We previously revealed that Yamaha plans to release a new River Indie-inspired electric scooter this year. The RY01 is the secret name for the scooter, and spy photos taken in Bengaluru seem to show it being tested.
- Gets significant redesign
- Based on River Indie chassis and powertrain platform
- To go on sale later this year
What to anticipate from a Yamaha e-scooter headquartered in River Indie?
Yamaha invested USD 40 million (more than Rs 341 crore) in the start-up last year, which was the first indication of the partnership between River and Yamaha. Nevertheless, Yamaha will be utilizing the River platform for a product of its own, in contrast to other comparable partnerships (think Hero-Ather and TVS-Ultraviolette). River will produce this scooter at its factory in Bengaluru.
Will be designed differently than River Indie
Although the spy photos give the impression that the scooter will undergo a major redesign, the swingarm design, the 14-inch wheels, and the positioning and form of the 6-inch color LCD display all clearly show that this scooter is based on the River Indie.
With a totally redesigned tail-lamp configuration that is positioned higher up than on the Indie, the design has undergone significant changes. Additionally, the side panels have been entirely reworked to show off more of the rear wheel and suspension by having a less slab-sided appearance.
Significant changes have also been made to the front apron, both in terms of the front and the way it wraps around the sides. Also new is the headlight, which at first glance appears to be a distinct unit with a reduced distance between the two LED lights, even though it is actually a vertically oriented version of the River Indie’s unit.
The Yamaha version does not seem to have the same rectangular baggage mounting rails in the side bodywork beneath the seat, despite the test unit’s heavy concealment. The crash safety bars on the front apron’s sides, however, still seem to be there.
The Yamaha scooter might abandon the River’s unique “SUV of scooters” posture in favor of a more conventional maxi theme, though it is too soon to tell for sure. That would be ideal because this scooter will be roomy and huge, just like the River Indie. Regarding that, the River Indie offers the largest boot space of any Indian EV at 43 liters while weighing a hefty 143 kg.
Yamaha e-scooter specifications and performance based on River Indie
With a 6.7kW (4.5kW continuous) mid-mounted motor in the Indie that produces a stated peak speed of 90 kph, performance should also be fairly impressive. In our experiments, we were able to extract a range of 100km in Eco mode using a 4kWh NMC battery pack. To learn more about the Indie’s performance, read our thorough road test review.
Expected cost of a Yamaha e-scooter based in River Indie
When Yamaha sells its version of the River Indie out of its own dealer network later this year, it won’t be shocking to see the company adopt a more premium positioning. The River Indie is priced at Rs 1.44 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
In addition to the River Indie-based EV, Yamaha is developing its own worldwide EV platform, for which it is soliciting input from important international markets, including ours. The anticipated release date of this Yamaha electric scooter is 2026–2027.
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