures before they occur, enables proactive servicing and delivers over-the-air software updates. With each ride, the system accumulates data to refine its responses, creating an evolving ownership ecosystem aimed at increasing rider confidence.

The rider interface is managed through the TRIPSENSE Intelligent Cockpit, featuring a five-inch INSIGHT DISPLAY that pairs with a smartphone for a unified experience. The system provides navigation, charging insights and AI-powered alerts, while the broader suite of over 100 intelligent functions includes a 10-second diagnostic health scan, predictive reports, a smart trip planner with charger locator, remote battery monitoring, dashcam capability, SOS assistance and geo-fencing.

Practical usability for Indian families remains a key focus, with the scooter equipped with 14-inch TRAKWHEEL wheels for improved grip and stability across varied terrains. The vehicle also features IP67 weather protection, safeguards against voltage fluctuations and the LIGHTIQ intelligent lighting system with dual projector LED headlamps and signature rear lamps. Ergonomics are addressed through ERGORIDE principles, optimising six contact points for natural visibility and comfort, while combined storage across the boot, floorboard and glove box totals up to 52 litres.

Powertrain options include a 2.3-kilowatt-hour portable VOLTPORT battery and a three-kilowatt-hour fixed battery, both using durable LFP chemistry and engineered for up to eight years of real-world use. The high-efficiency PMSM hub motor incorporates ROTORING and a detachable rim for faster servicing. Available in six colour options with various accessories, the E3 TRION is priced at an introductory ex-showroom Bengaluru rate of INR 109,999 for the C1x and INR 119,999 for the C2 variant.

Sanjeev P, Founder & CEO, E3 Electric.AI, said,"E3 Trion isn't an electric scooter with an app bolted on. It is built with AI at its core, human centric engineering and a modular future-ready platform. Every problem that's held Indian families back from going electric – range anxiety, safety, service, cost – is something we designed around from day one. We didn't want to build just another electric scooter; we set out to build an electric scooter where predictive intelligence is core to the architecture. The E3 Trion has been crafted keeping Indian families in mind, where daily commuting demands reliability, practicality and peace of mind. By making the technology adaptive and the experience intuitive, we want everyday travel to feel smoother and more dependable. This is a meaningful step towards mobility that's not only efficient but genuinely aligned with what modern Indian riders expect."

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VinFast Auto India has inaugurated its 60th retail outlet, a new 3S dealership in Patna, Bihar, marking the company’s first foray into the eastern state. The facility, established by Patliputra Motors Private Limited and led by Harsh Raj, is strategically positioned on NH-30, Bypass Road, to serve as a key access point for regional customers. This milestone comes just one year after the automaker opened its first Indian showroom, underscoring the rapid scaling of its commercial footprint.

Spanning 11,500 square feet, the Patna facility adheres to VinFast’s global retail standards and integrates vehicle sales, after-sales services and customer support within a single premises. A 3,000-square-foot modern showroom allows visitors to interact with the electric vehicle lineup, while dedicated professional teams manage the entire ownership journey. The one-stop destination is designed to handle everything from initial discovery and purchase to ongoing maintenance and care.

The expansion into Bihar reflects VinFast’s deliberate strategy to penetrate tier 2 and tier 3 markets alongside major metropolitan hubs, with Patna serving as a critical gateway to eastern India. The company remains on track to reach 75 dealerships across more than 60 cities by the end of 2026. Beyond retail growth, VinFast is concurrently bolstering its domestic ecosystem through local manufacturing, charging infrastructure and strategic partnerships to support India’s sustainable mobility transition.

The company’s premium electric SUVs, the VF 6 and VF 7, have achieved 5-star Bharat NCAP safety ratings and come with comprehensive benefits, including roadside assistance, three years of complimentary maintenance, and warranties up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometres. The seven-seater VF MPV 7 offers a 517-kilometre ARAI-certified range and fast-charging capability. Customer incentives include the Value Assured Programme for buyback guarantees, complimentary charging on the V-Green network until 2029 and a ‘Trade Gas for Electric’ initiative to facilitate the switch from internal combustion engine vehicles.

Tapan Ghosh, CEO, VinFast India, said, “We are delighted to mark the milestone of 60 dealerships in India while establishing VinFast’s presence in Bihar for the first time. This marks an important step in our growth journey and opens up new opportunities in a promising market in eastern India. VinFast remains committed to building a strong retail and after-sales network and accelerating the adoption of green mobility across the country.”

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer River Mobility has closed a USD 120 million Series C funding round comprising equity and venture debt.

The funding round was led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital, with equity participation from Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, 360 ONE Asset, JIF Capital and HDFC AMC. Existing investors including Yamaha Motor Corporation, Al Futtaim Group, Mitsui & Co., Alteria Capital, Innoven Capital and Stride Ventures also participated in the round.

The company plans to utilise the capital to expand manufacturing capacity at its factory, construct a greenfield production facility, introduce products in the utility vehicle segment and support margin expansion and EBITDA targets.

River Mobility launched its Indie model in 2023 and operates over 75 retail locations across India, with plans to expand to 350 stores by March 2028.

At present, the company says its monthly EV sales have reached 5,000 units.

Aravind Mani, Co-Founder & CEO, River Mobility, said, "This funding marks an important milestone in River's journey. The confidence shown by both our existing and new investors reinforces our belief that there is tremendous opportunity to build India's first utility and design based mobility brand. This capital gives us the ability to accelerate our product roadmap, expand our manufacturing footprint and presence across the country."

Navin Honagudi, Managing Partner, Elev8 Venture Partners, said, “The electric two-wheeler market in India is entering a defining growth phase, driven by strong consumer adoption, improving economics, and increasing demand for differentiated products. River stands out for its sharp product thinking, exceptional execution capability, and a highly differentiated positioning in the market. Aravind, Vipin and the team have built a brand that resonates deeply with consumers looking for brilliant design, utility and durability. We believe River is well-positioned to emerge as one of the defining EV companies from India.”

Sekhar Garisa, Managing Director, Claypond Capital, said, “River has combined disciplined execution and thoughtful product differentiation to rapidly grow and garner customer love in a competitive market. We are excited to support the team as they scale further while contributing to the country’s energy transition and domestic manufacturing ambitions.”

Hajime Jim Aota, Chairman of Yamaha India Group, said, “River’s focus on building vertically integrated electric vehicle technology platform has been a key driver of its success. Yamaha are proud to see the progress made by River so far and are excited about being part of the next phase of growth.”

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