Yamaha Motor India has revealed its India electric mobility roadmap. While the Japanese manufacturer previously unveiled the Yamaha Neo at a dealer event, Yamaha Motor India's Chairman Eishin Chihana has stated that the company is currently conducting durability tests for its electric scooters, which will be launched within the next three years.
The Neo's e-scooter is currently in the Japanese manufacturer's European portfolio, while the EC-05 and radical-looking EMF e-scooters are part of their current Taiwanese electric lineup. Earlier this year, Yamaha also unveiled its entire lineup of e-scooters and e-bikes.
The Neo's electric scooter has a claimed range of 38.5 kilometres in Eco mode and a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour in Standard mode. Of course, with an additional battery pack, this range can be increased to 68 km. Furthermore, the Neo retails for Rs 2.98 lakh (direct conversion) in the European market which makes it overpriced for what it provides.
Even with heavy localisation, Neo's price would be insufficient to compete with its natural rivals. The Hero Optima CX (Rs 77,490) has a top speed of 45 km/h and a range of up to 140 km, while the Ampere Magnus EX (Rs 73,999) has a range of 121 km and a top speed of 50 km/h.
What Yamaha could do for India is create an entirely new e-scooter, especially given the arduous nature of our roads and riding conditions. This strategy should benefit Yamaha because it will allow them to price this scooter competitively with rivals such as the Ola S1, Ather 450X, and TVS iQube, as well as export it to other markets if it proves its worth in Indian conditions.
Yamaha's entry into the electric mobility market is not surprising, as the company has been working on shared battery technology since 2019. Furthermore, with Honda aiming to establish a stronghold in the EV segment in India, we hope Yamaha goes all-in on its EV by 2025. With numerous offerings such as the Simple One, Hero Vida e-scooter, and Suzuki Burgman Electric on the horizon, India's EV market is set to heat up.