In a landscape dominated by traffic congestion, pollution, and rising stress levels, one startup is turning the wheel quite literally towards a cleaner, healthier future. VIR Mobility, co-founded by Ravi Kumar and his team of like-minded urban changemakers, is on a mission to reinvent the way India commutes. What began as a personal frustration with gridlocked roads soon evolved into a movement one that puts electric cycles at the heart of smarter, more sustainable cities.
Driven by a simple belief that commuting shouldn’t feel like a daily battle, VIR Mobility focuses on intelligent, user-centric design to make e-cycling aspirational, not burdensome. With innovations like adaptive electric assist, universal C-type connectors, and in-house R&D tailored to Indian road conditions, the startup is solving both logistical and psychological barriers to adoption. From foldable bikes for metro commuters to rugged frames built for India’s diverse terrain, VIR’s offerings are crafted to serve modern urban needs.
Beyond product, the company is committed to building in India, for India with over 90% of components sourced locally, and ambitious plans for complete localisation. Sustainability, service, and social impact are woven into every stage of their journey.
In a recent interview, Rashmi interacted with Ravi Kumar, CEO, VIR Mobility, and discussed the inspiration behind the venture, its mission to transform urban mobility, and how VIR is designing for a future where cycling is not only practical but powerful. Here’s how VIR Mobility is pedalling a revolution, one electric ride at a time.
1.What inspired you and your co-founders to start VIR Mobility, and how did the idea take shape?
For us, it really started with frustration. Back in 2014, Ravi, one of our founders, was living in Bangalore and spending hours every day stuck in traffic. He’d leave early, come back late, and still feel like half the day was wasted just sitting in a car. It was stressful, exhausting, and demoralising.
He decided to try something different. He dusted off his old cycle and started using it for his daily commute. What began as an experiment quickly became a habit. He was actually getting places faster on average, not waiting at signals or hunting for parking. But the biggest surprise was how he felt: healthier, clearer, less stressed, even happier.
When he shared this experience with us, it really struck a chord. We realised this wasn’t just one person’s problem, it’s something millions face in our cities every day. Congestion, pollution, stress, and health issues have become part of daily life. Together, as co-founders, we started asking: why should it stay that way?
That’s how VIR Mobility was born. But we also knew that traditional cycling wouldn’t work for everyone. Indian cities are big, distances can be long, terrain isn’t always flat, and people often need to carry loads or arrive without being drenched in sweat. That’s why we focused on electric cycles. They keep the joy and health benefits of cycling but make it easier, more accessible, and practical for daily use even for longer commutes or tougher routes.
For us, it’s not just transport it’s a way to reclaim our health, our time, and our cities. We’ve seen how countries like the Netherlands transformed urban life with bikes. We want to help make that possible here, with solutions tailored for India, so cycling becomes a safe, practical, and aspirational choice for everyone.
2. Can you tell us more about VIR Mobility’s mission and how it aims to change the way India moves?
Our mission at VIR Mobility is simple but ambitious: to transform how India moves by making physical effort effortless, especially for short and mid-range commutes. We believe cycling shouldn’t feel like a compromise or a chore rather it should be a smart, comfortable, and even aspirational choice for everyone.
The reality is that many people want to cycle but don’t, because it’s just too hard in our urban environment. Long distances, heat, sweat, hilly terrain, and the social perception that cycles are “lesser” transport all contribute to a high drop-out rate among new riders. We see that as a design challenge, not an inevitability.
That’s why our approach at VIR Mobility focuses on reducing these barriers through intelligent design. Our electric cycles combine comfort, performance, and technology in a way that makes riding effortless while still keeping you connected to the joy of cycling. With features like adaptive electric assist, our aim is to help people go further, arrive fresher, and feel good about choosing a cycle.
But for cycling to truly become mainstream again in India, it needs more than just good engineering. It has to be seen as aspirational and not a last resort. That’s why we focus on premium design and societal acceptance. We want people to be proud to ride a VIR cycle, to see it as a modern, smart, and stylish way to move.
For us, this isn’t just about building e-cycles. It’s about reimagining urban mobility itself. We want to help create cities that are cleaner, healthier, and more human where sustainability, dignity, and everyday convenience go hand in hand.
3. What sets the VIR Bike apart from other electric bicycles available in the Indian market today?
What really sets the VIR Bike apart is the way we’ve combined thoughtful design, robust engineering, and a strong focus on the customer experience.
First, there’s the design philosophy. Our bikes don’t just look good but they’re built with purpose. We wanted them to feel modern and premium so riders are proud to use them, while keeping them practical and simple for daily use.
Durability was also critical for us. Indian weather is tough so we use high-grade aluminium frames that are rust-free, lightweight, and built to last. This doesn’t just improve comfort; it extends battery life by reducing weight.
One of our most innovative touches is introducing universal C-type connectors across all components, something that’s a first in the global e-bike industry. It makes servicing simpler, prevents errors in connections, and supports future modular upgrades.
Our in-house R&D team is another differentiator. We don’t just import generic designs but we study Indian roads, user needs, and pain points to build smart mobility solutions tailored for this environment.
