Ather Energy
About Us
Back in 2021, when Ather Energy faced criticism over the pricing of their scooters, an impassioned Tarun Mehta, co-founder of the company, stood his ground with a powerful statement: “We had to do it. Ather couldn’t die. We had to show it was possible!”
And that’s exactly what they did—Ather thrived in the face of adversity. However, their journey has not been without its challenges.
Founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, Ather set out with the ambitious goal of producing high-performance electric scooters. Their early funding came from notable sources such as the Technology Development Board, IIT Madras, and Srini V Srinivasan in 2014. Later that year, Flipkart founders Sachin and Binny Bansal invested $1 million. In 2015, Ather secured $12 million in funding from Tiger Global to support its growth.
Ather's first major breakthrough came in February 2016 with the unveiling of the S340 scooter. This was a pivotal moment, attracting further investments, including ₹180 crore from Hero MotoCorp in 2016, followed by additional funding in 2018. In 2019, Ather raised $51 million, led by Sachin Bansal, which further solidified its position in the market. By December 2019, Ather partnered with the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish a manufacturing plant in Hosur, setting the stage for their next major product launch—the Ather 450X and 450 Plus. These models marked the beginning of operations at their Hosur facility, which now has an annual production capacity of 110,000 scooters. Today, Ather operates in 27 cities across 15 states.
Ather's commitment to building a robust EV ecosystem extended beyond just the scooters. They developed the Ather Grid, a fast-charging infrastructure, with over 1000 charging points across 80+ cities by May 2023. Additionally, the company operates over 175 experience centers, known as Ather Space, in 96 cities.
Ather's product lineup includes the Ather 450S, Ather 450X, and Ather 450 Apex. The Ather 450S, launched in August 2023, features a 5400-watt motor. The Ather 450X, equipped with a 4G SIM card, Wi-Fi, and a touchscreen dashboard, caters to the tech-savvy rider. Ather scooters also benefit from over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring their products remain up-to-date with the latest features. Furthermore, Ather Grid stations offer fast charging at a rate of 1 km/min and include 3-pin sockets for other electric vehicles (EVs).
As of now, Ather Energy is the fourth-largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India. In September 2024, the company filed for an IPO with plans to raise ₹4,500 crore, signaling its ambition to continue its rapid expansion.
Story of Ather told by our editorial team
Ather Energy
Back in 2021, when Ather Energy faced criticism over the pricing of their scooters, an impassioned Tarun Mehta, co-founder of the company, stood his ground with a powerful statement: “We had to do it. Ather couldn’t die. We had to show it was possible!”
And that’s exactly what they did—Ather thrived in the face of adversity. However, their journey has not been without its challenges.
Founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, Ather set out with the ambitious goal of producing high-performance electric scooters. Their early funding came from notable sources such as the Technology Development Board, IIT Madras, and Srini V Srinivasan in 2014. Later that year, Flipkart founders Sachin and Binny Bansal invested $1 million. In 2015, Ather secured $12 million in funding from Tiger Global to support its growth.
Ather's first major breakthrough came in February 2016 with the unveiling of the S340 scooter. This was a pivotal moment, attracting further investments, including ₹180 crore from Hero MotoCorp in 2016, followed by additional funding in 2018. In 2019, Ather raised $51 million, led by Sachin Bansal, which further solidified its position in the market. By December 2019, Ather partnered with the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish a manufacturing plant in Hosur, setting the stage for their next major product launch—the Ather 450X and 450 Plus. These models marked the beginning of operations at their Hosur facility, which now has an annual production capacity of 110,000 scooters. Today, Ather operates in 27 cities across 15 states.
Ather's commitment to building a robust EV ecosystem extended beyond just the scooters. They developed the Ather Grid, a fast-charging infrastructure, with over 1000 charging points across 80+ cities by May 2023. Additionally, the company operates over 175 experience centers, known as Ather Space, in 96 cities.
Ather's product lineup includes the Ather 450S, Ather 450X, and Ather 450 Apex. The Ather 450S, launched in August 2023, features a 5400-watt motor. The Ather 450X, equipped with a 4G SIM card, Wi-Fi, and a touchscreen dashboard, caters to the tech-savvy rider. Ather scooters also benefit from over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring their products remain up-to-date with the latest features. Furthermore, Ather Grid stations offer fast charging at a rate of 1 km/min and include 3-pin sockets for other electric vehicles (EVs).
As of now, Ather Energy is the fourth-largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India. In September 2024, the company filed for an IPO with plans to raise ₹4,500 crore, signaling its ambition to continue its rapid expansion.
Story of Ather told by our editorial team
