It’s official – electric vehicle (EV) start-up Ather Energy’s third manufacturing facility will be set up in the state of Maharashtra. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, met Ather Energy co-founder Swapnil Jain, and confirmed the company’s new plant will be established in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) on social media. In his post, the Deputy CM also confirmed Ather’s new plant will have an annual production capacity of up to one million two-wheelers and batteries. An official statement from Ather is awaited.
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The Deputy CM also went on to state the plant – which will be built at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,000 crore – will generate around 4,000 new jobs.
This facility will more than triple Ather’s present total production capacity, which stands at 4.20 lakh units a year. Ather had begun operations at its second plant in Hosur, Tamul Nadu, in 2022, with the facility having a total capacity of 3 lakh two-wheelers annually. The company’s first facility has an annual production capacity of 1.20 lakh two-wheelers.
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Jain took to social media to share the news, saying, “We are excited about our investments in Maharashtra. With our expanding product portfolio and the increasing consumer demand for our products, we decided to strategically diversify our production capabilities to an additional location that will be closer to more markets in the country. We are thankful to the Maharashtra government and its policies that foster EV manufacturing and growth.”
At present, Ather Energy retails two main products – the sporting 450 series (which comprises the 450S and 450X models) and the recently launched Rizta, which is aimed at families.
According to official registration data, Ather Energy has sold just under 51,000 scooters in the first six months of this year, putting it fourth on the list of the highest-selling electric two-wheeler brands in the country behind Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Company and market leader Ola Electric.