Electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has said the industry is now strong enough to survive without government subsidies. Ravneet S Phokela, the company’s chief business officer, told businessline that the market can do without schemes like PM E-DRIVE.

“In any case this was supposed to go away last year. We had planned for it not to be there,” Phokela said. “The industry is in a stage where you don’t need subsidies to be self-sustaining.” He said the industry only wants policies that give every player a level playing field.

PM E-DRIVE was launched in October 2024 with an outlay of Rs 11,900 crore and extended till March 31, 2028, according to a Heavy Industries Ministry notification. Phokela said states also offer their own subsidies, so sales can continue even without central support. He flagged uneven access to the production-linked incentive scheme as a concern.

The statement matters because subsidies have long shaped EV prices in India. Ather’s claim suggests the two-wheeler electric market has reached maturity, which could change future policy debates.