Motorcycles are something that youth go crazy about. You know, though, with the EV revolution going on in India, there is still a vast segment of people who don’t like the reality of switching towards EV. It is not because of EV, but the availability of models in EV. Well, most of the existing EV two-wheelers are scooter models, but today’s youth want superbikes. Well, there are some companies working towards it to build such high-performance EVs. But is that actually possible? Why are other companies not doing it? What is the growth of such bikes in India? We will discuss all of that in detail, and let’s understand the whole scenario in detail.
There is one company that is doing it so well and also made it to headlines for the fundraiser. Well, before I dive into funding, let’s understand about the company. Ultraviolette Automotive was founded in the year 2016 by two friends named Narayan Subramaniam and Niraj Rajmohan. Ultraviolette Automotive set out with a very specific mission: to build India’s first performance-oriented electric motorcycle that could rival and even outperform petrol-powered sports bikes. Unlike most EV manufacturers who targeted the commuter scooter segment, Ultraviolette decided to play in the enthusiast space, which is the domain of KTMs, Yamahas, and Kawasakis. Their vision was to make an electric superbike that didn’t just save the planet but also set hearts racing. And after years of stealth R&D, their flagship “Ultraviolette F77” arrived.
According to various sources, the bike is said to claim a top speed of about 155 km/h. The original F77 (Mach 2 standard) with the 7.1 kWh battery reports an IDC range of 211 km. The higher-capacity Recon variant, equipped with a 10.3 kWh battery, extends that to an impressive 323 km in IDC testing. These are some details about the performance of the bike.
In 2022, Ultraviolette secured a valuation of $330 million, setting the stage for a bold growth journey. Since the 2023 launch of its flagship electric motorcycle, the F77, the company has already sold around 1,000 units, which is an impressive feat in the premium EV segment. But Ultraviolette isn’t just selling bikes; it’s rewriting the playbook for Indian EV adoption. From its Bangalore base, the brand has accelerated into 11 new cities, including places like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Vizag. And it’s not slowing down. Ultraviolette has its sights set on nearly 50 cities by year-end, signalling its ambition to become a dominant force in the nation’s electric mobility revolution.
But how did Ultraviolette achieve this traction in the last 10 years? What worked well for the company? One of the biggest strengths of is its early market positioning; they clearly focused on building something unique rather than just being another scooter manufacturer. They focused on the performance of the bikes and attracted the premium audience in the last several years. Also, Ultra Violette has announced that they are rolling out their DC Fast Charging infrastructure under the brand name UV Supernova. The company introduced two offerings within this network: Supernova, with a 6-kW capacity, and Supernova Plus, with a 12-kW capacity. This launch marked a pivotal step in Ultraviolette’s mission to revolutionize intercity and cross-country travel for electric motorcycle riders. With substantially faster charging times and improved convenience, UV Supernova enabled F77 owners to undertake long-distance journeys across India with greater ease and confidence.
Well, next comes their collaborations and support from the big players in the country and across the globe. In December 2021, TVS led Ultraviolette’s Series C funding, alongside Zoho Corporation. This investment was earmarked not just for capital, but to transition the F77 from concept to mass production and commercial launch. TVS-backed resources accelerated manufacturing, refinement, and launch timelines substantially. But TVS’s involvement is not just limited to financing, but it goes even deeper. As a seasoned two-wheeler manufacturer, TVS offered Ultraviolette invaluable manufacturing expertise, process insights, and operational discipline. This helped the startup bridge the gap between prototype craftsmanship and scalable, quality-focused assembly lines. Also yesterday the company announced that it has raised around $21 million from TDK Ventures.
In FY23, Ultraviolette recorded operating revenue of ₹8.7 crore, which rose impressively to ₹15.08 crore in FY24, marking a 74% year-on-year jump. However, the company’s net loss surged eightfold, touching ₹61–62 crore in FY24, up sharply from the previous year. Ultraviolette is targeting a massive expansion of its business and planning to invest US $70–100 million over the next 3–4 years in new products, global expansion, and infrastructure. The company also set a goal to reach 100,000 vehicle sales annually within that period, aiming to become EBITDA-positive once they hit monthly manufacturing of 1,000 units and annual volume of 30,000 units.
Well, amongst these highly competitive scenarios, it is a key watch moment to track this journey. Let’s see how Indians will respond to these premium motorcycles, which are complete EVs. What do you think? Can this company scale up as fast as it targets? Would you be buying a superbike if it were EV?
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