Q: How is the EV industry progressing in India especially in the 2-wheeler segment?

Munjal: People look at the EV industry as one large platform; that’s not really the case. We have to divide it up and look at 2-wheelers as a separate industry having its own requirements. Three and four-wheelers are different from commercial or public transport vehicles. All have dissimilar needs and will work at different levels; they will not progress together.

In India, 76 percent of vehicles on the road are 2-wheelers that consume 60 percent of fuel with 30 percent of the pollution. We believe that in India 2-wheelers would be the first to convert for the simple reason that it is a price market. The price points for 2-wheelers are much more lucrative and closer than they are for 4-wheelers.

Also, we don’t require the level of infrastructure for charging as needed for 4-wheelers. Our batteries are portable and we can provide vehicles in the 60-120 km range depending on customer needs. We need only to have basic charging points across the city as for mobile phones; we don’t need anything more special for 2-wheelers. The 3-wheelers are a different market where possibly swapping of infrastructure would work. Cars would be still more different because they require high-speed charging infrastructure. People require vehicles with very long range, in which case the price goes up and affordability becomes an issue. In India the majority of the market is sub-seven lakh rupees, the price point where cars work. To deliver an EV at this price with the required range is going to be very difficult; it won’t happen soon.

The 2-wheeler industry has both B2C and B2B. We find that there are regulatory challenges now. The policy is a bit of a problem right now as it supports high-end rather than mass vehicles. We are targeting the mass consumer. Unless we convert them we don’t think there is any point in having a niche market; in India we have to go mass.

Q: What kind of policy do you expect? Do you want a separate one for 2-wheelers?

Munjal: Yes, because 2-wheelers are the easiest and fastest to convert; it is also the biggest market for the industry. We can’t have one policy across the platform; it’s not possible. The policy is very different for 2-wheelers versus public transport. So there are issues but the government is trying hard. The intent is there, where they want to convert an equal performance IC engine to electric but it doesn’t always work that way because the moment we look at equal performance, electric would be twice the cost. A price increase of just 5 percent will have huge impact on sales. Also, there is minimal financing right now. In IC it is 65-70 percent financing while here it is 2-3 percent. That has got to change.

Q: Is the issue with the financiers or is it elsewhere? 

Munjal: It’s a chicken and egg situation in the sense that the financiers want a larger market in order to justify the efforts they have to put in, but larger markets are not going to be there without financing. Secondly, they compare it to an IC engine where the procedures are smooth while this is new machinery for which they have to start. Thirdly, there is no real diktat from the government on the financing part. If the public sector banks start it aggressively it would happen; special rates could always be considered.

In India there is a policy in place but it is targeted at the higher range of vehicles. FAME-1 was supporting e-mobility irrespective of the technology. Subsidies were given for both high and low speed. Post that, it got converted to only advanced batteries; In FAME-2 the thought process is very different; 10K per kWh but with a cap of 20 percent on the ex-dealer price. There should be certain speed (40kmph) and range (80km) and 50 percent localisation compared to last year; the figure should increase. With such restrictions customers do not buy. It’s not attractive at all and the market has gone down. Vehicles outside FAME are working better. The government has to relook and make corrections where required.

Q: What has been the USP of established players like Hero Electric and what will it be?

Munjal: We continue on the path we had set ourselves a couple of years ago. We watch the market very closely to see how it’s going to change on the basis of the price points and performance. Many people prefer lower cost to performance. Larger players do not change anything for us. We believe the market is going to expand faster; the projections made earlier may accelerate. Our market share might decline but volumes would grow substantially.

Q: How will the future be? Would new technologies, beyond Lithium, come through?

Munjal: We don’t work on the base technology. That is best left to the experts to handle because we have no expertise in things like figuring out the chemistry of the battery, the solid state, etc. Technology is going to change for sure. I’m already seeing technologies like sodium where there is no lithium content at all. It does not have the rare materials that a Li-ion battery has. Take for example, solid state batteries, which have a different chemistry altogether. Japan is already following hydrogen fuel cells, so is Norway.What is eventually going to work? Nobody knows at this point. But one thing is clear - any new technology will not happen overnight.

Q: In that case what could be the technological change that Hero Electric would introduce?

