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<ul><li>The <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> will be tabled by the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23.</li><li>The <keyword id="20081557" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="auto-industry" source="keywords">auto industry</keyword>’s expectations from the Budget 2024 include FAME 3 scheme, incentives for hybrids and more.</li><li>Here are the key expectations from the auto industry for the Budget 2024.</li></ul> The Budget 2024 is set to be tabled on July 23 by the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and like each sector, the Indian auto industry also has set a lot of expectations from the Narendra Modi-led government’s first budget of its third term. From a boost to electric vehicles to infrastructure development, the auto sector has a series of expectations that it hopes will be addressed in the upcoming budget. This article delves into the key budget expectations of the auto industry in India <h2>FAME 3 scheme</h2>The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME 2) has been integral for the electric vehicle (EV) makers as it has helped keep EVs affordable for the common man. With the government<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/government-is-reportedly-reworking-the-fame-ii-scheme-to-ensure-companies-use-domestic-components/articleshow/93752352.cms"> reworking</a> the FAME 2 scheme and then<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/electric-scooters-get-a-price-hike-of-up-to-16000-as-fame-subsidy-ends/slidelist/109136771.cms"> ending the scheme</a>, the prices of EVs have increased. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111573138" title="Union Budget 2024: When will it be presented, what time, where to watch and what are various sectors expecting?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> With Budget 2024, EV makers will look towards the government for the FAME 3 scheme. The government is expected to announce the FAME 3 scheme with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore. While the exact details of the scheme will only be known once the budget is announced, it will be aimed at boosting demand by subsiding the cost, while also promoting local manufacturing of key components. “In the upcoming budget, we advocate for initiatives and subsidy structures without segment caps which will in turn foster innovation and growth across multiple segments. Recent discussions surrounding the implementation of FAME 3 present a notable opportunity to enhance EV adoption in India,” said Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette. "Proposed measures to promote e-buses and enhance payment security are crucial for accelerating sustainable transportation. Comprehensive support for the entire EV ecosystem is essential. Anticipated policy reforms like FAME-III and increased funding for critical EV segments will foster holistic industry growth," said Kartikey Hariyani, Founder and CEO, Charge Zone. <h2>Petrol and diesel under GST</h2>One of the frequent demands recently has been to bring petrol and diesel under goods and services tax (GST) to bring the fuel prices under control. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that the government will try to bring petrol and diesel under GST. At present, the central government levies excise duty on petrol and diesel, while the state government imposes value-added tax (VAT) and sales tax. <h2>Incentives for hybrids</h2>While electric vehicles have long been subsidised by both state and central governments, hybrids have not received the same love. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had earlier this year<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/gadkari-vows-to-eliminate-petrol-diesel-vehicles-in-india-bats-for-lower-tax-for-hybrid-cars/articleshow/108936085.cms"> pitched</a> for lower GST on hybrid vehicles. “The proposal to reduce GST on hybrid vehicles to 5% and to 12% for flex engines has been sent to the Finance ministry which is considering the requisition,” Gadkari said. Companies like Maruti Suzuki have a strong presence in hybrids and have a lot to gain from incentives, while companies like Tata Motors who do not have hybrid technology may take a hit on EV sales. With the government looking to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel cars, hybrids may finally get some incentives in the upcoming budget. The UP government has already started offering incentives to select hybrid cars. <h2><keyword id="22433272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vehicle-scrapping" source="keywords">Vehicle scrapping</keyword></h2>Industry bodies such as the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) have sought incentives for vehicle scrapping. These are vehicles that have crossed a certain age and are being scrapped keeping in mind the pollution. While a policy is already in place, the stakeholders are looking for increased incentives, especially for commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses, which account for most of the emissions. <h2>PLI scheme</h2>Automakers are also looking for increased incentives under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, for both ICE and EVs. Companies want the scheme to be expanded to more components, including tyres, which have seen a lot of changes. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-biggest-ipos-in-indias-history-lic-to-paytm-companies-that-have-raised-the-most-funds/articleshow/111690863.cms">The biggest IPOs in India’s history – LIC to Paytm, companies that have raised the most funds</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/its-raining-discounts-maruti-suzuki-hyundai-tata-motors-and-others-offer-discounts-on-cars-as-sales-slowdown/articleshow/111688501.cms">It’s raining discounts – Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors and others offer discounts on cars as sales slowdown</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/zomato-and-swiggy-increase-platform-fee-by-20-food-deliveries-to-get-costlier/articleshow/111758782.cms">Zomato and Swiggy increase platform fee by 20% – food deliveries to get costlier</a>

Budget 2024 Expectations: FAME scheme, aid for vehicle scrapping and other expectations of the auto industry

<ul><li>EV penetration is set to reach 6-8% by FY27 compared to a mere 1.3% in FY23 as per a CRISIL report.</li><li>The total cost of acquisition (<keyword id="21010615" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tca" source="keywords">TCA</keyword>) is lower for EVs but the total cost of ownership (<keyword id="19896738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tco" source="keywords">TCO</keyword>) is higher as compared to other variants, says the report.</li><li>For e-cabs, the TCA is higher than that of TCO but charging infra and other factors play a crucial role in adoption.</li></ul> <keyword id="19895203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="keywords">Electric Vehicles</keyword> (EVs) are here to take over the auto market. In the US, this growing trend is close to reaching double digits in terms of penetration among personal vehicles. Even in India, the penetration is growing as domestic manufacturers increasingly gravitate towards the EV segment. In addition to Tata Motors’ EV versions of Nexon, Tigor and <keyword id="20075324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tiago-ev" source="keywords">Tiago EV</keyword> and MG’s ZS — many other automakers are entering the EV lane too. Foremost among them is <keyword id="19909974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="keywords">Maruti Suzuki</keyword>, which is planning to launch its first EV by 2025, and Renault’s electric Kwid, Zoe and KZE are also expected to come to India soon. MG Motor India already has a couple of fairly successful EV models and plans to introduce many more soon. For foreign brands like Tesla, policy roadblocks on imports, proved to be a limiting factor so far. However, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/new-ev-policy-elon-musks-tesla-may-soon-enter-india-as-import-taxes-slashed-for-electric-vehicles/articleshow/108527306.cms">recent changes in the Indian policy landscape</a> lower the import taxes if the companies commit to manufacturing in India in the subsequent years. Such policy incentives are likely to attract even more global EV brands to India. But what do these new models of new-age tech cars mean to car buyers sitting on the fence? As per a recent analysis by CRISIL, the total cost of ownership (TCO) or total cost of ownership of passenger vehicles could work in favour of EVs in the next three years for Indian buyers. So, how does the math work for prospective owners? TCA is lower but the TCO may remain higher TCO includes the purchase price of a particular asset, plus operating costs over the asset’s life span. As of FY22, the TCO of EVs was 20-30% higher than that of all three variants which is petrol, diesel and CNG. “In FY27, we expect the economics to again remain the same. However, despite not-so-favourable cost economics, higher adoption has been witnessed initially by environment-conscious buyers,” said CRISIL. The latest analysis agrees with the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0361198120947089">earlier research</a> from <keyword id="20691574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-resources-institute-india" source="keywords">World Resources Institute India</keyword> (<keyword id="20336071" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wri-india" source="keywords">WRI India</keyword>) on TCO in India. The study highlighted that the TCO for EVs for personal use remains higher and may require additional financial incentives to be economically viable. The total cost of acquisition (TCA) on the other hand is lower for EVs as compared to other variants. TCA of an EV is 24% lower than that of a diesel variant, and 4% lower for a petrol variant. The TCA for an EV and a CNG variant is the same. This is due to lower registration charges for EVs amid high loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. Overall, the report expects EV penetration in the passenger vehicle segment to reach 6-8% by FY27 from a mere 1.3% in FY23. Meter down: How do EVs fare as cabs? Unlike in the PV segment, the cost dynamics are reversed for cab aggregators who want to drive in the EV lane – where even though the TCA is higher, TCO remains lower. In FY22, the TCO of EVs for cab aggregators was lower than that of petrol and diesel vehicles by around 29% and around 19%, respectively. However, the TCO of EVs is still higher than that of a CNG variant by around 13% even for commercial use. This is due to the higher running of a commercial passenger vehicle and high fossil fuel prices. The FAME-II subsidy provided by the Government of India incentivises the adoption of EVs for commercial use, including 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, and buses for public transport. However, the TCA of an EV for a cab aggregator is still around 17% higher than that of a diesel vehicle, 26% higher than a petrol vehicle, and around 16% higher than a CNG variant. “In FY27, we expect the TCA of EVs to be lower than that of diesel and petrol variants, but higher than that of a CNG variant,” says CRISIL. The report expects the cab aggregator segment to lead the drive towards EVs, resulting in a 4% EV penetration by FY26. The taxi segment accounts for 10-15% of sales within passenger cars. However, a few challenges continue to linger, limiting the wider adoption of e-cabs on the road. A limited number of charging stations range anxiety and lack of large original equipment manufacturer (OEM) presence are hindering EV adoption. EVs used for personal use, however, are mostly charged at home, and charging infrastructure does not play a very high role there. “The lower battery cost (due to expected localisation led by the phased manufacturing programme or PMP) is expected to offset the lack of FAME subsidy and will help maintain the competitiveness of EVs against diesel and CNG variants for cab aggregators in the long run,” says CRISIL.

