Okaya EV, the electric vehicle division of electronic solutions provider Okaya Group, has launched the Freedum, a slow-speed electric scooter starting at INR 69,900.

The Freedum e-scooter will be available in lithium-ion and lead-acid variants in 12 colour options. The new e-scooter comes as the company’s third product in the market ever since its launch (company’s)  in July 2021. This made-in-India scooter will be manufactured in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.

The Freedum is a stylish yet practical e-scooter. It boasts LED DRLs at the front, a sharp headlight dome and trendy steel rims on the front wheel. All variants of the e-scooter also get telescopic forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. A comfortable seat for the rider and the pillion, paired with ample storage space on the footboard, makes the Freedum suited for last-mile delivery requirements. 

The Freedum LI-2 gets a 48V 30 Ah lithium-ion battery with a total riding range of 70-80 km and a complete charging time of four-five hours. The Freedum LA-2, the lead-acid variant, gets a 48V 28 Ah battery with a total riding range of 50-60 km and 8-10 hours of charging period. Both the variants are equipped with the same 250W hub motor with a top speed of 25 kmph. The e-scooters sit on a tubular frame with a loading capacity of 150 kg.

The newly-launched Freedum joins Okaya's existing portfolio of two slow-speed models: the AvioniQ series and the ClassIQ series.

The Freedum, targeted at the masses, will be launched in two variants starting with low-speed e-scooters for select markets. Going forward, the company plans to introduce a high speed, high range variant with over 250 km per charge in the coming months.

The company plans to introduce 14 new products in the current financial year. Okaya also plans to introduce a high-speed motorcycle and a range of specialised B2B vehicles built and developed for delivery-based businesses.

Presently, Okaya has a network of 120 dealers since its recent launch and aims to establish 800 additional dealerships in the future.

The Okaya Group, present in the electronics field for 35 years, is confident in meeting customer expectations of quality and reliability through seamless service and spares support.

Anil Gupta, Managing Director, Okaya Power Group, said, "Electric is the future and we find ourselves best placed to offer a high-quality, value for money proposition to every Indian. Owing to our allied business interests, it is only natural for us to have an advantage in the market space. Being very conscious of the quality and durability of our products, we have created a fully made in India proposition that gives fillip to government's aim to see 10 million e-scooters on-road by 2025."

Anshul Gupta, Director, Okaya Power Group, said," Our product proposition not only focuses on delivering EV as a mobility tool but to create an ecosystem where electric is the most obvious and possibly the best choice for a customer. We are trying to ensure the availability of good quality spares and services with proper infrastructure and financing. We recognise that an e-scooter is nothing without a battery, electronics and proper software, and we already have an in-house advantage. We hope to continue to deliver customer delight in this endeavour too." (MT)

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Aprilia India, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has introduced the 2026 Special Edition Tuono 457, paying homage to the heritage of the 2006 Tuono 1000R. Available in Mamba Black and Puma Grey, the model is priced at INR 399,000 (ex-showroom Maharashtra) and is available for pre-booking at select showrooms.

The special edition retains the 457cc parallel-twin engine, producing 47.6 hp (35 kW) and 43.5 Nm of torque. Key technical features include an aluminium chassis, ride-by-wire throttle, multi-level traction control and a TFT digital instrument cluster.

Aprilia has introduced a suite of enhancements focused on ergonomics and daily usability, including an elevated handlebar, which is now repositioned to provide an upright posture, reducing rider strain.

A smoked-finish aero flyscreen designed to reduce wind fatigue, adjustable brake lever for customisation to suit rider hand size, improving braking modulation. Recalibrated suspension that is now a softer initial stroke to absorb road imperfections, with preload adjustability at both ends. Upgraded Saddle featuring high-resilience foam to dampen vibrations.

Diego Graffi, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio Vehicles, said, "The Special Edition Tuono 457 has been developed with a clear focus on enhancing rider comfort and everyday usability while preserving the high performance, precision and character that define Aprilia motorcycles. With the plethora of enhancements like the aerodynamic flyscreen, revised suspension setup, upgraded saddle, raised handlebar position and adjustable brake lever, the motorcycle is more comfortable and confidence-inspiring across urban rides and longer journeys."

"The new Mamba Black and Puma Grey liveries add an even stronger visual identity, making this a distinctive expression of Aprilia’s naked DNA. At the attractive pricing we are launching it, we believe this is most value-for-money naked twin cylinder mid-performance motorcycle available to Indian riders. With its segment-defining 47.6 hp twin-cylinder engine, electronic ride-by-wire throttle, and multi-level traction control, the Special Edition Tuono 457 firmly re-establishes itself as the absolute technical benchmark for the naked segment," he added.

Aprilia offers a 4-year or 48,000 km warranty on the motorcycle. Optional accessories include a passenger seat cover, USB socket, TPMS, quick shifter and fork sliders.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company celebrated World Motorcycle Day by organising a nationwide ride focused on road safety and responsible riding practices. The initiative involved more than 1,000 riders across 17 Indian cities.

The event drew participants from the TVS Apache Owners Group (AOG) and the TVS Ronin riding communities. The safety awareness campaign focused on the use of protective riding gear, adherence to traffic regulations, responsible urban and highway riding behaviour and respect for public spaces & local communities.

