Ultraviolette Automotive, an innovator in future-ready electric vehicle platforms and battery technology, has unveiled India’s first-ever superbike, the F99 Factory Racing Platform, in line with its theme of ‘Designed in India, Designed for the World’. The company also announced that the bike will aim to claim Indian speed records in the ensuing 90 days.

The F99 is a first for the Indian two-wheeler sector, having been fully envisioned, designed and engineered in Ultraviolette's R&D HQ in Bengaluru. According to Ultraviolette, it has a confirmed power output of more than twice that of any production motorbike made by an Indian company. The bike can go from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds, with a maximum speed of 265 km/h. The release states that within the following 90days, the F99 would attempt to set two records: ‘the fastest quarter mile for an Indian motorcycle’ and ‘the highest top speed for an Indian motorcycle’.

The F99 Factory Racing Platform, which was initially shown at EICMA, Milan 2023, embodies Ultraviolette's desire to expand its use of racing to push the boundaries of technology-enabled design. Innovation on the platform would allow for advances that would also be applicable to the F77 platform.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, “We believe Innovation to be a duty and a responsibility to the future of India. For long, we’ve looked to the East and West and used ‘Value Engineering’ as a means to deflect the onus of truly making world-class products in India. With the talent available locally and the focus on design and technology cultivated through upskilling and job creation by startups, there is no reason India can’t dream of having a world-class brand in performance motorcycling – to not dream of it would be a disservice to our generation.”

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO, Ultraviolette Automotive, added, “Disruptive technology like the F99 platform – that is among the fastest and most advanced electric bikes in the world – will help India reinforce its status as a top player in the automotive sector. Whilst known for contract manufacturing, we believe that with the right focus and application, the time is ripe for India to take its rightful place in the pecking order of design-led, desirable auto brands in the world.”

TI Clean Mobility, part of the Murugappa Group, has appointed Jalaj Gupta as the new Managing Director.  

The auto industry veteran in his last position was the Business Head for Commercial Vehicles at Mahindra Group. He has around 29 years of experience in the automotive industry with expertise in business strategy, product development, sales, marketing, and vendor management.

Gupta an alumnus of Punjabi University and IMT Ghaziabad has also held leadership roles at Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland.

Prior to Gupta, TI Clean Mobility was led by Kalyan Kumar Paul, who served as the Managing Director with over 30-years of career with Tube Investments of India (TII) Group, which is part of the Murugappa Group. Paul had retired from the company in October 2024.

TI Clean Mobility, the electric vehicle business of the Murugappa Group, currently sells electric three-wheelers under the Montra brand and is also set to enter the electric small commercial vehicle (e-SCV) and electric tractor space. 

Mumbai-based automotive major Mahindra has unveiled the teaser sketches of its upcoming electric origin SUVs – the BE 6e and XEV 9e ahead of the November 26 debut.

Based on the Heartcore design philosophy, the BE 6e and XV 9e are completely new pure electric vehicles designed by the company, which it believes will disrupt the passenger vehicle segment.

The company is betting big on the upcoming EVs as they encapsulate dynamic styling, premium materials, and progressive proportions.

Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Heartcore Design is about creating an emotional bond with our customers through design. Prepare to fall in love with our Electric Origin SUVs.”

Montra Electric, a brand owned by Tl Clean Mobility Pvt Ltd, has praised the Government of India for the continuation of subsidy support for the electrification of last-mile mobility under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme.

Roy Kurian, Business Head, Montra Electric (Last Mile Division), said, “Montra Electric sincerely thanks the Ministry of Heavy Industry, Govt of India for ensuring continuity of the subsidy support to last-mile mobility. This crucial support will help the industry navigate challenges and further speed up the shift to electric last-mile solutions.”

The PM E-DRIVE Scheme was launched on 29 September 2024. The scheme was put into effect on 1 October 2024 and will continue until 31 March 2026. Furthermore, EMPS-2024, the number of vehicles and the spending under EMPS-2024 for e-2w and e-3w being implemented from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024 are being subsumed under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme; hence, the scheme's effective time will be two years.

Pure EV, one of India's leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers, has entered into a strategic partnership with Arva Electric Vehicles Manufacturing LLC, a subsidiary of Clarion Investment LLC, with an aim to expand its presence across the Middle East and African regions.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pure EV will provide Arva Electric with a first shipment of 50,000 of its flagship models, the eTryst X and ecoDryft, over the next couple of years. Pure EV's position in these developing markets is anticipated to be cemented when the supply rises to 60,000 units per year after this initial phase. Pure EV will be Arva Electric's key technology partner in addition to supplying motorcycles, offering knowledge and assistance all the way through the distribution process. Pure EV will uphold all intellectual property rights pertaining to the bikes in order to safeguard unique technology as they increase their market share.

Dr Nishanth Dongari, Founder and Managing Director, Pure EV, said, “Our commitment to innovation and user experience ensures that we provide market-ready offerings and meet the growing demand for electric mobility solutions. This partnership not only aims to enhance sales but also to foster sustainable mobility solutions in regions where electric motorcycles are rapidly gaining traction, marking a significant step towards expanding our footprint in Middle East and African markets. By leveraging our strengths and capabilities together with Arva Electric, we are poised to make a significant impact on the electric vehicle landscape globally.”

Aniyan Kutty, Managing Director, Arva Electric Vehicles Manufacturing LLC, said, “We are pleased to partner with Pure EV, as their expertise in R&D and cutting-edge technology helps in building efficient and reliable 2W products. Both the companies are committed to promoting eco-friendly mobility solutions with an aim to reduce carbon emissions and support environmental sustainability in these regions.”