Munjal: One thing is clear that we are going to stick to zero machine vehicles. We are not going to get into any emission vehicles at all. For the past 3-4 years the battery chemistry for us has changed and is changing; it’s a constant process. Tomorrow if the hydrogen fuel cell is commercially viable for a 2-wheeler we will switch to that or to any other technology that is better.

Q: Has any new technology been tried in 2-wheelers?

Munjal: Not that I am aware of. Any new technology will take 8-12 years before it gets commercialised and even then there could be a stopover. This is not going to fade away completely. We may have switched to lithium but a large part of the market is still working on lead-acid.

Q: What will be the key driver for you to introduce new vehicle models without any technological change?

Munjal: We do a lot of work because we are the ones who are testing the vehicles on the road. Just as in lab testing, many issues do come out during road tests. We ourselves are making the chemistry change, asking suppliers to change their chemistry. We may not be doing the chemical analysis of the batteries here but we do adapt them to Indian conditions.There are many factors unique to India, that’s why the chemistries have to be very different.

Q: When you say power, the issue is on a couple of things like frequency and harmonics, the electrical pollution etc.; all these could affect EVs also. What are your initiatives?

Munjal: We do many things. First is the charger where we have to control the power that comes in. Second is that we never allow the customer to use the battery to 100 percent because then heating would become a problem. Thirdly, we educate both the dealers and the customers on how to use the battery, the correct way of charging batteries and other important points like pollution effects, load factor, etc. If 100 percent of the 2-wheelers in India are converted to electric, the additional load on the grid would be just 6 percent. As we go more solar we will have to take steps to store excess energy; of course that’s a separate issue. EVs help balance out the grid rather than cause a strain on it. So in an urban environment it makes absolute sense to go EV.

Q: What about recycling of batteries?

Munjal: Our volume of batteries on the road compared to IC engines is negligible. Traceability is available on all our batteries; anything given to the replacement market comes back and we replace with the dealers. The lead-acid ones go to the recyclers. Li-ion batteries have still not started coming back for recycling; a new one lasts for 6-7 years. The Li-ion batteries that come back will not get recycled immediately. They will get fine-tuned and go for stationary applications. For recycling, the batteries would not be coming out for at least 15-20 years.

Q: What have been the major milestones in your journey?

Munjal: It’s been an interesting journey; it’s 12 years since we’ve been doing electric; we introduced electric bicycles in 2000; but it was too early. There have been a lot of challenges but it’s been a very fulfilling journey.

Our Punjab plant has the capacity for 75,000 units and is capable of further expansion. Our dealers have stuck on with us and suppliers have been there for many years though volumes did take a huge hit some time ago. They all believe in the same goal we have, which is that electric will happen. We have made many changes. For example, when we switched from lead to lithium completely, it was done in 4 days.

Q: That means you had a compatible battery management system?

Munjal: We already had lithium but the transformation we were able to do very quickly. Now there is a diktat also so we can move in that direction.

Q: An electric vehicle has four modules: motor, battery, BMS and the cabling part. You are outsourcing all. Do you see opportunity to get into any of these?

Munjal: I don’t think so. At the moment a lot of collaborative modelling is happening whereby one does not have to be a manufacturer of everything oneself. That was the older thought process that one has to control the entire supply chain, but now it would be cheaper and more efficient for somebody else to make.

Q: Do you import all the four modules?

Munjal: No, we are also buying locally harness and some components. Motors are coming from outside right now. We are developing the motors here but we don’t have a reliable, strong source as of now. It will happen but it’s still a few months away. Batteries are both imported and locally made.

Q: In this journey have you noticed pain points that are still to be addressed?

Munjal: There is so much of technology we can put in the vehicle but then we have to stop somewhere. No point in going for the ‘overkill.’ It won’t make sense to the customer who will not buy. Technology changes very rapidly; at the end of 2 years it no longer remains a cutting-edge knowhow. Technology, price and performance are very critical to the benefit the customer sees in our product. The market is expanding and we are fighting to keep the prices low. The Indian customer is value conscious; he wants a balance between utility and price for a quality product.

Q: How do the customers of IC engine 2-wheelers embrace EVs?

Munjal: There are several ways. Why are people switching to this? One is ease of use with electric as compared to IC. The mobile service station will come to the customers; they can also charge the vehicle from home. Of course these vehicles are not meant for everybody, as is the case with IC also. There are segmentations in IC engines like 125cc or 350, 500, 700 and 1200cc. EVs are meant for certain segments of people.

