India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu will offer a subsidy of Rs. 20,000 to select gig workers to buy e-scooters, a minister said on Friday, as more young people sign up with online platforms to deliver food and groceries.
Gig workers, or those outside traditional employer-employee relationships, are set to play a key role in the world’s fifth-biggest economy, spurred partly by high unemployment after COVID-19 pandemic curbs fuelled growth in the sector.
Tamil Nadu is also introducing an insurance scheme for nearly 150,000 gig workers to compensate for accidental deaths and disability, its finance minister, Thangam Thenarasu, said while unveiling the budget.
“A new scheme will be launched …. to provide a subsidy of Rs. 20,000 each to 2,000 internet-based service workers to buy a new e-scooter,” the minister said, adding that workers registered with a state welfare body would be eligible.
Further details of the scheme will be revealed later, Labour Secretary Veera Raghava Rao told Reuters.
The prices of electric scooter maker Ola’s products start at Rs. 79,999, while those of rival Ather sell from Rs. 99,999.
The state will also set up lounges for the use of such workers in large cities, such as Chennai, its capital – where summer temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees F) – and Coimbatore, a textile hub.
The head of the Tamil Nadu Food and Allied Products Delivery Workers Union, K.C. Gopikumar, welcomed the subsidy and welfare efforts but urged the government to extend them to more workers as well as give them better conditions, such as paid leave.
Swiggy and Zomato, two of India’s biggest delivery providers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ola Electric Mobility Ltd.’s rapid expansion into brick-and-mortar showrooms is running into regulatory trouble.
The Bengaluru-based electric scooter maker, once a champion of the digital-only sales model, recently scaled up to 4,000 physical locations since 2022. A Bloomberg News investigation has found that out of roughly 3,400 showrooms for which data is available, a little over 100 locations had trade certificates required under India’s Motor Vehicles Act.
That means more than 95% of the stores on which Bloomberg News saw the data, lacked basic certification needed to display, sell, offer test rides on or transport unregistered two-wheelers.
In response to customer complaints, transport authorities across Indian states have conducted raids, closed showrooms, seized vehicles and sent show-cause notices querying the Bhavish Aggarwal-led firm, according to internal documents and government warning letters seen by Bloomberg News.
The country’s Motor Vehicles Act mandates that every auto showroom, including two-wheelers, should have a trade certificate conspicuously displayed if it keeps unregistered vehicles, according to Hans Kumar, a retired assistant transport commissioner who worked in the western Indian state of Rajasthan.
At least six local transport officials in interviews with Bloomberg News said they were probing Ola for alleged violations, reflecting the dark underbelly of Ola’s aggressive expansion.
“Your ‘investigation’ findings that there is non-compliance are misplaced and prejudiced,” an Ola spokesperson said in an emailed response. Ola maintains an inventory of unregistered vehicles at its distribution centers and warehouses across Indian states “which are fully compliant with the guidelines of the Motor Vehicles Act, and have the necessary approvals,” he added.
Ola’s response did not directly answer whether their public-facing stores had trade certificates or if the firm had seen the raids, seizures by local transport regulators.
Battling Crises
The startup, once India’s biggest scooter maker, is now battling crises on multiple fronts. Shares have plunged over 60% from its peak since listing in August.
It has also faced buyer complaints on quality and service issues, social media backlash and widening losses in recent months. Aggarwal said in an October post on X that Ola was expanding its network to address customer complaints.
The regulatory challenges come as the company lays off over a thousand employees and contract workers, Bloomberg News reported this month, where Ola acknowledged that some roles were getting redundant as it recast and automated a part of its operations.
It’s also racing to roll out its e-motorcycles, which are delayed since Aggarwal had indicated a January launch at an event last year. Ola spokesperson did not answer a query on the delayed motorcycle launch.
According to nearly two dozen notices sent by state-level transport officials and seen by Bloomberg News, transport officials across India have stepped up scrutiny and often found Ola falling short of the trade certificate requirement at the store level.