Electrifying auto market: Planning to buy an EV, compare their price with petrol, diesel and CNG variants

<ul><li><keyword id="14677124" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="heid" source="Orion">HEID</keyword> and HPCL collaborate to start electric battery swap services at HPCL petrol stations.</li><li>This will enable rickshaw drivers to stop by at the nearest battery stations being set up and swap discharged batteries with fully charged ones.</li><li>The inauguration ceremony was held a few days ago on August 6.</li></ul><keyword id="20630" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="honda" source="Orion">Honda</keyword> Motor’s unit Honda <keyword id="14677126" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="power-pack-energy-india-private" source="Orion">Power Pack Energy India Private</keyword> (HEID) and oil company <keyword id="156363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindustan-Petroleum-Corporation" source="Orion">Hindustan Petroleum Corporation</keyword> (HPCL) on Tuesday said they had started electric battery swap services at HPCL petrol stations. HEID will operate the battery swap services that will enable auto rickshaw drivers to stop at the nearest battery stations being set up and swap discharged batteries with fully charged ones. This will significantly reduce drivers’ initial cost of purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) as well as allay concerns about running out of batteries, the companies said in a statement. “Swappable batteries address the key EV adoption issues such as - high upfront costs, range anxiety and long charging time,” said Sandeep Maheshwari, executive director-retail at HPCL. Honda’s technology and HPCL’s 20,000+ retail outlets in the country will ensure scalability, he added. HEID intends to create the largest battery swap network with more than 70 stations in Bengaluru in the next 12 months. Furthermore, the service will be expanded to other major cities in a phased manner, the statement said. “HEID would focus on three actions – expanding its battery swap network in Bengaluru, ensuring reliable service with a highly integrated system monitoring every unique battery and exchanger, and supporting vehicle manufacturers who are developing EV that utilizes Honda Mobile Power Pack,” said <keyword id="14677125" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kiyoshi-ito" source="Orion">Kiyoshi Ito</keyword>, president and CMD at HEID. The inauguration ceremony was held a few days ago on August 6, the companies added. HEID and HPCL had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a commercial agreement to collaborate for working in the e-mobility sector in February this year. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/microsoft-onboards-ondc-to-launch-shopping-app-for-indian-consumers/articleshow/93452707.cms">Microsoft onboards ONDC to launch shopping app for Indian consumers</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/coinswitch-launches-10-million-web-3-discovery-fund-to-invest-in-early-stage-indian-startups/articleshow/93452169.cms">CoinSwitch launches $10 million Web 3 Discovery Fund to invest in early-stage Indian startups</a>

