One look at the electric Kridn (pronounced Kree-Done, which in Sanskrit means ‘to play’) motorcycle and except for a box-like enclosure below the tank, there’s hardly anything unusual or exciting about it, in comparison to a conventional machine. The news of its export therefore does not click at once. Not, because it comes from a company that does not have a long legacy of automobile manufacture to boast of. A search about the company on the internet draws media reports, but the company website does not speak much about itself. It seems to speak more about the product rather than the company or its manufacturing infrastructure. A search concerning the company’s CEO, Gaurav Uppal, throws a Linkedin link. His previous ventures mark him as the co-founder of ‘Lets Score Soccer Stats’ app and then as the CEO of MapMyMeet iOS and Android App. This looks and sounds quite unlike how one would read the profile of Pawan Munjal, Managing Director, Hero MotoCorp, or that of Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto. Perhaps that is where the magic of automotive electrification comes into play. There is no need for a manufacturing legacy of two-wheelers or a position of fame in the two-wheeler industry to be producing an electric two-wheeler. 

Coming under the spotlight sometime last year, Noida-based One Electric, it does not take long to figure out, is a start-up. Like Ola or a Zomato, it is sans any baggage that a legacy manufacturer would carry. Add to this equation the announcement to invade the African market and things start to settle down. As of now, One Electric has started exporting its Kridn electric motorcycle to Kenya. Against a backdrop where an estimated three million electric vehicles were sold the world over in comparison to an estimated 17,000 EVs sold in 2010, the ambition of One Electric to invade four other African markets begins to make sense. Priced at INR 1.25 lakh approximately, the Kridn is touted as the fastest electric motorcycle in India. It is claimed to be capable of a top speed of 95 kmph. Exported to Africa with an eye on the bike-taxi segment there (it is called as ‘Bodaboda’), the Kridn is promising a big change. Stacked against the Chinese, it is, according to Gaurav Uppal, offering the African bike-taxi buyers a sustainable, profitable and eco-friendly alternative to what they are currently using. 

The ‘African’ proposal

Stating that the Kridn is designed for tough road conditions, heavy loading and high temperatures, Uppal averred that it is capable of fitting into the African transport system, which is motorcycle intensive. Of the opinion that the Kridn is capable of answering the needs of African, Indian and South American users, he informed that the robust build of the Kridn is complemented by its comfortable seats, metal body and high power-speed capability. Emphasising that this is conducive enough to replace the stock petrol motorcycles Africans are using, Uppal explained that the Kridn can swap batteries, offer superior power and speed qualities, and can withstand heavy loading despite the rough road conditions that prevail in Africa. Claiming to be the first electric two-wheeler company to invade the African market, One Electric is working towards becoming a serious player in the African markets. It is keen to leverage the Kridn’s battery swapping technology to ensure that the bike-taxi operators are able to honour their timelines. Bike-taxi services are highly time sensitive. The option of battery swapping provides a convenient alternative to operate an internal combustion engine powered bike. 

Drawing attention to the electric motorcycle’s design and manufacturing process, Uppal said, “We have a complete in-house design, prototyping, development and production setup.” “We make our moulds and dies,” he added. The manufacturing process of One Electric is such that once a design is finalised, a 3D print-out is taken to check the fitment and alterations. Two or three iterations are a part. A pattern is made thereafter and plastic moulds are embarked upon. It is similar for metal parts manufacture, except there is no 3D printing resorted to. There are other technologies that One Electric employs. Agile enough to adapt and improvise a motorcycle design, according to Uppal, the company boasts of over 80 percent localisation. It uses high quality components to produce the Kridn and is working to achieve 100 percent localisation. Known to use a Honda frame for reference to built its own, One Electric is confident of achieving the goal.

About Kridn

To ensure a robust build, the chassis of the Kridn is said to be two-to-three kg heavier than those of similar motorcycles. It is built in-house along with parts like the battery, tank and speedometer. With stress on utility rather than a funky look, the Kridn employs seat, suspension, throttle and switches, lights and tyres that are sourced from leading suppliers in India. The seat, for example, is sourced from Meenakshi Polymers, the same company that supplies to Hero MotoCorp. The lights are said to be supplied by Fiem Industries, which also is a supplier to Harley-Davidson and Royal Enfield. The suspension is claimed to be sourced from Munjal Showa, which enjoys a supplier status with Hero MotoCorp as well. The quantity of supply by Munjal Showa to Hero MotoCorp per month is said to be no less than half a million bike-pieces per month! The tyres are sourced from Ceat. 

With One Electric known to own an IP right for the design, fuel tank and battery box cover of the Kridn,  the cells of the battery pack for the electric motorcycle are claimed to be imported as of now. The motor controller and the single brake component are also said to be currently imported. The Noida plant of One Electric has the capacity to produce 1,000 units per month. A bigger plant at Pune and Delhi-NCR will soon elevate the count to 10,000 units a month, quipped Uppal. “Expect that to happen in the next three-to-four months,” he added. Aggressively pursuing localisation, One Electric is claimed to have two provisional patents for a new type of motor which is being developed locally. The company is said to hold six-to-seven IPs. Focusing on B2B segment in India, the company, completing multiple last-mile delivery trials, has started receiving LOI's for a pan-India rollout. Insisting on a limited presence in the B2C segment, it is aiming at a first-year deployment of close to 10,000 units.