Finally, we take service seriously. We’re proud to resolve over 90% of customer queries within 24 hours, because we know that reliable support is just as important as the product itself.
4. VIR Mobility focuses on building every component in India. How important is local manufacturing in your journey?
Local manufacturing is truly at the heart of our mission. At VIR Mobility, we’re deeply committed to building as much as possible in India, for India. Today, nearly all of our components are sourced domestically, except for a few that simply aren’t manufactured here yet.
But we’re not stopping there. We’re actively partnering with Indian labs and engineering institutions to reverse-engineer those remaining components, with the goal of achieving 100% localisation in the near future.
Of course, delivering the best value to customers is also critical. Sometimes, limitations in the local supply chain, like the non-availability of certain raw materials mean we have to rely on select global suppliers. For example, while we assemble battery packs in India, the cells themselves still come from abroad because they’re not yet produced domestically at the quality and scale we need.
We’re optimistic, though. With government support through initiatives like Make in India and a growing base of capable Indian vendors, we see a fully localised supply chain as not just possible but inevitable. Our commitment is clear: to build world-class mobility solutions from India, for India and eventually, for the world.
5. How did receiving the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme grant impact your growth and innovation efforts?
Receiving the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme grant was a big moment for us not just for the financial support, but for the validation it offered. It showed us that our mission and product weren’t just compelling to customers, but also recognised by the government as an important contribution to solving India’s urban mobility challenges.
Beyond that validation, the grant accelerated our R&D efforts. It helped us develop industry-first features like our universal C-type connectors and pushed us to think even more boldly about innovation. It also made it easier for us to attract top talented people who are now helping us build a world-class mobility solution, right here in India.
In essence, the grant helped us move faster, innovate smarter, and lay a much stronger foundation for future growth.
6. What kind of research does your team conduct in the field of urban mobility, and how does it influence your product design?
Our research has two main dimensions: micro and macro.
At the micro level, we focus on understanding real user behaviour – why people choose or avoid certain mobility options, what pain points they face, and what they actually need in their daily commutes. This ensures we’re not just building technically sound products, but solving real-world problems.
At the macro level, we study broader urban trends like infrastructure gaps and multimodal travel patterns. For instance, that research led us to design foldable electric cycles so users can easily take them onto metro trains or store them in small spaces.
We also identified ease of use in electronics integration as critical. Many people are new to e-bikes and find complex wiring intimidating. That insight drove us to develop our industry-first C-type connectors and colour-coded assembly, making connections intuitive and error-free.
Ultimately, our goal isn’t just to make cycles but to build a smart, user-friendly mobility ecosystem grounded in real insights.
7. How do your e-bikes address last-mile connectivity and short-distance commute issues in Indian cities?
Our e-bikes are designed with last-mile connectivity in mind. We’ve seen many users carry them onto metro trains because while metros cover major routes, they can’t reach every lane or corner of the city. Our foldable, lightweight designs make this easy.
We’re also working with large corporations who use our bikes on sprawling campuses to make internal commuting easier and greener.
Looking ahead, we hope to see Indian Railways reintroduce provisions for carrying bicycles just like it was common in the 60s and 70s. Supporting multimodal mobility in this way would make last-mile travel far more sustainable and accessible for millions.
8. Who is your target audience—urban commuters, eco-conscious riders, or specific groups like defence personnel?
Our audience is really anyone who wants to move smarter within a city without burning fossil fuels. If you care about commuting faster while also reducing your environmental impact, you’re our customer.
That said, our initial focus is on closed communities, large residential societies, gated complexes, and corporate campuses. These environments are ideal for early adoption, offer high visibility, and help us build strong, localised user bases before scaling further.
9. What role does sustainability play in your product development and business model?
Sustainability is at the core of what we do. Our e-bikes inherently reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help cut emissions, making them an immediate win for campuses and facilities looking to lower their carbon footprint.
But it goes beyond just the ride. In production, we deliberately choose materials and designs that reduce waste. For example, our universal C-type connectors are designed not just for performance but to extend cable life and make component replacement easier reducing electronic waste.
We also use high-grade aluminium instead of iron. Aluminium is rust-free, lightweight, and durable, which means less long-term waste and a product that lasts a lifetime. For us, sustainability isn’t a feature but it’s in the DNA of our design, our utility, and our entire lifecycle approach.
10. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you see for EV startups in India, especially in the micro-mobility space?
One of the biggest challenges for EV startups in micro-mobility is the lack of supporting infrastructure. Indian cities weren’t designed with micro-mobility in mind. In places like New York, it’s normal to take your e-bike on the metro or bus, but here, that kind of integration is rare.
There’s also a need for policy-level support to encourage or even mandate micro-mobility adoption in campuses, tech parks, and urban centres. It’s a challenge in a country where the economy is still heavily tied to traditional automotive industries.
But the opportunities are enormous. Electric cycles still make up less than 2% of overall bicycle sales in India. That’s an almost completely untapped market. As awareness grows around sustainable commuting and with big players like Hero, TVS, and Tata entering the segment, consumer mindsets are shifting. It’s a chance for purpose-driven, innovative startups like ours to lead the way with agility and vision.