Regulators’ Findings (Source: Documents seen by Bloomberg, people familiar)
Transport officials in the central state of Madhya Pradesh flagged missing trade certificates in December, issuing another warning last month before raiding showrooms in Gwalior
In Goa, regulators cited expired lease agreements and a surge in customer complaints about after-sales service. The trade certificate was canceled for one showroom
Maharashtra transport authorities had shut down multiple Ola showrooms, impounded vehicles and warned of further legal action
Jammu and Kashmir officials flagged Ola’s failure to disclose it had moved locations
In Bihar, a task force of transport officials was formed this month to examine trade certificates of 20 stores
Ola sporadically applied and obtained trade certificates in some locations in response to transport department’s notices or raids, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News.
The first warning to Ola about these violations dates back to at least 2023, with the most recent coming in early March. Transport officials in multiple states confirmed ongoing investigations into Ola’s showroom operations.
In the midst of all the regulatory action, Ola announced a store launch blitz in December adding overnight more than 3,200 new locations. Most of these new stores don’t have the necessary trade certificates, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News.
The emailed response from Ola did not comment on the transport officials’ probes or the lack of certification in these newer stores.
Ola told transport authorities since at least late 2023 that its experience centers are merely for “customer engagement” and not direct sales, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News, but regulatory probes have continued across states.
Ola told exchanges on Feb. 19 that it was re-negotiating terms with two of its agencies engaged in vehicle registration in government regional transport offices. This would impact February’s vehicle registration numbers in the government database, it added.
Red Flag
The scooter maker, in a Feb. 28 exchange filing, said it had sold “over 25,000 vehicles” last month while a government portal VAHAN shows that just over 8,600 were registered. This massive gap is potentially a red flag since customers cannot receive unregistered vehicles in India.
Indian automakers typically only count registered vehicles in their sales. Not registering all the invoiced vehicles even a week after Ola announced its sales number to exchanges — local rules give it up to a seven-day window — risks putting it at odds with state government laws.
“The registration figures for February 2025 sales will be updated on the VAHAN portal in the next few weeks,” Ola spokesperson said in the email, adding that this delay was already flagged in an exchange filing last month.
The widespread store-level non-compliance comes on the back of rising pressure to boost scooter sales and plummeting share price.
Ola has also lost market share — and its top spot in the two-wheeler market — as legacy manufacturers Bajaj Auto Ltd. and TVS Motor Co. gain ground, according to data compiled by the government’s VAHAN database.
Despite its mounting challenges, Ola’s Aggarwal said the firm will post a turnaround soon.
“We can expect auto segment Ebitda breakeven at about 50,000 monthly sales,” Aggarwal told analysts in a Feb. 7 earnings call. “We do feel in the next few quarters, we can get to about 50,000.”
Elon Musk’s Tesla has finalised the location for its first showroom in India, according to a report. It is said to have leased a space in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, also known as BKC ahead of the company’s anticipated foray into India’s electric vehicle (EV) space. For years, the US-based EV maker faced hurdles related to localised factory investments, regulations, and high import taxes, factors which raised question marks over Tesla’s arrival in the country.
However, reports now suggest it could finally introduce its fleet of EVs in India as it looks to take on not only global competitors such as BYD and MG but also local players including Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Tesla’s First Showroom in India
According to a Times of India report, Tesla’s first showroom in India will occupy a 4,000 square feet space on the ground floor of a commercial tower in BKC. For this location, the EV maker is reportedly paying a rent of close to Rs. 900 per square feet, which translates to roughly Rs. 35 lakh per month. The property agreement is said to have a lease agreement for approximately five years.
Following the opening of its BKC showroom, the Elon Musk-owned company is expected to unveil its second one in Delhi’s Aerocity complex, the report suggests. Tesla is likely to commence sales of its EVs in the third quarter of the year starting with three major Indian cities — Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai.