The road ahead

Stating that the company did not avail of government subsidies due to the lack of suitable drivetrains in India, Uppal mentioned, “The invitation from states for setting up a manufacturing unit has boosted our morale.With the petrol prices rising, electric vehicles have an opportunity to draw people to them. On charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, Uppal averred that the lack of space to comfortably park the vehicle and charge is proving to be a limitation. “This is giving rise to technologies like battery swapping,” he stated. Expecting battery swapping and charging stations to come up, the way ahead, according to Uppal, will be ‘fast charging’ battery swapping stations. Several startups are focusing on that too, he informed. Of the opinion that one battery pack in a vehicle should have enough capacity to last at least two days, Uppal averred that his company is working on a battery tech that could help achieve this goal. It is doing so for its B2C consumers. For the B2B consumers, it is developing a separate infrastructure all together, consisting of ready charging at certain points in the city.

Facing a disruption due to Covid-19 in the form of factory shutdown and supply chain issues, One Electric is working to invade the European and South American markets by 2022. “The South American market,” said Uppal, “is similar to the Indian and African market.” “The European market at the other end is about high cost and quality components, about performance and more,” he added. To focus on the brand of lithium cells for its European strategy, the company, in India, is currently pushing the Kridn through 25 dealerships across six states. (MT)

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company (TVSM) has launched the most advanced TVS Raider variant with several segment-first features at prices starting INR 95,600 (ex-showroom Delhi) for TFT DD and INR 93,800 (ex-showroom Delhi) for SXC DD models.

The new TVS Raider includes ‘boost mode,’ a category-first feature with iGO Assist technology, delivering torque of 11.75Nm @ 6000rpm. The motorcycle includes segment-first Dual Disc Brakes and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). It also features GTT (Glide Through Technology) for low-speed manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency.

The motorcycle now has a new 90/90-17 Front and 110/80-17 Rear tyre configuration, which improves grip and handling. The bike has a metallic silver finish with red alloys.

Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice President — Head Commuter & EV Business and Head Corporate Brand & Media, TVS Motor Company, said, "The TVS Raider redefines what young riders can seek from their motorcycle. In 4-years it won the love of a million plus Gen Z riders. Today, the new TVS Raider is equipped with the exhilarating 'Boost mode' powered by iGO Assist tech, and another segment first - Dual Disc with ABS. With yet another segment-first Glide Through Technology (GTT) now can navigate through even slow traffic with ease. The stylish loaded new TVS Raider raises the 'wicked' bar yet again, bringing together thrilling performance, top-notch safety, and unmatched ease. We remain committed to creating motorcycles that our customers are delighted to ride and proud to own."

The TVS Raider continues to be powered by a 3-valve 125cc engine that produces 11.75 Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. Smart technology like iGO Assist with Boost Mode offers an instant power surge and GTT ensures smooth handling.

A segment-first safety feature, the Follow Me Headlamp, keeps the headlamp lit for a time after the ignition and engine are switched off, helping to light the way for the rider in dark areas. Riders can choose between two connected display options: a TFT with over 99 features or a reverse LCD with more than 85 features.

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, a leading two-wheeler manufacturer, has reported wholesales of 568,164 units in September, which was 3 percent lower than 583,633 units sold last year.

The company’s domestic sales came at 505,693 units, down 6 percent, as compared to 536,391 units, while exports came at 62,471 units, up 32 percent YoY.

For H1 FY2026 (April–September 2025), HMSI's cumulative total sales reached just under three million units at 2.99 million units. This comprised 2.67 million units in the domestic market and 311,517 units exported globally.

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has reported its wholesales for September 2025 and YTD FY2026.

The company sold a total of 687,220 two-wheelers in September, which marked a 7.87 percent as compared to 637,050 units last year. This included 626,217 motorcycles, up 4.8 percent YoY and 61,003 scooters, up 54 percent YoY. On the exports front, the company shipped 39,638 units, as compared to 20,344 units last year.

The strong monthly performance contributed to steady growth, a trend rooted in the strategic diversification of the product portfolio, including 12 new scooters and motorcycles launched since the last festive season. The month’s dispatch performance coincided with a major milestone: Hero MotoCorp became the first Indian company to surpass the 125 million cumulative two-wheeler production mark.

Hero MotoCorp stated that positive momentum is visible across the business. Showroom and dealership footfalls have more than doubled compared to the festive season last year, driven by the festive spirit and new GST benefits, with significant traction observed in the high-volume commuter segment.

The company’s electric vehicle business, Vida, powered by Hero, continued its strong growth trajectory, recording 12,736 VAHAN registrations in September 2025. This performance, led by the recently launched Vida VX2 Evooter, resulted in a sharp YoY EV market share rise from 4.7 percent to 12.2 percent, underscoring growing consumer trust in the brand. The company noted that demand for Vida currently remains ahead of supply in several key markets, indicating robust traction for its EV business this festive season.

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has reported strong sales for September 2025, buoyed by the start of the festive season and recent tax reforms.

The two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, recorded total sales of 123,550 units, marking 25 percent over the 99,185 units sold in September 2024.

Domestic sales were the primary growth driver, with SMIPL registering a robust 37 percent YoY growth with 105,886 units sold in September, up from 77,263 units in the same month last year.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “September has been a remarkable month for SMIPL. The festive cheer translated into strong demand driving 37 percent growth in our domestic sales. The recent GST reduction has further added to customer enthusiasm, by making our two-wheelers even more affordable. We are optimistic that this momentum will continue through the festive season and beyond, enabling us to serve a larger customer base with our trusted motorcycles and scooters.”

Further complementing the sales performance, SMIPL recorded its highest ever spare parts sale of INR 881 million for the third consecutive month, registering a 17 percent YoY growth.

While domestic sales soared, exports saw a reduction. SMIPL exported 17,664 units in September 2025, compared to 21,922 units exported during September 2024.

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