Raptee, a prominent electric motorcycle manufacturer, has successfully raised $3 million in a pre-series A funding round led by deep-tech VC fund Bluehill Capital. 

The round witnessed participation from industry luminaries, including Eugene Mayne, Founder and CEO of Tristar Global (UAE), Lakshmi Narayanan, Former CEO of Cognizant, and Ramesh Kannan, Managing Director of Kaynes Technology, among others from India and the UAE.

The newly acquired funds will be used for the manufacturing facility, acquiring essential machinery and tooling for the company’s upcoming motorcycle launch and expanding the team’s capabilities.

Raptee is a comprehensive electric motorcycle manufacturer with a robust indigenous technological foundation. The company has filed for over 45 patents to date. 

Dinesh Arjun, Co-founder CEO, Raptee, said, “India is the largest motorcycle market in the world, with EV adoption on the rise. At Raptee, we want to launch a motorcycle in a mid-premium segment for consumers who believe that EVs are a true upgrade from ICE vehicles. We are extremely fortunate to be backed by investors from the manufacturing and transportation industries who understand long-term value creation and can add strategic value for us as we gear up for production and scale-up. This being our first institutional round, we’re also proud to be backed by a DeepTech VC, Bluehill Capital. We’ve been refining and testing our vehicles, and the results are very promising. We are looking forward to launching it very soon.”

Manu Iyer, CEO & Partner, Bluehill Capital, said, “We strongly share the vision of the Raptee team to build world-class core EV technology right here in Chennai, India in a focused and cost-effective manner. Dinesh and his co-founders have diligently built the vehicle platform indigenously with intellectual property on various aspects of the vehicle sub-system. Having evaluated over 30 EV OEMs in India and having invested deeply in the EV and clean-tech ecosystem in India, we are impressed by Raptee’s cutting-edge tech and are excited to partner with them on their journey. We believe Raptee’s motorcycles will change the face of EV 2-wheelers in India,”

Raptee is the first Indian two-wheeler EV OEM to introduce high-voltage drive train technology, complemented by an onboard charger. This advancement renders it compatible with the rapidly growing CCS2 public charging network, which currently boasts over 9000 installed chargers in India, a figure comparable to the number of fuel pumps.

The high-voltage technology integrated into Raptee motorcycles ensures a much safer battery pack and extends battery life, effectively addressing range anxiety.

Earlier this year, Raptee was the sole OEM to receive a grant from ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), the authoritative certifying body for automobiles in India, towards designing and developing high-voltage powertrain technology. The company anticipates the debut of its first motorcycle in early 2024, with experience centres in Chennai and Bangalore, followed by expansion into eight additional cities by the end of the inaugural year.

Raptee has already commenced R&D efforts for its following line of products and is preparing to augment the team size to 150 by its business strategy. The commendable progress made by Raptee has garnered recognition from the Tamil Nadu Government, resulting in the allocation of a 36-acre property for the company, along with other incentives to support manufacturing expansion.

Raptee has steadily expanded its team to over 50 members in the past year. The company’s swift advancement and visionary approach have led to the onboarding of esteemed suppliers for motorcycle components and seasoned industry leaders, promising quality delivery and streamlined turnaround times as production scales up.

Raptee has established its inaugural factory in Chennai, spanning three acres, which will serve as the primary hub for most of Raptee’s Research and Development team. With an annual capacity of 100,000 units, the facility will house on-site development and testing facilities and a dedicated battery pack assembly line. The projected investment for this factory is approximately INR 800 million crore.

Raptee’s EV motorcycle is slated for launch early next year, with plans to expand to 100 cities in India and explore select international markets conducive to their growth over the next three years.

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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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Amazon India, one of the leading online marketplaces, has announced that its two-wheeler store on Amazon.in has achieved a 2x year-on-year growth in sales. The surge in demand is primarily led by consumers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities who are increasingly buying premium and electric vehicles alongside standard commuter motorcycles.

The e-commerce platform currently offers a selection of more than 20 brands such as Triumph, KTM, Royal Enfield, Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy and Hero MotoCorp across the electric, premium and commuter segments. The digital storefront is supported by an integrated network of more than 3,000 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) authorised dealers.

