Ather Energy says India’s electric two-wheeler industry has matured enough to grow without central subsidies such as PM E-DRIVE. Chief Business Officer Ravneet S Phokela told businessline the company had already planned for the scheme’s withdrawal, and that only a level playing field in policy remains its key demand.

The PM E-DRIVE scheme was launched in October 2024 to speed up electric vehicle adoption, build charging infrastructure and support manufacturing. Originally meant to end in March 2026, it has now been extended to March 31, 2028, with a total outlay of Rs 11,900 crore.

Ather also flagged uneven access to the production-linked incentive scheme among suppliers, which it said denies companies an equal opportunity. At the same time, the company is struggling to meet demand: between 50 and 60 per cent of its orders face a waiting period of 45 to 50 days because of capacity limits at its Tamil Nadu factory.

Its new Maharashtra plant, starting production in December, is expected to lift combined monthly capacity to about 77,000 units by early next year. If Ather is right, the industry has crossed the subsidy tipping point, and the policy debate can move from demand support to fair competition.