Ather Energy starts retailing its electric scooter, the Ather 450X, in Nagpur, Maharashtra

Ather Energy, India's leading electric scooter manufacturer, is all set to strengthen its retail operations in Maharashtra with the launch of its new retail outlet â€" Ather Space at Dharampeth, Nagpur. The new experience centre will be Ather's fourth retail outlet in the state. Ather Energy after launching its experience centres in Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik. The expansion is driven by the strong consumer demand for the Ather 450X and 450 Plus electric scooters in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, "Maharashtra is one of Ather Energy's key markets, and the state's response to our scooters - the 450X and 450 Plus has been phenomenal. Consumers are looking to upgrade to electric scooters that provide a great riding experience while also providing modern features and tremendous value. This has led to the growing demand for the Ather 450X, India's leading electric scooter. We are expanding to new cities in the state to cater to the increasing demand and provide a holistic experience to the customers. We will be expanding to more cities across the state in the coming months."

The new experience centre, which was opened in association with Aryodaya ETron, is designed to educate customers about every aspect of the vehicle while providing a holistic experience in an interactive space. The Ather Space provides a unique ownership experience along with complete service and support for the owners. The Ather 450X, alongside the Ather 450 Plus will be available to test ride and purchase at Ather Space. People in the city can book test ride slots on www.atherenergy.com to experience riding a connected & intelligent scooter.

Mr Rao Himanshu Arya, MD, Aryodaya ETron, said, "We aim to introduce and strengthen the concept of e-mobility by joining hands with the pioneers in the EV industry, Ather Energy, and providing clean and connected solutions to the next generation. Consumers are considering switching to smart and connected electric scooters, and the new retail outlet will allow us to meet the rising demand while delivering best-in-class service. Customers in Maharashtra are now purchasing electric scooters with FAME II and the state subsidy, which is the highest in India, since they offer a better value than petrol scooters. We wish to empower every citizen with a smart, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for their everyday commute."

Ather Energy is one of the few OEMs that also invests in building charging infrastructure. The company has installed a fast-charging point, Ather Grid, at the Ather Space in Nagpur. The company plans to add 4-5 more across the city to strengthen the charging network and eliminate range anxiety. Ather Energy aims to add 500 Ather Grids by the end of FY22 across the country. The rapid charging network is available to all electric two-wheelers and electric four-wheelers, and it is free of charge until the end of June 2022.

Ather Energy has expanded its retail footprint across key cities in India and is currently present in 23 cities with 27 retail stores. The company plans to expand to 100 cities with 150 experience centres by March 2023. The company recently commissioned its second manufacturing facility in Hosur to cater to the growing demand for its electric scooters. The new facility will allow Ather to manufacture 400,000 units per annum, a significant jump from its current capacity of 120,000 units.

The Ather 450X is the best and most awarded electric scooter available in the country today. Ather Energy designs and builds high-performance and truly intelligent electric scooters that are on par, if not better than the 125cc petrol scooters on the market. The cost of ownership for an Ather Energy vehicle is lower than its petrol counterparts over the long term.

The ex-showroom price post the Fame II revision for the Ather 450X is INR 128,321 & INR 109,311 for the Ather 450 Plus in Nagpur. Considering the total cost of ownership of a comparable 125cc scooter, Ather 450X and Ather 450 Plus owners can now breakeven their investment in 18-24 months and will begin to save nearly Rs. 2 per km in the years after.