Honda Power starts electric battery swap services at HPCL petrol pumps

<ul><li>This festive season brings huge discounts and offers of sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs.</li><li>Discount offers include loyalty benefits, exchange offers, and more.</li><li>Below, we have curated a list of the best cars you can buy this Diwali.</li></ul>Diwali is just around the corner, and it is that time of the year when the automakers will attract buyers with attractive discounts and exchange offers. Almost every major brand like Mahindra, <keyword id="6912" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="maruti" source="Orion">Maruti</keyword>, Honda, <keyword id="8555" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tata" source="Orion">Tata</keyword>, <keyword id="6374528" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="toyota" source="Orion">Toyota</keyword> and others has something to offer at this time of the year. During this festive season, you can grab a cash discount of up to ₹50,000, an exchange bonus of up to ₹50,000, loyalty benefits up to ₹1 lakh, and a corporate discount of ₹5,000-₹10,000, Below, we have curated the list of some best and top-selling cars that you can buy this festive season. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Maruti Grand Vitara" comment="subhead" text="Maruti Grand Vitara">Maruti Grand Vitara</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="grand vitara" msid="94639379" hostid="261"></div> This is the latest SUV from Maruti with a claimed mileage of 28kmpl. The car is available in six variants, Sigma, Delta, Zeta, Alpha, Zeta+, and Alpha+. The strong hybrid version of Grand Vitara is known as the Intelligent Electric Hybrid system, which produces 91bhp and 122Nm via the ICE unit and 114bhp and 141Nm, mated exclusively to an e-CVT unit. The Grand Vitara is the most spacious and longest in its segment. For fuel economy, you can go for full hybrid variants, priced from Rs 17.99 lakh to Rs 19.65 lakh. Also, if you want to think ahead of Creta or Seltos, then Maruti Grand Vitara should be on your list. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Honda WR-V" comment="subhead" text="Honda WR-V">Honda WR-V</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Honda WR-V" msid="94639386" hostid="261"></div> If you are looking for a compact car with an SUV look and feel, then Honda’s WR-V can be a good pick. During the festive season, you can save up to ₹39,298 on WR-V with a cash discount of ₹10,000 or free accessories worth ₹12,000. In addition, you can also avail an exchange bonus of ₹7,000 along with a loyalty bonus of ₹5,000 and a corporate discount of ₹5,000. The Honda WR-V is the crossover of Honda’s Jazz with slightly raised ride height and tweaked styling. The Honda WR-V price starts from ₹9.11 lakh and goes up to ₹12.31 lakh. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Hyundai Venue" comment="subhead" text="Hyundai Venue"><keyword id="596" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hyundai" source="Orion">Hyundai</keyword> Venue</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Hyundai Venue" msid="94639406" hostid="261"></div> Venue is a good option if you want a car full of features and style. The Hyundai Venue is available in E, S, S(O), S+, SX, and SX (O) variants, and the price starts from ₹7.53 lakh and goes up to ₹12.72 Lakh. Hyundai Venue is available in petrol and diesel engines. The 998cc petrol engine generates a power of 118.41bhp, the 1493cc Diesel engine generates a power of 98.56bhp. Hyundai Venue is available in both manual and automatic transmission. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Maruti Alto" comment="subhead" text="Maruti Alto">Maruti Alto</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Maruti Alto" msid="94639424" hostid="261"></div> It is one of the most loved cars by Indians as its price starts from ₹3.39 lakh and goes up to ₹5.02 lakh. It is an evergreen entry-level option for those buying their first car. Maruti Alto is available in six variants – Std, Std (O), LXi, LXi (O), VXi, and VXi+. The car is powered by a 0.8-litre petrol engine which produces 47bhp and 69Nm of torque in its petrol version. The car is also available in a CNG variant with the same motor that produces an output of 40bhp and 60Nm of torque. Coming to features, it has a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, reverse parking sensors, front and rear bottle holders, power windows, remote keyless entry, and dual front airbags. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Hyundai i20" comment="subhead" text="Hyundai i20">Hyundai i20</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Hyundai i20" msid="94639437" hostid="261"></div> The Hyundai i20 is a stylish hatchback powered by a powerful engine. The price of the Hyundai i20 starts at ₹7.07 lakh and goes up to ₹11.62 lakh. Hyundai i20 is available in 19 variants - the base model of the i20 is Magna, and the top variant Hyundai i20 Asta Opt Turbo DCT DT, comes at a price tag of ₹11.62 lakh. During the festive season, Hyundai offers exciting exchange and loyalty bonuses, but the offers may vary in different cities and states. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Maruti Brezza 2022" comment="subhead" text="Maruti Brezza 2022">Maruti Brezza 2022</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="brezza." msid="94639453" hostid="261"></div> The new Maruti Suzuki Brezza is powered by a 1.5-litre K12C petrol engine which produces 103bhp and 138Nm of torque. This motor is paired with a six-speed manual and automatic transmission. The Maruti Brezza 2022 features LED projector headlamps, a new grille with chrome touch, fog lights, and new front and rear bumpers. The car has all-new 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, an integrated spoiler with a high-mounted stop lamp, and a shark-fin antenna. Maruti Brezza 2022 price starts from ₹7.99 lakh and goes up to ₹13.96 lakh. Brezza is available in 11 variants. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Skoda Slavia" comment="subhead" text="Skoda Slavia">Skoda Slavia</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Skoda Slavia" msid="94639463" hostid="261"></div> The Skoda Slavia price starts from ₹10.99 lakh and goes up to ₹18.39 lakh. The car is available in 8 variants, and the top model is available for ₹18.39 Lakh. If you are looking for a sedan with some high-end specifications and features, then Skoda Slavia should be on your list. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Tata Nexon EV" comment="subhead" text="Tata Nexon EV">Tata Nexon EV</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="Tata Nexon EV" msid="94639480" hostid="261"></div> If you are willing to buy an electric car this festive season, then Tata Nexon EV can be a good pick. The car is available in three variants: XM, XZ Plus, and XZ Plus Lux. Tata Nexon EV packs a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery that produces 74bhp and 170Nm of torque and has a claimed range of 312km. Regarding exterior design, Tata Nexon EV gets projector headlamps, LED DRLs, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a shark fin antenna, and electric blue accents. The Tata Nexon EV price starts from ₹14.99 lakh and goes up to ₹17.50 lakh. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-tigor-ev-vs-tata-tiago-ev-comparison-of-price-and-features/slidelist/94551771.cms">Tata Tigor EV vs Tiago EV - which one should you buy?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ev-battery-can-charge-in-three-minutes-a-harvard-backed-company-claimed/articleshow/94295446.cms">Harvard-backed company makes an EV battery that fully charges in three minutes</a>

Best cars under ₹20 lakh to buy this festive season

Ola Electric on Sunday forayed into the green mobility space with the launch of its first electric scooter, Ola S1, at a price starting from Rs 99,999 (ex-showroom). The Ola S1 electric scooter would come in two trims -- S1 and S1 Pro -- carrying a price tag of Rs 99,999 and Rs 1,29,999, respectively. "I want to underline that it is going to be the best scooter ever made. It has the best design, performance and technology," Ola Chairman and Group Executive Officer Bhavish Aggarwal told reporters here. With never seen before technology, design and features, the company is looking for a global leadership in the electric two-wheeler segment, he added. The company will officially open Ola S1 for purchase from September 8, and start deliveries across 1,000 cities and towns in October. Till September 8, the company will keep accepting the bookings at Rs 499, Aggarwal stated. He noted that Ola S1 solves one of the biggest challenges which has hampered the growth of the EV sector in India has been the upfront cost. "In states with active subsidy grants, Ola S1 will be much more affordable than many petrol scooters. For instance, after state subsidy in Delhi, the S1 would cost just Rs 85,009 whereas in Gujarat it would be only Rs 79,000," Aggarwal said. The company has also tied up with banks and financial institutes for an EMI plan starting at Rs 2,999, he added. The Ola S1 comes with a range of 181 km, a top speed of 115 km per hour and can be fully charged in less than 40 minutes with a fast charger, and around six hours with the portable charger that will come with the scooter and can be installed at homes. The scooter comes with various features like reverse mode, hill hold function, driving modes and cruise control and takes less than 3 seconds to cross 0-40 km per hour. It comes with keyless lock and unlock system and safety features like an anti-theft alert system and geo-fencing. "Scooters are meant for the young but the industry has made such a vibrant category dull and boring and we are hopeful that we are going to change that," Aggarwal quipped. The scooter comes in 10 colours with in-house development 8.5 KW motor and 3.97 kWh battery packs. Ola is setting up a manufacturing plant, spread across 500 acres, in Tamil Nadu. The company has previously said it is investing Rs 2,400 crore for setting up the facility that will create nearly 10,000 jobs and will be the world's largest scooter manufacturing facility upon completion. Aggarwal noted that the first phase of the 'Futurefactory' is nearing completion. "By the end of the month, it is going to be ready. We bought the land in January and we put up the first pillar at April-end," he noted. The company will initially start with 10 lakh annual production capacity and then scale it up to 20 lakh, in line with market demand, in the first phase. When fully completed, the plant is going to have an annual capacity of one crore units that is 15 per cent of the world's entire total two-wheeler production. "We are building this scale because it is the only way of accelerating this transition to sustainable mobility," Aggarwal noted. Asked when the company expects to reach the one-crore production mark, he said: "Ten million production depends how fast the market scales up. We are estimating it to be within the next two years." "Everything is being done by us. We are working with suppliers for mechanical parts but core parts of electrification are being done by us in-house. It is part of our strategy to control the technology ourselves and also to design the components ourselves and then manufacture them on our own," Aggarwal said. Ola Electric would source items like plastics and tyres from outside vendors and for that, it plans to build an entire ecosystem around the factory, he added. On charging infrastructure, Aggarwal noted that the company would have established presence across relevant cities by the time deliveries commence in October. "Charging station roll out will follow sales rollout, so it will be sales, then charging stations but every city will have at least relevant scale as we begin," Aggarwal said. Ola had earlier stated that it would like to have 5,000 charging stations across 300 cities and towns across India. "That's the goal, we will be targeting that...The company has tied up with various partners and those will get operationalised once deliveries begin," Aggarwal said, adding that all kinds of developers, office complexes and even hospitals would be covered under the exercise. He noted that the scooter would have a hybrid approach when it came to actual sales. The company would have physical experience centres and online channel to sell the product. The sales outlets or the experience centres would come up across the country over the next few months, Aggarwal said. The executive pointed out that the company has received strong demand from about 1,000 towns and cities. "The EV revolution is here to stay whether incumbents like it or not. Consumers have shifted in their mindsets and before we know it, people will be buying only electric," he noted. He further said: "When we are going to share our bookings number with you in few days, I can assure you that it is going to be the highest number of reservations ever for any automobile launch in the country." On exports, he said the shipments would begin soon. "We have been very clear about the fact that we can build in India for the world and (demand for) two-wheelers is growing globally. All across the world, especially after COVID, people want personal mobility options and we want to be the global leaders in this segment," Aggarwal noted. The company's electric scooter would be relevant in markets like ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), LATAM (Latin America) and Europe, he said. "The traditional markets for two wheelers have been Asian markets, LATAM and Africa have been growth markets for two-wheelers but the large volumes have always come from the Asian markets," Aggarwal said. Especially after COVID, even the West has opened up and more and more people in Europe want to buy electric two-wheelers, he added. Even in the US and North America, people have started to experience two-wheelers for urban mobility, Aggarwal said. "Over the next four-five years, we will see a lot of evolution. Lot of opportunities will open up globally for two-wheelers and they will have to be electric," he stated. On competition with other electric vehicle brands, Aggarwal stated: "In two-wheelers, the incumbents have not properly invested for electrification and we believe we will absolutely lead the way as our technology is ahead by a few years". When asked if the company is also looking at tapping into the Chinese market, he said: "China is not an immediate priority for us". "There are enough markets beyond that. The Chinese two-wheeler market is a unique one, while it's all electric, its all low-speed, low-quality electric vehicles. Transformation is happening there as well," he added. Aggarwal noted that the company has been very careful to source almost all the components from India, with only the battery cells coming from South Korea. Asked about the chip shortage situation globally, he said the company is dealing with the issue and has been able to overcome the challenge for the short-term. "It is something that the industry would have to deal with over the next 6-9 months...It is a challenge, so we are trying to deal with it," he said. Aggarwal noted that the company plans to enter various segments, including an electric car, in the coming days. He, however, did not share any details. 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Ola S1 and S1 Pro electric scooters launched starting at ₹99,999