These plans were first reported last month following discussions between US President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prior reports suggest that the initial batch of the Tesla cars, consisting of a few thousand units, will be arriving at the Mumbai port in the coming months. The EV maker is initially expected to import EVs from its Berlin plant before potentially localising production in the forthcoming years.
Tesla is said to target a price tag of under $25,000 (roughly Rs. 22 lakh) for the first Tesla car in the country. Notably, the Tesla Model 3, with a base price of $40,000 (roughly Rs. 35 lakh), is currently the most affordable model in the company’s lineup.
For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.
Elon Musk’s Tesla has long been rumoured to foray into India’s electric vehicle (EV) market but has faced several hurdles related to localised factory investments, regulations, and high taxes. It has previously lobbied for policy incentives as well as lower import duties. Now, a recent report suggests that the US-based company could finally be gearing up to bring its fleet of EVs to the country, beginning with several imported models being introduced as soon as April. It is also said to have finalised locations for the first two Tesla showrooms in the country, with Delhi and Mumbai likely to have been selected.
Citing industry sources, CNBC TV18 reports that the initial batch of EVs which Tesla plans to sell in India will primarily consist of vehicles imported from its Berlin plant. It is said to target a price tag of under $25,000 (roughly Rs. 22 lakh) for the first Tesla car in the country, a move in line with the company’s plans of introducing affordable EVs facing competition from the likes of BYD in the global markets.
Notably, the Tesla Model 3 is currently its most affordable model, with a base price of $40,000 (roughly Rs. 35 lakh).
The first two Tesla showrooms in India are reported to be located in Delhi’s Aerocity and Mumbai’s BKC, and operations at both locations are expected to commence soon. This move comes amidst the Elon Musk-owned EV maker beginning recruitment for its India operations. Job listings reveal vacancies for service technicians, advisory roles, customer engagement manager, and delivery operations specialist.
High Tariffs
Notably, the Union Budget 2025, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, reduced the basic customs duty (BCD) on imported vehicles costing above $40,000 from 125 percent to 70 percent. Reports suggest that the same could further be lowered following the executive order signed by the US President Donald Trump which imposes reciprocal tariffs on all nations which have high customs duties on US imports. Trump remarked at the high import tariffs in India despite the recent reduction, making it difficult to sell US-made cars in the country.
Although Tesla has not guaranteed manufacturing its EVs in the country, it is reported to have plans of sourcing components worth over $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,690 crore) from India this year, with the number potentially increasing in the coming months.
The 2025 Ather 450 series was unveiled in India on Saturday. The latest lineup of the Bengaluru-based startup’s electric scooter comprises three variants — Ather 450, Ather 450X, and Ather 450 Apex. While all models have received a price hike in India, they come equipped with several upgraded features such as a multi-mode traction control system, ‘Magic Twist’ regenerative braking as standard across all models, and more range compared to the previous generation electric scooters.
2025 Ather 450 Series Price in India
The 2025 Ather 450 series price in India starts at Rs. 1,29,999 (ex-showroom) for the 450S model. Meanwhile, the 2025 Ather 450X is offered with two battery pack options — 2.9kWh and 3.7kWh, priced at Rs. 1,46,999 (ex-showroom) and Rs. 1,56,999 (ex-showroom), respectively. The 2025 Ather 450 Apex now costs Rs. 1,99,999 (ex-showroom).
When purchasing the electric scooter, buyers can opt for a Pro pack which costs between Rs. 14,001-Rs. 20,000, depending on the model of the EV.
2025 Ather 450 Series Specifications
All models in the 2025 Ather 450 series come equipped with a new multi-mode traction control system which offers three dedicated modes of torque intervention — rain, rally, and road. The rain mode limits acceleration for a safe ride during wet conditions, while the rally mode brings the most subtle tweaks, enabling the rider to get across rough or uneven terrain. Meanwhile, the road mode is offered as a best-of-both-worlds option, creating a balance between fast acceleration and safety for everyday rides.