Second is the cost of usage. Cost of operation is lower than an IC engine. In an IC if you are going 50km per day, it would take 1 litre of fuel at a cost of Rs 70. In electric for the same distance you would use 1-1.5 units of power which would come to Rs 10-12 but you have to sacrifice speed. The third is that this (at least the low speed EVs) targets the younger generation who are currently using cycles or some other means of transport. So in any way cost, ease of use or environment make it sensible to go for electric.

Q: When you plan to release a new model, what sort of benchmarking do you do?

Munjal: The benchmark is decidedly not about speed. Speed with performance makes the vehicle more expensive to operate than an IC engine. So it’s the overall efficiency we look at. A large number of our customers are scooter buyers, moped and motorcycle buyers. It’s difficult to say how many of them would convert to electric. It may not be 100 percent even in the next couple of years but a large part of them decidedly do not want an IC engine performance. They realise there is tremendous saving with electric every day - no theft of fuel, service cost is much lower and the job is done very well. They are converting.

Q: What is the price range of your vehicles?

Munjal: We are below one lakh rupees.

Q: There are some reports of poor sales of BS-VI 2-wheelers. Do you see that as a driver for people to come into electric?

Munjal: Yes, because IC will become more expensive with BS-VI while EV prices will come down. Lot of infrastructural changes have to be done at the dealership level, service level, etc. that would make it more expensive to run.

Q: 10 years from now, how do you see the company growing?

Munjal: Forget 10 years; we are going to be a very different company 3 years from now. We have various plans in place in terms of numbers. We have a realistic plan we are working on, an optimistic plan and a plan for ‘if nothing works, then what happens.’ In the next 10 years does it make sense if there is 30-35 percent conversion (forget 100 percent)? Can that happen in 10 years for 2-wheelers? That is the baseline plan. We have to convert; we have to change from oil dependency. There are several factors why we have to switch. The market of 30 percent in 10 years with the growth we have would be about 12-15 million units. That is almost what the IC engine is now. This is the baseline scenario which makes absolute sense for us. If we achieve more than that we will have to build up and expand.

Q: How are you gearing up?

Munjal: We initially set up one factory; now we have two of those sheds there in the same complex. We are also looking at a third one, at the same place or elsewhere, taking into account ‘Mitigation of risk.’ We are building up new facilities; have already moved here from Okhla and expanded in terms of manpower. Our B2B team is looking only at B2B and not focusing on the consumer segment at all. Technology wise we are improving substantially. I think the inflexion point has already begun. In the next 2-3 years the disruption that is going to happen will be faster than what we have ever seen. From ‘every which way’ I am extremely excited to be here right now. (MT)

 

Japanese auto major India Yamaha Motor (IYM) has marked its aggressive product expansion plans with a slew of new launches, including the launch of its globally acclaimed modern retro sport brand, the all-new XSR155 in India.

The company also unveiled its first electric offerings, the Aerox-E and EC-06 e-scooters, in addition to strengthening its FZ motorcycle portfolio with the new FZ-Rave.

The XSR155 motorcycle, priced at INR 149,990 embodies the modern retro sport concept, blending design with engineering. Powered by a liquid-cooled engine with Variable Valve Actuation (VVA), delivering of power and of torque. It is built on Yamaha’s Deltabox frame, featuring an aluminium swing arm, upside-down front forks, and linked-type monocross rear suspension. It gets dual-channel ABS and Traction Control.

The new FZ-Rave motorcycle is designed for young riders, offering a mix of performance, efficiency, and practicality in the segment. It is powered by a single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, producing of power, and features single-channel ABS and front & rear disc brakes and is priced at INR 117,218 (ex-showroom-Delhi).

Finally, the Japanese automaker has marked its entry into India’s electric vehicle market with the introduction of the Aerox-E and EC-06 e-scooters, which are positioned as performance-oriented maxi sports and urban commuting model respectively.

The Aerox-E is Yamaha’s new Performance EV in the Maxi Sports Scooter segment, designed for urban use. It is powered by a 9.4 kW (peak power) electric motor producing 48 Nm of torque, dual detachable 3 kWh high-energy type cell batteries with ergonomic grips for easy home charging. It comes with a claimed certified range of 106 km, with 3 riding modes – Eco, Standard, Power – and a ‘Boost’ function for rapid acceleration, along with reverse capabilities.