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Mercedes-Benz&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Mercedes-Benz</a> has launched the long-wheelbase (LWB) version of the E-Class in India at a starting price of Rs 56.15 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) and India is the only country so far that will be getting the right-hand drive version of the LWB E-Class. 
 
Apart from the brand name, the biggest selling point of the car is the class-leading rear legroom all thanks to the extended wheelbase and 2017 E-Class outshines all its rivals from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=BMW&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jaguar&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Jaguar</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Audi&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Audi</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Volvo&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Volvo</a> in this respect. 
 
Apart from that, the feature list includes full-LED headlamps, air suspension (diesel only), all-four electronically operated seats, 12.3-inch infotainment system which is mated to a 13-speaker sound system by Burmester, panoramic sunroof, touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel and 64-colour ambient lighting. 
 
In India, the car comes in two variants, E 200 (petrol) and E 350 d (diesel). While the 2.0-litre, four-pot petrol engine produces 184PS of power and 300Nm of torque, the 3.0-litre diesel V6 cranks out 258PS of power and 620Nm of torque. The 0-100kmph time for the diesel stands at 6.6 seconds and for the petrol at 8.5 seconds, which is 0.6 seconds slower than the outgoing model. Both the engines come mated with the 9G-Tronic nine-speed auto box and the power is sent to the rear wheels only. 
 The list of main rivals includes the <keyword id="421269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="audi-a6">Audi A6</keyword>, <keyword id="6355119" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BMW">BMW</keyword> 5 Series (which will soon be replaced by an all-new model), Volvo S90 and the, the production of which was recently localised.

‘Made-in-India’ Mercedes-Benz E-Class launched at Rs 56.15 lakh

At the vast open-plan headquarters of Indian telecoms start-up <keyword id="2003276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jio">Jio</keyword>, billionaire oil tycoon <keyword id="3820" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> stands in short sleeves beneath a digital tracker that logs every new subscriber to his service. 
 The 59-year-old is India's richest man, and his <keyword id="10926" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reliance">Reliance</keyword> Industries oil &amp; gas group is the country's most profitable. 
 
Now, though, he's betting at least $20 billion on building, from scratch, a national digital empire stretching from phones and hardware to home entertainment and custom-made apps. 
 
The ambitious Jio project could make Reliance the most comprehensive provider of telecom and internet services across India - and give it unprecedented access to the country's untapped 'big data': how millions eat, shop and have fun. 
 
"For Reliance... data is the new oil, and intelligent data is the new petrol," Ambani said in March, explaining his drive to move closer to India's consumers. 
 
Reliance has said little publicly about Jio, and even less about the potential for wide-scale data mining in a country where consumers have not, to date, made a big deal about online privacy. But top executives are clear on the opportunity. 
 
"It's called Deep Packet Inspection, and what you can do with the analytics of that is mind-boggling," said a senior Reliance executive, referring to a practice that digs into 'packets' of data created by computers for efficiency, mining them for information. 
 
Jio is unlikely to contribute significantly to Reliance profits anytime soon, but is hugely significant for its future. Reliance has dabbled previously in consumer sectors, yet Jio is seen as an opportunity for Ambani to set a new course for a company still dominated by his late father, its founder. 
 
Jio is also a potentially landmark opportunity for India, where smartphone usage has ballooned and services like mobile payments and online entertainment have become commonplace. 
 
The prospect of Jio, which has not yet been commercially launched, has raised hopes of cheaper, more reliable data for Indian users. It has already drawn queues at some stores by offering free connections with unlimited data for a three-month period, allowing it to test its network. 
 
That has stirred rivals. India's largest wireless provider Bharti Airtel this week cut its 3G/4G data tariffs on prepaid connections by more than 40 percent, after halving them a month ago. 
 
ALL ABOUT AMBITION 
 
But Jio - named from a Hindi exhortation to 'live on' - is behind schedule and over budget, say several former employees, who, like current staff interviewed by Reuters, did not want to be named. It was initially expected to launch by end-2014, with total capital expenditure within $15 billion, they said. 
 
Reliance has never provided a specific date or figure, and declined to respond to specific queries for this article. 
 
According to filings at the Commerce Ministry, Jio has more than 325 billion rupees ($4.9 billion) of long-term debt, and other liabilities topping 580 billion rupees, as of March. In addition, Reliance has spent over 290 billion rupees on Jio and is expected to invest more - all adding up to more than what it has been spending on its core refining and petrochemicals business. 
 
Reliance says its oil business is pumping out cash, and any investment in Jio has to be ambitious. 
 
