Ather’s annual Community Day is always exciting, for it is at this event that the prominent EV manufacturer makes noteworthy announcements. This year’s event was no different; Ather showcased not only a completely new platform, but also two concept vehicles and even a solid OTA software update, which promises to enhance the connected riding experience in India.
We’ll start with the new platform — Codenamed EL, which is said to be made for improved scalability, flexibility, and overall cost efficiency. Ather claims that the assembly time for this is reduced by 15 per cent, service intervals will be longer at 10,000 km, and each service session will take half the time. It is based on a unibody steel chassis with a variety of hardware innovations such as a swingarm-mounted motor. There’s also the new Advanced Electronic Braking System, which promises to shorten the braking distance and minimise wheel lock-ups, although it must be mentioned that this isn’t ABS and will exist alongside that. Ather has also improved packaging efficiency with the platform by incorporating the onboard charger and motor controller into the Charge Drive Controller. This opens up the under-seat storage and ensures owners don’t need to carry a separate portable charger.
Scooters based on the new platform will be manufactured at the company’s new facility in Aurangabad, and the first model is expected by the 2026 festive season. Three potential body styles were also showcased: a sporty model, a family focussed one, and a maxi-scooter. In addition, Ather also presented new concepts such as the EL01, which previews all the practical hardware innovations; and the Redux, a moto-scooter, made on a lightweight aluminium frame, and equipped with future-ready bits like adaptive dynamics, adjustable ergonomics, and a Morph-UI display.
Scooters based on the new platform will be manufactured at the company’s new facility in Aurangabad, and the first model is expected by the 2026 festive season | Photo Credit: Ather
AtherStack 7.0, a big OTA update, was also made official. It incorporates AI and improves the safety and usability of the existing products. A new voice interaction system is tuned to better understand various Indian dialects and accents . Crash Alert ups the scooters’ safety by notifying emergency contacts with the scooter’s live location, in case of an accident. Pothole Alerts, as the name suggests, creates a live map which, using anonymous data, notifies riders of an imminent hazard. ParkSafe furthers liveability by notifying users if they’ve parked in an area deemed unsafe. They can also use the LockSafe functionality to remotely immobilise the scooter. This update will be rolled out in the coming months, said Ather, adding that the entire range of current products will be compatible.
It incorporates AI and improves the safety and usability of the existing products | Photo Credit: Ather
The other exciting thing at this year’s Community Day was the Infinite Cruise system. Exclusively available on the flagship 450 Apex, the feature is designed to make using cruise control easier. On manual intervention — like using brakes — the system doesn’t forget rider preference to automatically resume. CityCruise allows the scooter to adapt to frequent stops without disengaging. Hill Control delivers torque on inclines, while using regenerative braking on descents. Crawl Control can maintain a pace of 10 km/h, which is great for negotiating heavy traffic or rough roads.
In addition to all this, Ather has included a new Terracotta Red colour for the Rizta Z. The family focussed scooter will also get a new OTA with a refreshed interface and a new Eco mode. Existing customers will also be happy to learn that Ather has plans of including an integrated tyre inflator at select charging stations. The company has also launched a new 6kW fast charger, which is half in size of the existing unit, but offers faster speeds: it can add 30 km of range in just 10 minutes of charging.
© Motoring World
Published on September 5, 2025