The platform’s sales data highlights that online two-wheeler procurement has become a notable trend outside metropolitan areas.

Approximately two in three two-wheeler buyers on Amazon.in come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. In terms of electric two-wheelers, the consumer share from beyond the metros rises to seven in 10 buyers. Within the last 12 months, customers from more than 2,300 Tier 3 towns purchased a two-wheeler for the first time on the platform.

In terms of geography, Kakinada, Tirupati, and Nellore registered the highest acceleration in the South, showing up to a 12x increase in bookings. Purnia and Samastipur emerged as new demand pockets in the East, growing up to 7x. While bookings from Nagaur, Jind, Jamnagar, Bilaspur, and Rajkot grew up to 6x in the West and North.

Moreover, consumers are increasingly selecting models equipped with premium features, connected technology, advanced safety systems and long-term ownership value. This behavioural shift is reflected across multiple product categories with the average price of a two-wheeler purchased on the platform now exceeding INR 100,000. The premium segment recorded the fastest acceleration, growing nearly 5x year-on-year.

Commuter bike sales more than doubled, while internal combustion engine (ICE) scooters grew 1.5x over the same period. In the electric two-wheeler segment, the INR 100,000 to INR 150,000 price segment now accounted for over half of all EV demand on the platform, moving consumer interest away from entry-level options.

To build customer confidence, every dealer operating on Amazon.in is OEM authorised. This structure guarantees that buyers receive genuine products backed by original manufacturer warranties.

The digital platform allows customers to shop 24x7, compare various brands and fuel types, read verified owner reviews, and view specific ex-showroom prices mapped to their exact pin code. Payments are fully digitised using credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and net banking. Transactions made via credit cards incur zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges and feature fraud protection.

Amazon India has deployed several AI-powered features and data tools to compress the vehicle research cycle and assist customers with their purchasing decisions.

Aman Lohan, Director of Home, Kitchen, and Outdoors at Amazon India, said, "The two-wheeler buying journey in India is often long and can get overwhelming with multiple options, fuel types and price points to consider. This feels more restrictive when you have limited selection, especially beyond the metros. For customers, Amazon.in brings together the largest selection by brands, price points and fuel types in one place with full price transparency and the convenience of digital payments. For brands, it expands their reach. Over the last two years, we have built the selection, the tools and the reach to serve both and will continue to expand through the year."

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has expanded its premium BigWing lineup with the 2026 CB750 Hornet E-Clutch and XL750 Transalp E-Clutch, marking the first integration of E-Clutch technology into the 755-cc platform. The Gold Wing also receives a new colour option, while the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP remains the flagship supersport model, strengthening HMSI’s portfolio across street naked, adventure touring, luxury touring and high-performance categories.

The CB750 Hornet E-Clutch combines convenience with spirited riding, powered by a 755-cc engine producing 67.5 kW and 75 Nm of torque. Key features include Showa 41 mm upside-down front forks, dual 296 mm discs, a five-inch TFT display with RoadSync and multiple riding modes. The E-Clutch system enhances the streetfighter character for both city and winding roads.

The XL750 Transalp E-Clutch shares the same 755-cc engine and adds E-Clutch technology to Honda’s adventure touring platform for improved comfort across diverse terrains. It features Showa SFF-CA front suspension, a five-inch TFT screen with RoadSync, multiple riding modes including Gravel and a dual LED headlamp setup, making mixed-riding conditions more convenient.

The 2026 Gold Wing continues luxury touring with a new paint scheme, an 1833-cc six-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission with reverse mode. Premium amenities include an electronically adjustable windscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an advanced audio system and an airbag. The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP remains track focused with a 1,000-cc engine producing 160 kW, Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes and an Akrapovič exhaust.

Price and colour details:

Tsutsumu Otani, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “With the introduction of E-Clutch, Honda is further enhancing the premium motorcycling experience by offering greater comfort, ease of use and riding confidence. Designed to support customers across diverse riding environments – from everyday urban commuting to long-distance touring – this technology reflects Honda’s continued commitment to delivering advanced engineering and meaningful value to riders in India.”

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