The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ather Energy Limited to drive advancements in electric vehicle manufacturing and strengthen India’s clean mobility landscape.
This strategic collaboration is a part of the Build in Bharat initiative, spearheaded by the Startup Policy Forum (SPF)—a collective of over 50 innovation-driven startups. The partnership aims to foster a supportive environment for deep-tech entrepreneurs in the EV and clean tech sectors.
Under the MoU, DPIIT and Ather Energy will jointly work on mentoring early-stage startups, developing infrastructure for EV-related innovation, launching joint innovation challenges like the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, and organising skill-building and talent development programs. The agreement also includes participation in flagship events such as Startup Mahakumbh and curated exposure visits to manufacturing ecosystems.
The MoU signing took place in the presence of Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, and Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy. Highlighting the initiative’s potential, Shri Singh stated, “India’s electric mobility segment is evolving rapidly. Through this partnership with Ather Energy, we aim to strengthen the startup ecosystem supporting EV technologies, battery solutions, and green energy innovations.”
Tarun Mehta added, “Our collaboration with DPIIT is a step forward in building strong foundations for hardware and deep-tech ventures. With the right policy framework and active industry participation, startups can address key technological challenges and build scalable products from India for the world.”
Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of the Startup Policy Forum, remarked, “This partnership is a milestone under the Build in Bharat initiative. It reflects how industry and government collaboration can accelerate India’s journey towards a self-sustaining and innovation-led manufacturing economy.”
The DPIIT-Ather Energy collaboration is expected to create fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs in the electric mobility and advanced manufacturing sectors, contributing to India’s long-term vision of sustainability, innovation, and industrial resilience. Founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, Ather Energy is a leading Indian electric vehicle manufacturer specializing in high-performance electric scooters. Headquartered in Bangalore, the company has positioned itself at the forefront of India’s two-wheeler EV segment with technologically advanced products such as the Ather 450X and Ather 450 Plus.
Ather scooters are equipped with smart features including touchscreen dashboards, smartphone connectivity, over-the-air updates, and enhanced safety systems. The company supports its product ecosystem through the Ather Grid, a proprietary network of fast-charging stations aimed at mitigating range anxiety and increasing user convenience.
Ather has adopted a direct-to-consumer sales model, operating its own experience centers under the Ather Space brand. This approach enables closer engagement with customers and greater control over sales and service quality. The company continues to scale production and expand its footprint across Indian cities while investing in new product development and charging infrastructure. With a focus on building a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem, Ather Energy collaborates with domestic suppliers and invests in long-term solutions to support India’s transition to clean transportation.