Two-thirds of India's 1.3 billion population are not online, and Jio hopes to capture 100 million users - nearly half of India's current smartphone users - within a year of launch. 
 
Ambani, who employees say taught himself to code, ran Reliance's nascent telecoms operations in the early 2000s, before a feud with his younger brother Anil triggered a split and a bitter non-compete deal. Mukesh took the family's energy business and Anil the communications assets, setting up Reliance Communications (RCom). 
 
Before long though, Mukesh was laying fibre cables again and set up a subsidiary, Rancore, to build its own mobile telephony technology. 
 
In 2010, Mukesh's Reliance Industries bought Infotel Broadband - on the day Infotel won nationwide spectrum - and decided it needed to offer more than a high-speed 4G network service. Instead, it would pitch an all-internet service, where even voice calls would be carried as data, cheaply, beating its rivals Airtel, Vodafone and Idea on quality and speed, according to Jio officials. 
 
Airtel, Vodafone and Idea declined to comment on Jio. 
 
Naveen Kulkarni, co-head of research at Phillip Capital, said the Jio technology was "very efficient from a cost point of view," but needs India's smartphone ecosystem to evolve, making it unlikely Reliance will make money from Jio for at least five years. 
 
RELIANCE CITY 
 
At Jio's biggest campus, a sprawling cluster of glass buildings, manicured lawns and giant Jio logos outside Mumbai, the scale of Ambani's vision is evident. Reuters was offered a rare opportunity to visit the site earlier this year. 
 
The campus has 15,000 employees working for Jio alone, plus hundreds of consultants and service providers working alongside the group. There are large guest houses and hotels. 
 
In a single hall, Reliance has put on show everything from its e-payment mechanism and music-streaming app to its messaging app, sleek Jio smartphones - sold at a fraction of the cost of an iPhone - connected cars, and even a replica home. 
 
"As they go out, they will have a very aggressive posture," said Rajan Mathews, director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India. 
 
On campus, Ambani, who flies in by helicopter once a week, was flanked at his desk by his eldest son, Akash, who is Jio's head of strategy, and by Manoj Modi, a long-serving adviser, and a reminder of the influence of trusted employees, most from the oil business. 
 
One company insider said the Jio logo is actually a mirror image of the word 'oil,' reflecting in a way Reliance's journey from oil drilling to data mining. 
 
($1 = 67.0605 Indian rupees) 
 
<a href="http://stz.india.com/sites/default/files/2016/05/16/1599-reliance-jio-ians.JPG">Image source</a>

Reliance Jio: The $20 billion start-up from Mukesh Ambani's kitty

<ul><li><keyword id="19897349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola-electric" source="keywords">Ola Electric</keyword> has come under the scanner after a surge in customer complaints.</li><li>The company’s sales and market share have also been declining.</li><li>The government has reportedly issued a show cause notice to <keyword id="19945904" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola" source="keywords">Ola</keyword> Electric.</li></ul>Ola Electric was once considered the most promising electric automaker in the country, from dominating the electric two-wheeler with its electric scooters to introducing multiple electric bikes simultaneously. The company had many things going for it, hosting a vast distribution network via its cab-hailing platform and a conducive policy environment that incentivised the growth of EVs. But within a few years of its launch, somewhere something seems to have gone awfully wrong! The Bhavish Aggarwal-led company has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons, from the company’s founder engaging in an online spat with comedian Kunal Kamra to customers taking to social media to complain about their scooters. But that’s not where the company’s problems end. One of the seemingly direct effects of the rise in customer complaints has been subdued sales in recent months. Besides this, the company has also come under the government’s scanner. <h2>Surge in complaints</h2>According to a recent report, Ola Electric recently formed a new service team to deal with the surge in customer complaints. As per the report, the electric two-wheeler maker is receiving as many as 80,000 customer complaints per month, overwhelming its service infrastructure. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113699039" title="Ola Electric plans to expand sales and service infra to 10,000 outlets by 2025-end" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The high number of complaints reportedly resulted in high wait times for customers, resulting in growing customer dissatisfaction, which is regularly played out on social media. <h2>Declining market share</h2>It’s not just social media, the company’s market share has also been on the decline along with its sales. From nearly a 50% market share in April 2024, the company’s market share declined to 27% in September 2024. While the company still leads the Indian electric two-wheeler market, legacy automakers like Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor are closing in. While Bajaj Auto reported a 21.5% market share in September 2024, TVS Motor reported a 20.3% market share. From occupying nearly half of the market, Ola Electric has now been restricted to a quarter and by the looks of it, the company may not even be able to hold the top position by the end of the year if the current trend continues. <h2>Ola Electric comes under the government’s scrutiny</h2>Amid rising complaints, Ola Electric has also come under the government’s scanner. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), India’s consumer watchdog issues a show-cause notice to Ola Electric over potential violations of the Consumer Protection Act (2019). According to a report, The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) run by the Department of Consumer Affairs has received 10,644 complaints against Ola Electric since September 2023. When the NCH approached Ola Electric, the body was reportedly met with apathy by the company. Out of the 10,644 complaints, 3,389 relate to delays in providing service to the vehicles, 1,899 are around delivery delays for new vehicles and 1,459 customers have complained about services that were promised but not provided. According to a report by CNBCTV-18, CCPA chairman Nidhi Khare has said the complaints against Ola Electric have been classified in 10 categories, including “delayed and unsatisfactory service”, “refusal or delay in warranty services”, “recurrent defects despite services”, “unprofessional conduct and complaint closure” and more. <h2>A customer’s harrowing experience</h2>Business Insider India spoke to Mr Rakesh (name changed), an Ola Electric customer who has been facing issues with his Ola S1 Pro. The customer paid for the vehicle in August 2023 and the scooter was delivered in January 2024, after a five-month wait. The first issue that the customer faced was that despite the scooter only being delivered in January 2024, the scooter’s warranty began in August 2023, depriving the customer of five months of warranty. Not just this, the vehicle’s insurance began in November 2023, two months prior to the delivery. While this is a concerning issue, this was the least of the customer’s problems. <div type="image" title="1" msid="114120836" hostid="261" sizebytes="68242" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Ola S1 Pro being towed&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> As per the customer, his scooter repeatedly faced issues, not even turning on at times. Rakesh said that he was forced to restart his vehicle four to five times a day just to be able to use it and if this didn’t work, he was forced to remove and re-insert a plug placed under the seat. However, even this failed several times and in less than eight months of usage, Rakesh was forced to get his vehicle towed to the service centre multiple times with the help of roadside assistance (RSA). He claimed that he faced the issue nearly 30 times so far. He further said that the scooter has spent the majority of its time at the service centre, which is extremely disappointing after spending over ₹1.6 lakh on a vehicle. <div type="image" title="2" msid="114120876" hostid="261" sizebytes="65944" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Ola S1 Pro being towed again&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> At the service centre, the service executives were unable to find the exact cause of the issue. To try and solve the issue, the scooter’s control unit was reportedly changed twice and there were multiple software updates. Rakesh has had a disappointing experience so far, especially with the service executives being unable to diagnose the issue and him having to repeatedly visit the service centre. <h2>A wake-up call?</h2>Many users on the internet have labelled Ola vehicles as subpar and not fit for this competitive market that’s growing rapidly. The initial marketing was good, helping the company conquer almost half of the market share. But a bad quality product can dent the reputation of a company severely in the long run. This must serve as a wake-up call for <keyword id="1543567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhavish-Aggarwal" source="Orion">Bhavish Aggarwal</keyword> and everyone at Ola Electric and the consumers hope that the company not only works on improving its quality control but also overhauls its service infrastructure to more efficiently diagnose and solve issues with their vehicles. During an interaction early in the company’s journey, Aggarwal once said that he hopes to sell around 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh scooters a month, which is close to what one of the popular petrol scooters manages to do each month. While this dream looked achievable at one time, the journey now seems quite tedious. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/september-auto-sales-automakers-report-a-decline-mahindra-and-mahindra-overtakes-tata-motors/articleshow/113925972.cms">September Auto sales – Automakers report a decline, Mahindra and Mahindra overtakes Tata Motors</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-electric-continues-to-lose-market-share-as-bajaj-auto-and-tvs-motor-gain/articleshow/113900252.cms">Ola Electric continues to lose market share as Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor gain</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/pm-e-drive-scheme-with-10900-crore-outlay-announced-for-electric-vehicles/articleshow/113816837.cms">PM E-DRIVE scheme with ₹10,900 crore outlay announced for electric vehicles</a>