It gets dual-disc brakes with single-channel ABS and a large colour TFT screen with turn-by-turn navigation and Y-connect mobile app compatibility for Multi-Information Display (MID) and smart features.

The e-scooter features a distinctive ‘X’ Centre Motif, Twin LED Class D headlights, a 3D-effect LED tail light and a smart key system.

The EC-06 on the other hand is designed for interurban mobility, catering to customers seeking a practical commuting option with contemporary design. Powered by a 4.5 kW electric motor generating it churns out 6.7 kW (peak power) and features a 4 kWh high-capacity fixed battery, providing a claimed certified range of 160 km. Charging the fixed battery takes approximately 9 hours using a standard home plug-in option. The scooter offers three riding modes and a reverse mode for convenience. It comes equipped with front and rear disc brakes, a coloured LCD display, LED lighting, and a built-in telematics unit with a SIM for digital integration. It also features a substantial 24.5 Litres of under-seat storage.

Itaru Otani, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group, said, “India is central to Yamaha’s global growth strategy — a market where we see immense potential across both premium and electric mobility segments. The introduction of the XSR brand, our new EV models and the FZ-Rave mark a decisive step in strengthening our presence and aligning with India’s evolving mobility landscape. With these launches, we are deepening our connect with riders who seek performance, design, and technology, while also responding to the nation’s transition towards sustainable transportation. Our focus remains on creating value in India — through products built for its diverse customers, supported by India's vision of Viksit Bharat and guided by Yamaha’s global Environmental Plan 2050.”

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Simple Energy is strengthening its presence in the country with the appointments of Jitin Johnson as Head of Marketing and Kevin Thomas as Head of Brand.

To support its next phase of brand and business expansion, the company has expanded its marketing team to over 40 professionals. Simple Energy plans to accelerate its all-India footprint, with a target of establishing 150 retail stores and 200 service centres across the country by March 2026.

Jitin Johnson, Head of Marketing, Simple Energy, brings 14 years of marketing experience, having previously served as Assistant General Manager – Digital Marketing at River EV. He will lead the company’s omnichannel marketing strategy, covering brand development, go-to-market initiatives, digital transformation and customer engagement.

Kevin Thomas, Head of Brand, Simple Energy, brings over 13 years of expertise in Creative Direction and Visual Design. He most recently served as Principal Visual Designer at Ultraviolette Automotive. His career includes leadership roles at brands such as Amazon, Motorola and OnePlus.

Jitin Johnson, said, "Simple Energy is redefining how India moves - blending performance, design, and purpose in a way that truly resonates with the next generation of riders. I’m excited to build on this momentum, shaping a brand that’s as emotionally charged as it is.”

Kevin Thomas, said, “My creative philosophy is shaped by years spent at the intersection of design, machines, and art. I’ve always believed that great automotive brands are built not just through engineering, but through emotion and visual storytelling. At Simple Energy, I’m excited to craft a brand that’s artistically expressive, deeply rider-centric, and unmistakably rooted in the culture of movement.”

Smitha Rao, General Manager - Brand & Marketing, Simple Energy, added, “These appointments and the expansion of our marketing team mark an important step in strengthening Simple Energy’s brand and business ambitions. With Jitin and Kevin leading key functions, we’re better positioned to build meaningful connections with our customers, enhance brand consistency, and accelerate our mission to make electric mobility aspirational yet accessible.”

At present, Simple Energy’s offerings include the Simple ONE Gen 1.5 and Simple OneS two-wheelers, which deliver claimed IDC ranges of 248 km and 181 km, respectively. The company has also recently achieved milestones such as becoming India’s first OEM to commercially manufacture heavy rare-earth-free motors and the first to introduce an 8-year motor warranty.

With 61 retail outlets across key cities, the company is now preparing to expand into five new markets, including Delhi and Patna.

Italian two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer the Piaggio Group presented its new motorcycle and scooter lineup at EICMA 2025, reaffirming its status among the world’s two-wheeler manufacturers.

The company introduced the Aprilia SR GT 400, a mid-size GT scooter featuring a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 36 hp, long-travel suspension and tyres with a deeper tread pattern. Standard equipment includes a 5-inch TFT display, keyless system, traction control and ABS.

Aprilia also introduced the RS 457 GP Replica, a special edition of the RS 457 sports bike. It features upgraded equipment for sporting riding, including a quick shifter for clutchless shifts and higher-friction front brake pads. The motorcycle is powered by a liquid-cooled, forward-facing twin-cylinder engine delivering 35 kW.

