Exclusive: Ather To Fast Track Phase 2 Expansion At Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Plant 4 Years Ahead Of Schedule

Ather Energy has fast tracked plans to scale up production at the upcoming Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant (AURIC), ahead of schedule. In an exclusive conversation with Acko Drive, Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO, Ather Energy, revealed the company is working on expanding production capacity at the new plant four years earlier than planned, owing to demand outweighing supply. The upcoming Ather plant is scheduled to open doors later this year and will be the production hub for the newly launched Konarc e-scooter.

Speaking to Acko Drive, Tarun Mehta explained, “Phase 2 for this plant was like a four-year-later problem statement. We thought once we have 77,000 [units] a month, like a 9-10 lakh annual capacity, we will not need more capacity for at least 3-4 years. On current demand trajectory it does look like that could be a reality in like the next 12 months, so we should fast track that. We actually stopped new store openings practically for several months because we just didn't then have stock to send to new stores and we've been transparent about the waiting periods, but that's the max we can do.”

Ather has ramped up production at the Hosur facility, maximising the efficiency at the plant to meet existing demand. The e-scooter maker recently raised ₹2,500 crores that will be utilised for future product development, and also gives the company the room to stretch its legs and expedite phase two at AURIC.

Speaking further, Mehta said, “In many places now our waiting times are exceeding 3-4 months. It’s literally getting into car territory at this point. We're trying to ramp up capacity in the existing plant. A problem honestly we never thought we had to solve. So we are finding new ways for using the plant completely only for production, pushing out raw material storage, RM storage, and finished goods storage, so that we can make the core work more efficiently, squeezing every little efficiency out of it trying to push production above 35,000 [units] a month something like 40-42,000 in the coming months. The second thing is the new plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Aurangabad, that is a complete green field facility. We're trying to ensure that it does not get delayed.”

Ather currently has a production capacity of 4.2 lakh units at the Hosur plant, about 35,000 per month. The facility is operating at nearly full utilisation. The new AURIC plant will add another 5 lakh units, taking the overall production capacity to 9.2 lakh units per annum. Mehta further revealed that while the Konarc will be exclusively built at the AURIC facility, the company could keep some buffer capacity at the Hosur plant, should demand persist.

The company is targeting to close the calendar year with its highest-ever annual sales. As per Vahan data, the company sold about 2.25 lakh units in CY2025. It has already crossed that figure in the first eight months of CY2026 with retail sales currently at 2.26 lakh units. Ather is the third-biggest electric scooter maker in the country, trailing behind TVS and Bajaj Auto, and holds a 16.88 per cent market share at present. The manufacturer is looking to close the year with a record 350,000 units by the end of December 2026.

Ather’s switch to making family scooters with the Rizta has paid off, its highest seller with an average monthly sales of over 28,100 units. The company also retails the 450 range comprising the 450S, 450X and 450 Apex. The new Ather Konarc is the brand’s most accessible e-scooter yet, priced between ₹1 lakh and 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom). Prices for the more expensive Z line and the 200 km range variants are yet to be announced.

The new Konarc is based on the low-cost EL-platform, which has allowed Ather to do things differently including a more robust frame, metal panels, a long-travel rear suspension, and more. It also gets a host of tech innovations including the AirWalk, AirPop, and Magic Key. Ather’s software stack continues on the scooter bringing several connected tech features. Battery options include a 2.1 kWh, 2.7 kWh and 3.5 kWh on the Konarc S variants with a claimed range of up to 161 km on the 3.5 kWh battery pack variant. Deliveries of the new Ather Konarc will commence from September 21 onwards across the country.