The Ola Electric Saga: Are surge in complaints and declining market share a wake-up call for Bhavish Aggarwal?

State-owned <keyword id="20039950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Petroleum-Corporation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharat Petroleum Corporation" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Bharat Petroleum Corporation">Bharat Petroleum Corporation</keyword> plans to invest Rs 1.7 lakh crore over the next five years to grow its core oil refining and fuel marketing business as well as in 'future big bets' of <keyword id="20115883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="petrochemicals" source="keywords">petrochemicals</keyword> and <keyword id="19895435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-energy" source="keywords">green energy</keyword>, its chairman G Krishnakumar has said. At present, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (<keyword id="19908646" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="BPCL" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BPCL" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="BPCL">BPCL</keyword>) owns about 14 per cent of India's oil <keyword id="20064251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="refining-capacity" source="keywords">refining capacity</keyword> and about a quarter of the fuel retailing network. It plans to grow these businesses while foraying into newer areas. The firm is now implementing the first phase of a multi-decade aspirational journey in the form of '<keyword id="22826627" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="project-Aspire" source="keywords">Project Aspire</keyword>' - its five-year strategic framework that is based on two fundamental pillars - 'Nurturing the Core' and 'Investing in Future Big Bets', he said in the company's latest annual report. "Our mid-term strategy is on a continuum. While we remain committed to growing our core businesses, which include refining and marketing <keyword id="20037698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="petroleum-products" source="keywords">petroleum products</keyword> and upstream, we are equally focused on our big bets comprising petrochemicals, gas, green energy, non-fuel retail, and digital. "Project Aspire, with a planned capex outlay of around Rs 1.70 lakh crore over five years, will enable us to create long-term value for our stakeholders while preserving our planet for future generations," he said. "A cornerstone of our long-term strategy, Project Aspire, with a Rs 1.70 trillion investment, marks the initial phase of our multi-decade odyssey to shape the energy of tomorrow. This, coupled with our robust balance sheet, fuels our ambition to lead the <keyword id="19951336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="energy-transition" source="keywords">energy transition</keyword>." The company is targeting net zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2040. "BPCL has drawn a net-zero roadmap, which encompasses renewable power, green hydrogen, compressed biogas, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), efficiency improvement and the offsets procurements. This would require a phased capital outlay of approximately Rs 1 lakh crore till 2040, and the company is geared for the same," he said. The firm's bet on continuing investing in core businesses is based on the premise that India's booming economy will drive a 4-5 per cent annual increase in energy demand and petroleum product consumption. Also, the demand for major petrochemical products is expected to rise by 7-8 per cent annually. "This presents a strategic opportunity to expand refining capacity alongside the development of integrated petrochemical complexes," he said. BPCL is implementing new petrochemical projects at two of its three oil refineries. A Rs 49,000 crore ethylene cracker project is being implemented at the Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh, alongside raising oil refining capacity from the current 7.8 million tonnes to 11 million tonnes annually by 2029. A polypropylene project is being set up at Kochi refinery in Kerala by 2027. "To meet the anticipated demand beyond our planned expansions in Bina and Kochi, we are actively evaluating options for setting up additional integrated refining and petrochemical capacities within the next 5-7 years," Krishnakumar said without disclosing either the investments or the location of such a project. Andhra Pradesh is being speculated as the likely site after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and regional party TDP stormed to power in the state in recently concluded assembly elections. TDP has been demanding the implementation of a refinery-cum-petrochemical complex that was promised as part of the package when the state was split more than a decade back. "Our investment in the petrochemical project is consistent with our aspiration of becoming a dominant player in India's petrochemical growth story," Krishnakumar said. On energy transition, he said BPCL is targeting to build 2 gigawatts (GW) of <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword> capacity by 2025 and 10 GW by 2035. "We are investing nearly Rs 1,000 crore to establish two 50 MW captive wind power plants in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which will support our refineries in Mumbai and Bina." The firm is also investing around Rs 300 crore in 72 MWp of solar project in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. "Concomitantly, we are executing green hydrogen projects aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These projects include a 5 MW electrolyser plant at Bina refinery and a green hydrogen refuelling station with an indigenously developed electrolyser at Kochi," he noted. BPCL, he said, is committed to supporting the transition to electric mobility through a robust and accessible charging infrastructure. The company has installed over 3,000 charging stations, including fast chargers for cars and two-wheelers. 900 fast chargers are installed across 120 highway corridors, which helps address the range, discovery and time anxiety of electric vehicle (EV) owners. "Over the next five years, we aim to install 4-wheeler fast chargers at approximately 6,000 retail outlets across 400 highway corridors, prioritising high-traffic corridors like the Golden Quadrilateral and N-S/E-W highways," he said. On biofuels, he said BPCL sells petrol with 20 per cent ethanol blend at 4,279 out of its over 22,000 petrol pumps. It is also building compressed biogas plants using municipal solid waste to make gas that can be used as CNG in automobiles. The firm is also exploring partnerships in the arena. "These combined efforts, along with the upcoming commissioning of a bio-ethanol refinery, positions BPCL as a key player in India's transition to a greener fuel mix, creating a robust ecosystem for the adoption of cleaner fuels across the country," he added. BPCL is establishing a corporate venture capital fund to invest directly in promising startups. "In order to thrive in this complex and challenging business landscape, we will leverage our agility and focus on operational excellence to ensure continued success. Safety and reliability will remain our top priorities, guiding all our actions. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance," he added. He said the energy sector of India stands at an inflection point. "The nation has an ambitious vision of becoming a USD 30 trillion developed economy by 2047. 'Viksit Bharat @2047' will necessitate an almost fourfold increase in primary energy demand." India's exponential growth trajectory will propel it to a pivotal role in the global energy market, accounting for roughly 12 per cent of world energy consumption by 2047. "The key strategic objectives for India in the energy sector will entail significant expansion in refining capacities, raising the share of gas in the energy basket from about 6 per cent to 15 per cent, establishing leadership in petrochemical exports, and sharply reducing energy imports from current levels of 47 per cent to below 25 per cent by 2030 and to zero by 2047," he said. India is targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity, sourcing half of its energy needs from renewables, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes and lowering carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 with the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. "Building on its strong Indian energy presence, BPCL aspires to meet 7-10 per cent of the nation's primary energy demand by 2047," he said.

