Ather Energy has expanded its Product Testing & Validation Centre in Bengaluru to strengthen its research and development for electric two-wheelers. The newly expanded center, named The Juggernaut, now covers 38,692 square feet. It is designed to improve the quality, reliability, and performance of the company’s products, speeding up development timelines.
The updated facility includes labs focused on structural durability, battery testing, electrical systems, and vehicle environment simulations. One notable feature is the 4 DOF Road Simulator, which can perform a 100,000 km endurance test in just 15 days—much faster than testing the same distance on actual roads, which would take a decade.
“Electric vehicles are fundamentally different from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and need detailed testing of each component,” said Swapnil Jain, Co-founder and CTO of Ather Energy. “This expansion greatly improves our testing abilities, speeding up innovation and product development.”
The center also conducts thorough battery testing, including thermal, water wading, drop, and vibration tests. Ather’s batteries undergo 272 tests and meet the IPX7 waterproof standard as well as AIS 156 compliance.
As of December 31, 2024, Ather has completed 4,535 unique tests for its electric two-wheelers. The company’s R&D spending was ₹2,388 million, or 15% of its total revenue, with nearly half of its workforce focused on research and development.
Ather Energy operates three R&D facilities in Bengaluru, with one recognized as an in-house R&D unit by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The company follows a strict product development process, conducting eight quality reviews before releasing any new product.
Ather currently produces two scooter models—the Ather 450 and the Rizta—designed to meet the needs of the performance and convenience market segments. It was the first in India’s electric two-wheeler sector to offer features like touchscreen dashboards, navigation, internet connectivity, and cloud integration.
The company runs two manufacturing plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, for vehicle assembly and battery production, with a third plant being built in Bidkin, Maharashtra. Founded in 2013, Ather Energy has become a leading player in India’s growing electric vehicle market, which is expanding as the country works to reduce emissions and decrease fuel dependency.