The event coincided with the ongoing 20-year anniversary of the TVS Apache brand, which has sold over 6.5 million units, over 500,000 registered members in the TVS Apache Owners Group (AOG).

The primary flagship ride for the nationwide movement was hosted in Bengaluru, gathering more than 100 customers for curated riding experiences and interactions with the TVS AOG and TVS Ronin CULT communities.

Vimal Sumbly, Head of Premium Business, TVS Motor Company, said, "Motorcycling today is about far more than travelling from one destination to another - it is a way of life shaped by freedom, discipline, responsibility and camaraderie. It was inspiring to see riders across India come together to celebrate the spirit of riding while demonstrating that true motorcycling begins with respect for the road, for fellow riders and for the communities we ride through. This year’s World Motorcycle Day celebration is especially meaningful as we continue to commemorate two decades of TVS Apache - a brand born from our racing DNA and today embraced by over 6 million customers globally. Over the years, TVS Apache and TVS Ronin have evolved beyond motorcycles to become communities that bring together passionate riders through performance, experiences and a shared love for motorcycling. Through initiatives like these, we remain committed to building a stronger riding culture and creating experiences that make every ride safe, responsible and memorable".

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The Indian two-wheeler industry is projected to achieve a moderate wholesale volume growth of 3–5 percent in FY2027, according to the latest sector update by credit rating agency ICRA.

While the sector enters the new fiscal year on a strong footing, the pace of growth is expected to normalise due to macroeconomic factors, a high base effect and geopolitical uncertainties.

Despite a more conservative outlook for the upcoming fiscal year, the industry continues to demonstrate baseline resilience, backed by healthy retail momentum and expanding international footprints.

The company stated that data from May 2026 highlights robust near-term demand dynamics across domestic and international channels. Domestic wholesales clocked 15.7 percent YoY growth, reaching 1.9 million units in May 2026. This volume was primarily driven by improved affordability stemming from GST 2.0 reforms and advanced consumer buying ahead of announced price hikes by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

On the other hand, retail sales maintained a steady upward trajectory, expanding 7.5 percent YoY during the month. Retail demand was supported by seasonal marriage season purchases and a highly diversified product mix spanning entry-level commuter options and aspirational premium models.

Exports surged 31.3 percent YoY in May 2026, which follows a strong performance in FY2026, where overall exports expanded by 23.3 percent, driven by expanding OEM product portfolios and a broader global acceptance of Indian two-wheeler brands.

The electric two-wheeler (E2W) market continues to outpace the broader internal combustion engine (ICE) segments in terms of growth velocity with EV penetration touching 8.9 percent (172,148 units) in May 2026, up 71.7 percent YoY.

This sharp rise in volume reflects improving ecosystem support, such as charging infrastructure expansion, and a structural shift in consumer acceptance toward electric mobility alternatives.

ICRA's moderate 3–5 percent growth projection for FY2027 balances several conflicting operational variables. Tailwinds includes sustained demand from ongoing GST rationalisation benefits and strong vehicle replacement demand from urban and semi-urban fleets.

On the other hand, growth could be constrained by extreme heatwaves that temporarily lower showroom footfalls, localised supply constraints for specific high-demand models and inflation-driven vehicle price adjustments.

Furthermore, a potentially weak or disrupted monsoon season triggered by El Niño patterns presents a risk to rural purchasing power.  Lastly, ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia remain a critical monitorable, as further escalation could destabilise global shipping lanes, disrupt manufacturing supply chains and increase raw material cost structures.

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a strategic alliance with Elektrorider, appointing them as the official importer and distributor for Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia and Czechia. The partnership marks a major phase in Ultraviolette’s international expansion, bringing its total footprint to 18 European countries.

Through this distributor agreement, Ultraviolette will introduce its high-performance electric motorcycle lineup – specifically the F77 MACH 2 and F77 SuperStreet – to the Central and Eastern European (CEE) markets. Elektrorider will leverage its existing retail network in electric two-wheelers and scooters to oversee sales, test rides, spare parts logistics and aftersales service.

The expansion leverages the distinct aerodynamic styling and performance architecture of Ultraviolette's core platforms. The design language emphasises fully faired battery enclosures, exposed trellis subframes and sharp geometry optimised for sport riding.

Ultraviolette has established market-specific, introductory on-road pricing structures across the CEE region for its high-tier RECON editions finished in Turbo Red.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “We are proud to Make in India for the World and it is immensely encouraging that the response to the F77 across key European markets has been positive. Customers have embraced our vision of performance electric mobility with remarkable enthusiasm."

"Expanding into Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region marks a significant milestone in our journey, given the region’s strong motorcycling culture and passionate rider communities. We believe the F77, with its bold design, advanced technology and exhilarating performance, will resonate strongly with riders seeking a new generation of motorcycling experiences,” said Subramaniam.

Attila Pavuk, Chief Operating Officer, Elektrorider, added, “The F77 combines performance, technology, design, and emotion in a truly unique way. Our team has completed dedicated sales, technical and after-sales training, and we are ready to support customers from the first test ride through sales, spare parts, service, and long-term technical assistance. Our short-term goal is to give as many riders as possible the opportunity to experience the future of electric motorcycling, a future that is already here.”

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