Ather Energy Founder Pioneers Electric Mobility.

Ather Energy has become one of the most remarkable startup stories in India’s electric vehicle sector, and at the heart of it is its founder Tarun Mehta. With an engineering background from IIT Madras, Mehta made the bold choice of stepping away from a secure path to build something from scratch. He wanted to challenge how Indians think about mobility and he believed electric two-wheelers could be the answer. What started as a project in a small lab has grown into one of India’s most recognizable electric scooter brands.

When Ather Energy first came into the picture in 2013, the idea of switching to electric mobility in India seemed far-fetched to many. The infrastructure was lacking, the cost of production was high, and consumer trust in electric vehicles was almost nonexistent. Mehta and his co-founder Swapnil Jain went against the tide, spending years in research and product development before they had a model ready to show the market. Their first scooter, the Ather 450, changed how people looked at electric vehicles by combining speed, style, and reliability in a way Indian riders could relate to.

What truly set Ather apart was the decision to build not just a product but also an ecosystem around it. They developed charging solutions like Ather Grid, giving customers a network of fast-charging points across major cities. This created confidence among early adopters and encouraged people to take the leap into electric mobility. While many companies were focused only on selling vehicles, Ather was busy shaping an entire experience around the rider. That vision gave them a strong identity in an industry where global and local players were competing for space.

The startup’s growth journey also highlights how Indian entrepreneurship is reshaping the country’s future. Ather attracted investment from major names like Hero MotoCorp, which gave the company a strong backing and helped scale production. Yet, it has stayed close to its core philosophy of building for the Indian consumer rather than simply copying foreign designs. From product engineering to customer service, Ather’s model reflects a deep understanding of what local buyers actually want.

Tarun Mehta has become an influential voice among Indian entrepreneurs, not only for building a business but also for proving that conviction and persistence can move industries forward. He has often spoken about the countless hurdles that came before the first scooter even hit the road, but also about the excitement of seeing young buyers choose Ather as their first two-wheeler. The story of Ather Energy is more than a company’s rise, it is about how leadership, resilience, and bold thinking are fueling India’s shift toward sustainable mobility and giving shape to the future of business in the country.