BPCL planning Rs 1.7 lakh crore spend to expand core business, new energy foray over next five years

<ul><li>The <keyword id="17577066" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ather-450s" source="Orion">Ather 450S</keyword> electric scooter price has been slashed by ₹20,000.</li><li>After the price cut, the price difference between the Ather 450S and the <keyword id="19945904" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola" source="keywords">Ola</keyword> S1 X+ has reduced.</li><li>In this post, we compare the two electric scooters to help you decide which EV you should buy.</li></ul><keyword id="19938729" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ather-energy" source="keywords">Ather Energy</keyword> has<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-450s-electric-scooter-price-cut-only-five-months-after-launch/articleshow/106700488.cms"> announced</a> a large price cut for its affordable electric scooter, the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-announce-new-electric-scooter-450s/articleshow/102642216.cms"> Ather 450S</a> just five months after its launch, which is likely aimed at making it more competitive amid a decline in sales. The Ather 450S, which is now priced at ₹1,09,999 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru) takes on the Ola S1 X+. While the Ather 450S is still slightly more expensive than the Ola S1 X+, the gap has decreased, making it important to compare the two vehicles before making a purchase. In this post, we compare the Ather 450S with the Ola S1 X+. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ather 450S vs Ola S1 X+ price" comment="subhead" text="Ather 450S vs Ola S1 X+ price">Ather 450S vs Ola S1 X+ price</cmsannotation> The Ather 450S is priced at ₹1,09,999 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru). If you include the company’s battery protection plan and Pro upgrade which offers features like navigation, ride modes, OTA updates and more, the price goes up by an additional ₹10,000, taking it to ₹1,19,999. On the other hand, the Ola S1 X+ is priced at ₹1,06,779 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru) with the charger included. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Design" comment="subhead" text="Design">Design</cmsannotation> Starting with the design, the Ather 450S and the Ola S1 X+ both stand apart when compared with other petrol scooters on the road. While the Ather 450S features a sporty and sharp design. The Ola S1 Pro on the other hand features a sleeker and minimalistic design with a flat footboard. If you are looking for a scooter that will look good on the road and stand out, both the Ather and the Ola S1 offer great designs. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Performance" comment="subhead" text="Performance">Performance</cmsannotation> If you are buying an electric scooter, you are guaranteed to get much better performance when compared to similarly priced petrol scooters. Both the scooters deliver good performance. The Ather 450S is equipped with a 5.4kW PMS motor that delivers a peak torque of 22 Nm. It offers a top speed of 90 km per hour and can go from 0 to 40 km per hour in just 3.9 seconds. The Ola S1 X+ is equipped with a 6kW mid drive motor that delivers 38 Nm of peak torque. The electric scooter offers a top speed of 90 km per hour and can go from 0 to 40 km per hour in just 3.3 seconds. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Range" comment="subhead" text="Range">Range</cmsannotation> One of the most important things that you need to look at while purchasing an EV is the range as unlike ICE vehicles, you cannot immediately top up when you are running out of charge, unless your vehicle is equipped with a swappable battery. While the Ather 450S is claimed to offer a range of 115 km on a single charge, the Ola S1 X+ is claimed to offer a range of up to 151 km on a single charge. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Battery and charging time" comment="subhead" text="Battery and charging time">Battery and charging time</cmsannotation> The Ather 450S comes with a 2.9kWh battery pack and the company has claimed that the scooter can be charged from 0 to 100% in 8 hours and 36 minutes. The Ola S1 X+ on the other hand is equipped with a 3kWh battery pack and it can be fully charged in 7 hours and 24 minutes. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Features and performance" comment="subhead" text="Features and performance">Features and performance</cmsannotation> Coming to the features, the Ather 450S is equipped with a 7-inch display but most of the features offered by the scooter are available only for users who opt for the Pro upgrade. This includes the four riding modes, auto hold, turn by turn navigation, call and music control, and more. The Ola S1 X+ on the other hand features a 5-inch LCD, navigation, cruise control, three driving modes, and more. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-10-electric-cars-sale-in-india-in-december-2023/slidelist/106627784.cms">Tata Motors dominates the EV car market in December with Tiago leading the charge</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/new-electric-scooters-and-bikes-launching-in-india-in-2024/slidelist/106354504.cms">Electric Activa to the KTM E-Duke – e-scooters &amp; bikes set to hit Indian roads in 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/new-electric-scooter-simple-dot-one-comparison-with-ola-s1-pro-electric-scooter/slidelist/106343351.cms">Simple Dot One vs Ola S1 Pro – price, range and features compared</a>

