River Mobility has crossed the 50,000-unit production milestone for the Indie electric scooter and is developing a new utility-lifestyle vehicle to take annual production capacity beyond 1.5 lakh units
River Mobility has achieved an important milestone in its relatively short journey. The Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer has rolled out its 50,000th Indie electric scooter, less than three years after launching its first product. The milestone comes as River prepares to expand its manufacturing capacity and work on a new product aimed at a different segment of the market.
The company currently manufactures the Indie at its facility in Hoskote, Karnataka, which handles both vehicle and battery pack assembly. River has also expanded its retail network to more than 75 stores across India. The company is now developing a new utility-lifestyle vehicle, which is expected to sit alongside the Indie but target a different set of buyers.
The Indie itself has carved out a rather unique position in India’s electric scooter market. River calls it the SUV of scooters, and the description is not entirely without merit. The scooter offers ample storage, a rugged design, and the option to add accessories such as panniers. It is designed to be more practical than your average urban electric scooter, while also offering performance that should satisfy riders who enjoy a bit of enthusiasm with their daily commute.
The current River Indie Gen 3 gets a 4 kWh battery pack paired with a mid-mounted PMSM electric motor producing 6.7 kW of peak power and 26 Nm of torque. It has a claimed IDC range of 160 km and a top speed of 90 kmph. The scooter can accelerate from 0-40 kmph in 3.7 seconds in Rush mode and gets three riding modes, namely Eco, Ride and Rush.
Utility remains one of the Indie’s biggest strengths. It offers 43 litres of underseat storage and a 12-litre glovebox, while the 14-inch alloy wheels, disc brakes at both ends and combined braking system add to its everyday usability. The scooter also gets forward and reverse parking assist, a 6-inch digital display and fast-charging capability.
River also has a strategic partnership with Yamaha Motor, under which the two companies jointly develop the EC06 electric scooter. The EC06 is based on River’s Indie platform but features Yamaha-specific styling and tuning. The new product will be important for River
The upcoming product could therefore be a crucial addition to River’s portfolio as it looks to scale its annual production capacity beyond 1.5 lakh units. The company has so far focused on a single, relatively premium electric scooter, but a second model aimed at another segment could help it increase volumes significantly.
