With an aim to become the largest electric vehicle manufacturer, Ather Energy has commissioned its second manufacturing facility in Hosur to cater to the growing demand for its electric scooters - the 450X and 450 Plus. The company plans to manufacture 400,000 units per annum, a significant jump from its current capacity of 120,000 units, the company said in a press release.
Ather Energy had set up its first manufacturing facility at Hosur earlier this year. According to the company, it registered its best-ever monthly sales numbers in October, registering 12-fold growth over last year and achieving a revenue of $ 100 million, making it the largest EV maker by value in this segment.
Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, Ather Energy, said, “Our experience centres are scaling up rapidly, and our retail footprint is set to grow by six times in the coming quarters. So, within just ten months of opening our current facility, we find ourselves already operating at full capacity. “We are commissioning the second plant to be ready for 2022. With this capacity expansion, Ather is well on its way to becoming the country's largest EV producer by next year,” Mehta added.
The company started its operations at the Hosur manufacturing facility earlier this year, catering to demand from across the country. It enables 90% of Ather Energy’s 450X and 450 Plus manufacturing to be localised, including the battery pack, which is made in-house by Ather Energy.
The company has committed to invest INR 650 crore in the next five years to enhance operational efficiency and production capacity to meet the exponential surge in demand.
Apart from the EV manufacturing, the facility will also focus on lithium-ion battery manufacturing, a key focus area for the company. It is the only EV OEM in India to make its battery packs and has filed 13 patents on the design and manufacturing of the li-ion batteries.
The vehicle maker plans to strengthen its retail operations by expanding to new markets. The company plans to expand to around 150 Experience Centers in 100 cities by March 2023. It has also invested heavily in the charging infrastructure to provide a holistic experience to the rider community.