The EV scooter battle – Ather 450S vs Ola S1 X+ after the former slashes price

<ul><li>Ather has revamped its scooter lineup and has made the <keyword id="8534356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ather-450x" source="Orion">Ather 450X</keyword> more affordable.</li><li>With this, the Ather 450X, the <keyword id="11908705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola-s1-pro" source="Orion">Ola S1 Pro</keyword> and the TVS iQube S are now priced similarly.</li><li>We compare the three electric scooters to help you decide which scooter you should buy.</li></ul> Electric scooters are no longer a niche product and are something that every two-wheeler buyer is considering. There are a lot of options to choose from, whether it is from new entrants like Ather Energy and Ola Electric or established players like TVS Motor. The electric two-wheeler market is currently being led by Ola Electric, followed by TVS Motor and Ather Energy. Ather has recently revamped its portfolio, to offer a more affordable option in the form of the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-finally-focuses-on-affordable-electric-scooters-after-losing-its-lead-to-ola-electric-and-tvs-motor/articleshow/99456189.cms"> Ather 450X</a>. If you are in the market for an electric scooter and are confused about which scooter should you go for, we have you covered. In this post, we compare the revamped Ather 450X, the Ola S1 Pro and TVS iQube S to help you decide which scooter you should buy. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ather 450X vs Ola S1 Pro vs TVS iQube S price" comment="subhead" text="Ather 450X vs Ola S1 Pro vs TVS iQube S price"><keyword id="17148099" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ather-450X-vs-Ola-S1-Pro-vs-TVS-iQube-S" source="Orion">Ather 450X vs Ola S1 Pro vs TVS iQube S</keyword> price</cmsannotation> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Scooter </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Price </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ather 450X </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,16,274 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ola S1 Pro </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,24,999 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">TVS iQube S </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1,15,293 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>Source: Company website, price in Hyderabad <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Design" comment="subhead" text="Design">Design</cmsannotation> Starting with the design, all three scooters have been built using a completely different design language. Starting with the Ather 450X, it features a sporty and futuristic design and easily stands apart on the roads. The Ola S1 Pro comes with a sleek and stylish design. On the other hand, the TVS iQube features a more traditional design and is identical to the company’s ICE scooter, the TVS Jupiter. If you are looking for a sporty or sleek design, the Ather 450X or the Ola S1 Pro are worth considering. However, if you are looking for a simple design that flies under the radar, the TVS iQube S will be more appropriate. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Performance" comment="subhead" text="Performance">Performance</cmsannotation> If you are buying an electric scooter, you are guaranteed to get much better performance when compared to petrol scooters. All three scooters deliver good performance. The Ather 450X is equipped with a 6.2kW PMS motor that delivers a peak torque of 26 Nm. It offers a top speed of 90 km per hour and can go from 0 to 40 km per hour in just 3.3 seconds. The Ola S1 Pro is equipped with an 8.5kW mid drive IPM motor that delivers a 58 Nm of peak torque. The electric scooter offers a top speed of 116 km per hour and can go from 0 to 40 km per hour in just 2.9 seconds. Just like its design, the TVS iQube S takes a conservative approach. It is equipped with a 4.4 kW BLDC Hub motor that delivers a peak torque of 33 Nm. The scooter offers a top speed of 82 km per hour and goes from 0 to 40 km per hour in 4.2 seconds. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Range" comment="subhead" text="Range">Range</cmsannotation> The first thing that comes to mind when you think about electric scooters is the range. Unlike petrol scooters, you cannot just top-up your scooter in a minute, unless the scooter supports battery swapping. While the Ather 450X is claimed to offer a range of 146 km on a single charge, the Ola S1 Pro is claimed to offer 181 km of range and the TVS iQube S offers a range of 100 km. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Battery and charging time" comment="subhead" text="Battery and charging time">Battery and charging time</cmsannotation> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#000000;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Scooter </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#000000;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Charging time </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ather 450X </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">15 hours and 20 minutes </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ola S1 Pro </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6 hours and 30 minutes </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">TVS iQube S </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5 hours and 20 minutes </td></tr></tbody></table> The Ather 450X comes with a 3.7kWh battery pack and the company has claimed that the scooter can be charged from 0 to 100% in 15 hours and 20 minutes. The Ola S1 Pro is equipped with a 4kWh battery pack and it can be fully charged in 6 hours and 30 minutes. The TVS iQube S is equipped with a 3.4kWh battery pack and can be fully charged in 5 hours and 20 minutes. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Features" comment="subhead" text="Features">Features</cmsannotation> The additional features offered with electric scooters are another thing that set them apart from petrol scooters. Ather has cut down on all the smart features and they are now only available with the Pro Pack variant. The electric scooter comes with a 7-inch greyscale TFT touchscreen but does not offer 4G or Bluetooth connectivity and does not offer on-screen navigation. The Ola S1 Pro is equipped with a 7-inch colour touchscreen and is packed with features such as on-screen navigation, call support, music playback, key sharing, proximity unlock and more. The scooter also allows you to track the battery percentage using your phone. The TVS iQube S also features a 7-inch TFT screen which can be controlled using a joystick on the handlebar. The scooter offers navigation support, call alerts, music player control and more. The app allows you to track the charging status and use geofencing features. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/top-premium-hybrid-cars-in-india-ferrari-296-gtb-amg-gt-63-s-e-performance-and-more/slidelist/99488880.cms">Top premium hybrid cars in India – Ferrari 296 GTB, AMG GT 63 S E Performance, and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-finally-focuses-on-affordable-electric-scooters-after-losing-its-lead-to-ola-electric-and-tvs-motor/articleshow/99456189.cms">Ather finally focuses on affordable electric scooters after losing its lead to Ola Electric and TVS Motor</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/odysse-vader-is-the-latest-electric-bike-in-india-offers-a-range-of-125-km-on-a-single-charge/articleshow/99268636.cms">Odysse Vader is the latest electric bike in India, offers a range of 125 km on a single charge</a>

Ather 450X vs Ola S1 Pro vs TVS iQube S – price, range and features compared

<ul><li>An estimated 400 kg of dhaniya was sold on <keyword id="964794" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bigbasket" source="Orion">BigBasket</keyword> while tomato became the most sought-after vegetable on the app. </li><li>An estimated 17 lakh kilos of exotic fruits such as <keyword id="6408810" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="dragon-fruit" source="Orion">Dragon Fruit</keyword>, Pomelo, Berries, and <keyword id="15929644" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="wood-apples" source="Orion">Wood Apples</keyword> were also sold on <keyword id="9728281" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="instamart" source="Orion">Instamart</keyword> in 2022. </li><li>The demand for non-alcoholic beer grew 86% on <keyword id="9731725" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="swiggy-instamart" source="Orion">Swiggy Instamart</keyword> during the India-Pakistan T20 match this year.</li></ul> Be it quick commerce or the ‘normal’ version, Indians have taken to ordering essentials and groceries online. As per the year-end reports of two such e-commerce platforms – <keyword id="6358977" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="swiggy" source="Orion">Swiggy</keyword> Instamart and BigBasket, one state – Karnataka topped the charts when it comes to bringing ‘groceries’ home. As per Swiggy, its most prolific user was from Bengaluru – who spent over ₹16.6 lakhs buying groceries and essentials in 2022. The second most popular grocery item was milk according to Swiggy Instamart. A user from Gurgaon ordered the most – a whopping 1,542 times in 11 months. His go-to items were instant noodles and full-fat milk. The same trends were picked up by grocery delivery platform BigBasket, reporting that Wednesdays is when milk was ordered the most on the app. When it comes to what people need the most and can’t always go shopping personally — the winner is diapers as per BigBasket — which sold 3.97 lakh diapers this year. The green garnishing in red gravies The aroma of the Indian kitchens goes unfulfilled without some dhaniya (coriander) and tomato. An estimated 400 kilos of dhaniya was sold on BigBasket, and tomato was the most sought-after vegetable on the app. Mirroring the sentiment was Swiggy Instamart – onions, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, bananas, and tender coconut were the most ordered fruit and vegetables on the platform. Healthy, organic food see uptake, too There is enough interest in healthier, organic food on the apps too. “Users ordered over 5 million kilograms of organic fruits and vegetables with the healthiest eaters hailing from Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, <keyword id="2094" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pune" source="Orion">Pune</keyword>, and Delhi,” Swiggy said in a statement. An estimated 1.7 million kilograms of exotic fruits such as Dragon Fruit, Pomelo, Berries, and Wood Apples were also sold on Instamart, the report claims. Indians like to party People order via apps the most when there’s something keeping them glued to the TV — like a nail-biting cricket match. As per Swiggy, many app users went ‘high’ on non-alcoholic beer, — whose demand went up 86% on the day <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> played against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup — i.e., October 23. The silicon valley of India Bengaluru also ordered more ice cubes than Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai users combined, according to How India Swiggy’d Report 2022. Of course, one can stock alcohol ahead but need the ‘rocks’ to go with it. India also needs other kinds of drinks all year through. When it comes to all-season beverages, nothing can outrun the popularity of chai and kaapi. In 2022, Swiggy Instamart witnessed a 305.5% growth in orders for tea leaves and 273.6% for coffee powder. Indians also searched for things that are not yet available for delivery on Instamart — pillows, sofas, underwear, mommy and petrol. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/uzbekistan-cough-syrup-issue-manufacturing-at-marion-biotech-stopped-after-probe/articleshow/96620076.cms">Uzbekistan cough syrup issue: Manufacturing at Marion Biotech stopped after probe</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ril-eicher-motors-elin-electronics-among-stocks-to-watch-today/articleshow/96611190.cms">Indian markets wrap 2022 on a weak note – Sensex, Nifty50 decline on the last day of the year</a>

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