Ather Energy has announced that it 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 substantial jump from its current capacity of 120,000 units. Ather Energy had set up its first manufacturing facility at Hosur earlier this year.
In October, Ather Energy recorded its best-ever monthly sales numbers, registering 12-fold growth over last year and achieving a revenue run rate of $100 million, making it the largest EV maker by value in this segment.
Speaking on the development, Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, Ather Energy stated, "The EV demand has been shooting up across the country, and customers are coming in expecting electric scooters to wow them. This customer expectation is why our 450 series of electric scooters - the 450X and 450 Plus is seeing massive demand as it is the best electric scooter in the country today. 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."
The company started its operations at the Hosur manufacturing facility earlier this year, catering to demand from across the country. It enables 90 percent of the manufacturing of Ather Energy's 450X and 450 Plus to be localized, including the battery pack, which is made in-house by Ather Energy.
The company has committed to invest Rs. 650 crores 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, which is a key focus area for Ather Energy.
The company 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.
Ather Energy plans to reinforce 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 complete experience to the rider community.