India: Bajaj Consolidates Leadership
Daily News Impact 01-Apr-25: The Indian E2W market hit an all-time high in Mar 2025 - Everyone had a great month except Ola Electric; Yamaha buys Brose e-bike drive unit;
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Wk 11 2025 - Europe Matters? We Ride with Colibri; and Around the World this week
The KTM crisis has again highlighted the continent's high-cost underbelly. It's even more challenging if you are a startup planning to make electric commuter scooters. Mass manufacturing may not be in Europe's future, but boutique players like Colibri certainly have one.
Hero Separates Electric Business in Top Deck Upheaval
India-based Hero MotoCorp, the second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, announced a management reshuffle yesterday evening. The CEO and CBO have been replaced. Most importantly, Hero is separating its EV & Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU) into a fully independent entity.
Ola Electric Updates its Scooter Portfolio
The company launched what it says is the Gen-3 of its hardware and software platform that underpins the Ola S1 scooter range. However, it seems that the company has changed the definition of Gen-3 from the one that it had shared during its quarterly results on Nov 08, 2024
Ola is no longer the market leader in India
Being the market leader in India has been the primary calling card of Ola Electric. Acquiring Etergo and getting the AppScooter to production before the competition could enter the market meant that Ola could gain market leadership. Now, the market is maturing and others are inching ahead.
The Smartness of Smart EV Features
Are EVs loaded with features that are really smart? Do they create a high-enough barrier to entry? Is there an exclusivity? How long can it stay? What happens after that?
Do E2Ws have a Technology Edge?
Often what the E2W world calls technology is a smart integration of sensors and rider aids, controlled by software. The ICE world is more mechanical, more metallurgical, more fundamental. What happens when the ICE world figures out software? Can the E2W Technology edge be maintained?
India: The Real E2W Market is Just Starting
With Ola Electric now publicly traded and Ather Energy soon to follow, Indian E2W startups are raising funds with urgency. The two-wheeler market is divided amongst less than 10 major brands, and the country has space for more high-quality E2W manufacturers.
What's cooking in India?
Ather Energy, another electric two-wheeler manufacturer, files for an IPO. Ather follows Ola Electric which had hit the Indian bourses in August 2024. These are not small SPACs; these are multi-billion market cap IPOs
Air Cooling Systems Revisited
For all its limitations, air cooling the motor/battery is still the most elegant solution. But are we doing it right or are we still scratching the surface in cooling?