Ahmedabad-based electrical car firm Matter Motor is taking a novel strategy in India’s rising EV market by combining the acquainted really feel of petrol bikes with the electrical expertise. Whereas electrical scooters have gotten common and roughly make up greater than 6% of two-wheeler gross sales, electrical bikes nonetheless haven’t caught on in a giant approach. Battery-powered bikes account for lower than 1% of the market. That’s the place Matter’s Aera is available in.In a dialog with TOI Auto, Matter Motor founder Mohal Lalbhai spoke concerning the thought course of behind India’s first geared electrical bike. He mentioned why the corporate selected to convey again the gear expertise in its flagship Aera mannequin, how the model plans to faucet into the mass market, and what makes their EV strategy totally different.
“Once we began again in 2019, we actually needed to return right down to what it meant for a motorbike consumer,” Lalbhai defined, highlighting that conventional bike riders, particularly in rural areas, want exact management over energy and torque. “The gearbox got here up as some of the important issues,” he added, noting that on uneven roads and off-road terrains, gearboxes give higher traction and responsiveness.
This strategy contrasts sharply with the rising but saturated electrical scooter phase, which already stands at about 6% penetration within the two‑wheeler market. In accordance with Lalbhai, “the bike phase goes to develop” as producers start launching electrical bikes. He outlined Matter’s expansive roadmap, confirming that the Aera (200cc equal) will probably be adopted by 150cc and 125cc fashions, although the latter could use totally different technical platforms. “And for us, the segments that we’re seeing going to develop are between 125 to 200 cc,” Lalbhai famous.
Pricing stays a typical barrier within the EV area, however Matter has tackled this with a daring technique: full vertical integration. The Aera is priced at Rs 1.94 lakh, ex-showroom, which Lalbhai characterizes as “fairly aggressive” when in comparison with petrol bikes of comparable displacement. He defined that by avoiding exterior IP licensing – “we didn’t need to preserve paying cash in direction of IP… the largest leakages of margins” – Matter develops its personal {hardware}, electronics, and software program, conserving prices underneath management.
When it comes to manufacturing, Lalbhai confirmed that the Aera is “one hundred pc made in India” aside from battery cells, magnets, and semiconductor chips. Nevertheless, this native thrust consists of exact element meeting, electronics integration, and ultimate manufacturing. Matter additionally holds over 375 patent purposes, with greater than 70 grants, overlaying gearbox design, liquid cooling, proprietary charging methods, and extra.
As for gross sales and buyer comfort, Matter is constructing a three-pronged community: service, gross sales, and spares. Importantly, the corporate is integrating predictive upkeep instruments into the Aera. “We really get to see how the bike is performing… If one thing goes unsuitable, we might be capable to proactively attain out to the shopper,” Lalbhai shared.
Wanting past India, the corporate plans to export to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Jap–Southern Europe subsequent 12 months, although India stays its focus for now. On increasing product strains, Lalbhai stated they plan to discover supply and cargo fashions across the 125cc equal phase in two to 3 years, aligning with rising demand for mild business EVs. Equipment and attire are additionally on the radar, with plans to assist riders with protecting gear and bike-specific clothes by early subsequent 12 months. However the quick focus, Lalbhai stated, stays on its core bikes and increasing the Aera’s presence.