Ather also brings the Magic Twist regenerative braking to its 2025 450 series. It allows riders to control the electric scooter with a single throttle. While the acceleration action remains the same, they can decelerate by throttling backwards, which also invokes regenerative braking in the process to charge the battery.
Those opting for the Pro pack can get the new Ather Stack. It brings six functions including WhatsApp on Dash, Share Live Location, Ping My Scooter, Alexa Skills, and more. The company also offers two new colourways — Stealth Blue and Hyper Sand.
As per Ather, its 2025 450 series now comes with a longer claimed range and reduced charging times. The Ather 450S is now said to have a maximum Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) range of 122 kilometres and a 0-80 percent charging time of 5 hours and 30 minutes. The standard Ather 450X claims an IDC range of 126 kilometres and a 3-hour charging time, while the 3.7kWh model extends the range to 161 kilometres with a charging time of 4 hours and 30 minutes.
The top-of-the-line 2025 Ather 450 Apex is claimed to have an IDC range of 157 kilometres and a 0-100 percent charging time of 5 hours and 45 minutes.
Ola Electric, India’s top e-scooter maker by market share, reported a narrower second-quarter loss on Friday helped by a jump in sales, and said the recent surge in service requests was largely for “minor issues.”
The Bengaluru-based company said its consolidated loss narrowed to 4.95 billion rupees ($58.7 million) in the July-September quarter from 5.24 billion rupees a year earlier.
Ola’s quarterly revenue jumped 39.1% to 12.14 billion rupees, helped by sales of mass models, or those priced below 100,000 rupees (about $1,186). It had not begun deliveries of these models last year.
Ola Electric delivered a total of 98,619 two-wheelers between July and September, 73.6% higher than last year. It sold 56,545 mass models.
Expenses grew by 21.8%, slower than the previous quarter’s 26.6% rise. Raw material costs, Ola’s biggest expense, rose 46.7% but were lower 18.2% sequentially.
Rising consumer complaints and regulatory scrutiny over allegations of poor service have cast a shadow on the SoftBank-backed e-scooter maker, following a stellar market debut in August.
“Not all service requests that come are complaints or issues with the product, many of them are regular check-ins or scheduled maintenance,” founder and chairperson Bhavish Aggarwal said on an analyst call on Friday.
“Two-thirds of it actually are just minor issues like loose parts or customers unfamiliar with the software used,” Aggarwal said.
Ola Electric’s shares have fallen 5.5% since listing on Aug. 9, while its dominance in the electric two-wheeler market has diminished in recent months.
“Over the second quarter, we had a bit of a capacity challenge in terms of service, our sales expanded faster than we had expanded our service network,” Aggarwal said.
Reuters last year visited 35 Ola centres in 10 Indian states and found many faced significant backlogs, with demand outstripping their workforce or their supply of spare parts.
The electric two-wheelers segment is gaining quite a lot of traction this year. We have seen multiple brands launching their EV scooters in the country at different price points. That said, major bike makers are also eyeing this segment. We have brands like Honda, TVS, and Suzuki, reportedly working on EV vehicles that might launch in the first half of 2025. And with the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 right around the corner, one might expected announcements of multiple electric scooters for the Indian market. That said, in this article, we will focusing majorly on three electric two-wheelers, which are also one of the most anticipated launches in the upcoming months. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Honda Activa EV
Honda Motors is reportedly working to launch its first electric scooter for the Indian market in March 2025.
Specifications
Honda Activa EV could share similarities with Activa 110. The two-wheeler might sport two Honda Mobile Power Packs, which could be detachable and swappable. The scooter might also come loaded with an on-board fully digital touchscreen instrumental console, keyless start and stop feature. It is expected to have a range of 100+ km when fully charged.
