Raptee is aiming to increase hiring as it prepares to commence manufacture of the first batch of 10,000 250-cc ICE equivalent mid-premium motorcycles.
The Chennai-based EV startup just raised more than $3 million in a pre-series funding round. A investment round sponsored by venture capital firm Bluehill Capital will hire across functions, with the goal of boosting the employment from 80 to 200 personnel by 2025. The first delivery round is scheduled to commence in mid-March 2024.
Dinesh Arjun, Co-founder and CEO, Raptee said, “The Company is looking to onboard new hires that can align with our one goal-the user experience.”
“The user experience also includes rider safety, which translates into peace of mind, and we have worked hard in this area. For example, we have patented driver assistance systems that can operate in congested areas, such as urban Indian roads, to help prevent accidents” Arjun emphasised.
Arjun added, “We will need the bench strength while prioritising the expansion of its manufacturing unit to reach peak capacity of 1,08,000 units over the next 2 to 3 years,” of which 50 employees will remain dedicated to R&D.
The company has created its motor controller, battery management system, and vehicle control unit in less than three years of operation, focusing on its R&D capabilities, and has filed many patents.
The Raptee mid-premium motorcycle, which is similar to a 250 cc ICE motorcycle, costs roughly Rs 2 lakh. It has a top speed of 135 kmph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. It also includes CCS2 charging, which is compatible with passenger car charging stations.