Date: 24 Oct 2025

In 2013, inside a modest lab at IIT Madras, two young engineers—Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain—were chasing a dream. Not of fame, not of fortune, but of impact. Their initial plan was simple: build lithium-ion batteries that could power the future.

But as they dug deeper into India’s mobility landscape, they saw a void—a lack of innovation in two-wheelers, a segment that millions relied on daily. That realization sparked a pivot that would redefine an industry.

They didn’t just want to build electric scooters…

they wanted to build the best electric scooters India had ever seen.

What followed was a decade-long odyssey of grit, rejection, and relentless pursuit of perfection. Over 80 investors turned them down. Skeptics scoffed at the idea of premium e-scooters in a price-sensitive market.

But Tarun and Swapnil weren’t chasing trends—they were chasing excellence. Every curve of the Ather 450X, every line of code in its dashboard, every decision in its supply chain was a testament to their obsession with quality.

2 Key Ingredients for success: But the final leap toward mass adoption came from two bold moves—two ingredients that scripted Ather’s surge in volume.

1. Ather pivoted again: from the performance-oriented 450X to the commuter-friendly Rizta, designed for everyday riders who wanted reliability and comfort without compromising on tech.
2. Ather pioneered India’s first Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, offering the battery free of cost and charging users based on usage. This revolutionary ownership model shattered affordability barriers and made electric mobility accessible to millions.

… and that’s when they found that REVERSE-SWING can change innings even on a flat pitch in a cricket match... whether the govt supports you or encourages people to use petrol by reducing GST on Petrol Scooters. Ather Energy could create impact EVEN in the worst ever FESTIVAL SEASON SALES in eScooter market in India.

Ather’s journey wasn’t just about engineering. It was about belief. Belief that India deserved world-class EVs. Belief that two engineers with no automotive pedigree could challenge giants like TVS and Bajaj. Belief that the future wasn’t just electric—it was intelligent, connected, and exhilarating.

Today, Ather Energy stands on the brink of history. With a valuation soaring past ₹26,000 crore, and a product lineup that blends performance with elegance, Ather is poised to become the No. 1 eScooter seller in India by November–December 2025. The numbers are staggering, but the story behind them is even more powerful.

It’s the story of two dreamers who refused to settle. Who built not just a company, but a movement. Who inspired a generation of engineers to think bigger, bolder, cleaner.

And now, as the crown inches closer, the world watches. TVS and Bajaj—the champions of yesteryear—are about to be overtaken. But with greatness comes scrutiny. As Ather rises, so does the spotlight. Alongside OLA, they may soon become the targets of competition, criticism, and brickbats.

But for now, let’s pause and celebrate.

Congratulations Swapnil and Tarun… finally you guys did it!… by Nov-Dec 2025 Ather Energy will go on to sell more eScooters than the CHAMPIONS… TVS and Bajaj. But beware there is a good chance that Ather could become the ‘TARGET’ along with OLA.