Expected Price in India
The upcoming EV is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 1 Lakh (ex-showroom). The scooter could be a direct competitor of Ola S1, TVS iQube and Ather 450. Honda Activa EV is expected to make its global debut at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in January in New Delhi next year.
TVS Jupiter EV
TVS is also reported to launch two eletric vehicles in India in the next six months. As per multiple reports, the brand might launch one electric vehicle for B2B market and another could be an electric version of its popular scooter, TVS Jupiter.
Specifications
The Jupiter EV is anticipated to be a mass-market product which will be targeted to everyday commuters. The two-wheeler is expected to have a range of 70-80 km on a single charge.
Expected Price in India
The scooter is expected to be priced below the Rs 1 Lakh mark (ex-showroom).
Suzuki Burgman EV
As per Gaadiwaadi, the Japanese automobile maker’s first electric scooter could be none other than the Burgman EV. The scooter is expected to enter production in December 2024. Suzuki has also reportedly set a annual sales target of 25,000 units for Burgman EV.
Specifications
The two-wheeler is expected to get a fixed battery pack rather than the detachable battery which was claimed earlier in spy images. Not much is revealed about the two-wheeler at the moment.
Expected Price in India
Codenamed as XF091, the scooter is expected to make its debut at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in January next year. Nothing is revealed about the price of the vehicle.
TVS
Motor
company
reportedly
is
planning
to
expand
its
electric
two-wheeler
portfolio
in
India
this
year
and
early
next
year.
The
brand
is
reported
to
launch
a
new
electric
scooter
this
year
and
another
model
by
March
2025.
The
company’s
Chief
Executive
discussed
their
Electric
Vehicle
(EV)
plans
during
an
investor
call,
which
confirmed
this
development.
The
company
is
currently
offering
the
iQube
in
a
number
of
different
versions
which
has
been
very
successful
in
India. TVS
has
also
introduced
the
X
sports
electric
scooter.
However,
due
to
some
technical
issues,
the
brand
did
not
commenced
the
deliveries
of
the
product.
The
TVS
X
was
a
visually
appealing
product
that
could
have
helped
the
corporation
attract
a
lot
more
customers
to
the
showrooms.
According
to
a
report
by
Bikewale,
the
brand
is
reportedly
developing
a
variety
of
electric
scooters.
Moreover,
the
brand
is
also
working
on
an
electric
motorcycle.
The
upcoming
bike
might
come
with
an
affordable
price
tag.
The
report
further
highlights
that
the
brand
might
be
preparing
to
launch
an
electric
version
of
Jupiter.
Moreover,
the
brand
could
also
launch
an
EV
for
the
B2B
segment,
which
might
be
known
as
XL
Electric.
The
brand
recently
trademarked
two
names
for
its
electric
vehicle,
namely
E-XL
and
XL
EV.
The
report
further
claims
that
the
company
might
unveil
the
electric
vehicle
at
the
2025
Bharat
Expo,
followed
by
an
official
launch
by
March
2025.
Although
EV
adoption
has
not
yet
reached
double
digits,
automakers
believe
there
is
a
lot
more
room
for
growth
in
this
market.
Up
until
August,
TVS
was
the
second-biggest
producer
in
India’s
electric
two-wheeler
sector,
after
Ola
Electric.
With
19,128
vehicles
rolling
out
of
the
Chakan
facility
in
September,
Bajaj
Auto
surpassed
TVS
for
second
place,
while
TVS
manufactured
18,099
units.
Kia
India
has
announced
considerable
festive
season
discounts
on
its
all-electric
crossover,
the
Kia
EV6.
The
new
electric
vehicle
is
now
available
with
benefits
ranging
between
Rs.
10
lakh
and
Rs.
15
lakh.
Priced
from
Rs.
60.96
lakh
(ex-showroom),
the
EV6
is
Kia’s
first
all-electric
vehicle
in
the
Indian
market,
offering
both
a
standard
GT
Line
variant
and
a
GT-Line
AWD
version,
with
the
latter
priced
Rs.
