Aimed to restructure the mobility segment of India with its unique two-wheelers, Raptee provides electric motorcycles that offer numerous advantages like better performance vehicles along with reliability and consistency.
Raptee aims to offer its customers a premium experience with cutting-edge technology products and passionate people to make mobility effortless, smart and safe.
Discussing about the recent momentum of electric vehicles adoption in India, Aishwarya had a brief chat with Dinesh Arjun, CEO and Co- founder, Raptee on the current developments in electric mobility segment.
What is Raptee building and what can customers expect from it?
Table of Contents
We are working on bringing a no-compromise electric motorcycle to an otherwise scooter-only EV market. We at Raptee are driven by an innovative spirit to redefine electric mobility. Our motorcycles are intuitive and engineered to outperform conventionally powered vehicles proving that switching to electric is not a sacrifice. They are intelligent, powerful, energy-efficient and loaded with cutting-edge technology to augment every single ride you take.
As an EV startup, why do you think the EV market hasn’t taken off in the past 15+ years, even though we had EV models from 2005?
The low adoption rate of EVs can be attributed to unpleasant experiences by existing owners such as lack of charging infrastructure, lack of service centers, less resale value, safety issues, poor battery life and quality. The public also perceive EV as slow, underperforming and slow vehicle.
Do Raptee offers after-sales services?
Yes, Raptee will provide after sales service. Customers will receive regular alerts for vehicle servicing and will be offered the options of door step servicing and pick up and drop services. Our mobile application will allow customers to schedule, track status and get details of services.
How do you see the opportunity for your product in the EV space, as the EV space is becoming more competitive with new players like OLA, Ather, Simple Energy, etc. gaining momentum?
All the current large players are into scooters and that exactly is the market gap we are addressing. Contrary to popular belief, India is a motorcycle dominant market and the motorcycle industry is twice as big as the scooter industry. However, almost 100% of e2Ws sold are scooters. This is the white space that we want to target. We don’t plan on competing with these brands but rather position ourselves as an upgrade to the petrol-powered vehicles of today.
What are the leveraging factors that have pushed people towards EVs in the past 3 years, which weren’t there in the past 15 years?
- Improved Technology: Advances in battery technology have led to more efficient and longer-lasting batteries, addressing range anxiety and making EVs more practical for everyday use.
- Growing Charging Infrastructure: The expansion of charging networks has made it more convenient for EV owners to find charging stations, reducing concerns about running out of battery power during long trips.
- Supportive Policies: Governments have implemented policies and regulations to support EV adoption, such as offering subsidies thus lowering the cost of EV.
- Public Perception: The perception of EVs has shifted from being viewed as slow and unreliable vehicle to being seen as practical and stylish transportation options, attracting a broader range of consumers.
- Media Coverage and Marketing: Increased media coverage and marketing efforts have raised awareness of EVs, educating the public about their benefits and dispelling myths surrounding electric vehicle technology.
These factors, combined, have contributed to a significant increase in the adoption of electric vehicles over the past three years, creating a momentum that was not as pronounced in the previous 15 years.
Regarding the recent inauguration of Raptee plant in Chennai, kindly tell our readers about the production capacity and expected challenges the company faced while developing its products.
The first facility will be able to produce up to 108,000 motorcycles per year at its maximum capacity. This will help us start strong and deliver our motorcycles on time. The biggest challenge so far has been the time taken to get Tier 1s to supply.
Since there are a lot of brands, Tier 1s are skeptical and also have limited resources to be able to support everyone. Getting them to take part in our journey has been an arduous task.
What are your company’s growth and expansion plans?
We will be launching our product by the end of the year starting with premium motorcycle which will be pitted against 250cc motorcycles in the market.
Our new motorcycle production plant will start rolling out motorcycles by the end of the year. We are also working with the state government for a larger facility that will break ground in 2025 to help with further expansion.