The Aprilia Factory range (RSV4, Tuono V4, RS 660 and Tuono 660) gains new graphics for 2026, which feature aerodynamic flow as a common theme.

The Moto Guzzi range receives new colour options for 2026.

• The V7 Stone is available in the new Sabbia Camo finish, while the V7 Special is offered in Nero Smeraldo and Bianco 1969. The V7 Sport features the new Rosso Monza livery.
• The V85 travel enduro range gains new colours: Verde Legnano and Rosso Monza for the V85 Strada and Giallo Wadi and Grigio Yanar Dag for the V85 TT.
• The V85 TT Travel is available in a new Blu Zefiro finish.
• The Stelvio model debuts new graphics, Grigio Climbing and Verde Hiking, inspired by outdoor apparel.

Vespa and Piaggio Scooters

Piaggio presented the Beverly 25th Anniversary edition, celebrating 25 years since the model’s launch. Available with 310 hpe and 400 hpe engines, it features an exclusive design with a dedicated Grigio 25th Anniversary colour, a light grey graphic, and a smoked flyscreen.

Vespa launched the new Primavera and Sprint S models, which feature technical, functional and design updates, including new 12-inch wheels, a rear disc brake and full-LCD instrumentation. Keyless ignition is standard on 125 and 150 models.

In addition, Vespa is launching a special edition of the Primavera and GTS to mark its 80^th anniversary in 2026. The Vespa 80th series features a distinctive Verde Pastello colour, inspired by the earliest single-colour Vespa models and a commemorative ‘80^th’ badge.

As of June 2025, the group held 10 percent of the European two-wheeler market and maintained its leading position in the scooter segment with an 18 percent share.

Hero MotoCorp unveiled its plans for electric mobility under the VIDA brand and revealed new internal combustion engine (ICE) models at EICMA 2025. The new products were engineered and developed by the company’s R&D centres in India and Germany.

The company's electric brand, VIDA, launched the VIDA Novus portfolio, which includes three mobility expressions:

• NEX 1: A mobility archetype that is portable and personal.
• NEX 2: A compact, self-balancing electric trike with three-wheel stability.
• NEX 3: An all-weather personal EV that offers the safety and comfort of four wheels.

VIDA also announced the European launch of the VIDA VX2 urban scooter. The VX2 offers a 125 km WMTC range, a top speed of 90 kmph and twin removable IP67-rated batteries.

Furthermore, VIDA unveiled two electric motorcycle concepts:

• VIDA Concept Ubex: A Neo-Naked Urban Explorer with multi-terrain capability, built on a modular platform.
• VIDA Project VxZ: Developed in collaboration with Zero Motorcycles USA, this e-motorcycle platform aims to strengthen the global electrification alliance.

The brand also introduced the VIDA DIRT.E Series of off-road electric motorcycles:

• DIRT.E K3: An electric motorcycle for children, featuring three adjustable sizes. The K3 received the Red Dot Design Concept Award 2025.
• DIRT.E MX7 Racing Concept: A high-performance electric off-road motorcycle built using Hero’s Dakar Rally engineering expertise.

New ICE Performance Models

Hero MotoCorp unveiled two ICE models, both Euro5+ compliant, developed with insights from the Hero MotoSports Team Rally:

• Xpulse 210 Dakar Edition: This rally-ready motorcycle is powered by a liquid-cooled 210cc DOHC engine. It is equipped with fully adjustable, rally-grade suspensions, offering 280mm of travel and 270mm ground clearance.
• Hunk 440 SX: A modern scrambler powered by a 440cc oil-cooled, long-stroke engine. It includes Ride-by-Wire technology, multiple ride modes and switchable ABS with traction control.

Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said, “At Hero MotoCorp, we envision the Future of Mobility at the powerful intersection of technology, sustainability, and human ambition. As the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, we are committed to creating smarter, cleaner and more connected mobility products, platforms and solutions. This year, as we proudly celebrate serving over 125 million customers across 52 countries, we continue to build on our legacy as a global mobility leader. Our showcase at EICMA 2025 brings our vision ‘Be the Future of Mobility’ to life, demonstrating how we converge our legacy & scale, manufacturing & engineering excellence and innovation & sustainability.”