5
lakh
above
the
base
model.
These
discounts,
applicable
on
2023
model
units,
aim
to
attract
prospective
EV
buyers
as
competition
in
the
premium
electric
vehicle
segment
continues
to
grow.
Final
pricing
may
vary
depending
on
the
dealer
and
terms
of
negotiation.
Battery
Capacity
and
Performance
Specs
The
Kia
EV6
is
equipped
with
a
77.4kWh
battery,
supporting
two
different
power
outputs
across
its
versions:
the
GT
Line
variant
delivers
a
power
output
of
226bhp,
while
the
GT-Line
AWD
model
generates
321bhp.
Both
variants
has
a
claimed
range
of
up
to
708
kilometres
on
a
single
charge.
This
is
a
competitive
figure.
It
positions
the
EV6
favourably
among
high-end
electric
vehicles
available
in
India.
Market
Impact
and
Availability
This
pricing
adjustment
comes
at
a
time
when
several
automakers
are
gearing
up
with
offers
on
EVs
for
the
festive
season.
These
offers
aim
to
capture
attention
in
an
expanding
market
segment.
With
the
additional
benefits
on
2023
stock,
Kia’s
EV6
offers
a
more
accessible
option
for
buyers
interested
in
premium
EVs,
which
could
potentially
increase
its
uptake
in
a
market
still
growing
accustomed
to
electric
mobility.
The
final
offer
will
depend
on
dealer-specific
conditions.
It
will
make
it
essential
for
buyers
to
engage
with
their
local
dealerships
for
precise
details
and
to
get
potenital
savings
during
this
limited
festive
period.
During
its
ten-year
project
to
produce
an
autonomous
electric
automobile,
tech
giant
Apple
reportedly
had
a
clandestine
partnership
with
BYD.
According
to
sources,
Apple
had
several
partners
for
its
now-cancelled
“Project
Titan,”
including
BYD,
the
Chinese
automaker.
It
is
speculated
that
the
the
two
businesses
collaborated
on
lithium
iron
phosphate
(LFP)
battery
cells
in
2017.
According
to
sources,
Apple
and
Chinese
automaker
BYD
have
been
working
together
since
2014,
when
Apple
executives
first
saw
early
iterations
of
the
Blade
battery.
Based
on
the
reports,
Apple
contributed
knowledge
of
improved
battery
packs
and
heat
management,
while
BYD
provided
manufacturing
expertise
and
advancements
in
LFP
cell
technology.
Apple
and
BYD
Worked
Together
for
an
Upcoming
EV
Vehicle
Sources
also
speculate
that,
the
two
businesses
were
attempting
to
integrate
their
disparate
pack
and
cell
initiatives
in
order
to
create
a
long-range,
secure
battery
system
for
Apple’s
car.
According
to
Bloomberg
which
cited
individuals
with
knowledge
of
the
situation,
tech
giant
Apple
withdrew
from
the
partnership
and
contemplated
utilizing
systems
from
different
battery
manufacturers.
According
to
reports,
Apple’s
relationship
was
supervised
by
former
VW
CEO
Alexander
Hitzinger
and
battery
specialist
Mujeeb
Ijaz,
who
together
managed
a
staff
of
50
engineers.
Moreover,
there
were
numerous
delays
in
the
overall
automobile
project,
and
the
economics
of
the
EV
industry
eventually
proved
to
be
too
intimidating.
Apple
spent
an
approximately
US
$1
billion
annually
on
developing
its
own
autonomous
electric
car
before
axing
the
entire
project
in
February
and
shifting
its
resources
to
their
Artificial
Intelligence
project.
The
battery
research
effort
apparently
influenced
other
parts
of
Apple’s
technological
portfolio,
such
as
the
Vision
Pro
headset
and
Neural
engine
AI
chip,
yet
the
company’s
automotive
ambitions
never
came
to
fruition.
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