Launch · Mobility & Logistics

Ather Energy expands R&D centre in Bengaluru

By Startup Enthusiast · 27 February 2025

What they do

Ather Energy makes electric scooters like the 450 and Rizta

It opened a 38,692 sq ft testing facility in Bengaluru for vehicle and battery validation

The company spent ₹43 crore on R&D and filed for a ₹4,500 crore IPO

Ather Energy expanded its R&D and testing capabilities at its product testing and validation centre called 'The Juggernaut' in Bengaluru's Begur.
The facility validates durability and safety across vehicle, system, and component levels, including on-road endurance.
It spans 38,692 sq ft.
The centre houses labs for structural durability, battery testing, electrical and electronics reliability, and vehicle environment testing.
It features a road load simulator that compresses a 1 lakh km endurance test into 15 days.
Battery validation tests include thermal performance, water wading, drop, vibration, and thermal cycling.
As of December 31, 2024, Ather conducted 4,535 unique tests to validate its electric two-wheelers.

Ather's R&D expenditure as of December 31, 2024, was ₹238.8 crore, about 15% of its revenue from operations.
About 46% of its total workforce is dedicated to R&D.
The company received final SEBI approval on December 30, 2024, for an IPO of around ₹4,500 crore.
IPO funds will be used to set up a new electric two-wheeler factory in Maharashtra and reduce debt.

Ather Energy manufactures electric scooters with two product lines: the Ather 450 (performance) and Rizta (convenience).
It has three R&D facilities in Bengaluru, Karnataka; one is recognised as an in-house unit by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).
It operates two manufacturing plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, for vehicle assembly and battery manufacturing.
A third facility is coming up in Bidkin, AURIC, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.
The company competes with Ola Electric, Bajaj, Ampere, Hero MotoCorp, and TVS Motor Company.

Ather plans to use IPO proceeds to establish a new electric two-wheeler factory in Maharashtra and reduce debt.