Quick Overview:
- River crosses ₹100 crore revenue within 4 years of founding
- Indie, the company’s first electric scooter, clocks 1,000 units in monthly sales
- Rapid retail expansion to cover 100 cities by 2026
Bengaluru-based EV startup River is riding a wave of momentum. In just four years since inception, the company has zipped past the ₹100 crore revenue milestone. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, March 2025 saw River clocking 1,000 monthly unit sales of its flagship scooter, the Indie — lovingly dubbed the SUV of scooters.
Yes, an electric scooter is making that kind of noise.
Launched two years ago, the Indie stands out with its rugged build, large boot space, and SUV-like stance that’s rare in the two-wheeler EV space. Think utility meets style, wrapped in a silent electric drivetrain. While exact specs weren’t detailed in this announcement, the Indie’s known for its 165km range, 12-inch alloy wheels, and twin storage compartments that can shame most petrol-powered scooters.
Rapid Growth on the Streets and the Sheets
With 20 outlets already operational across major southern cities — Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, and more — River isn’t wasting any time. The brand now plans to launch in Trivandrum, Vijayawada, and Pune next, and eyes presence in over 100 Indian cities by 2026. That’s some serious grid expansion.
Co-founder and CEO Aravind Mani couldn’t have summed it up better: “We’ve built a strong base in R&D, manufacturing, and distribution. These milestones give us great confidence as we scale and plan our next products.”
Backed by an impressive roster of investors including Yamaha Motor Corporation, Toyota Ventures, and Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group, River is clearly not playing the startup game in first gear.
Competitors on the Radar
In terms of rivals, River’s closest peers in the premium e-scooter category include Ather 450X, TVS iQube ST, and Ola S1 Pro. But where River seems to differentiate is in its positioning — it’s not just electric, it’s practical electric, built for everyday rugged use. While others chase minimalism or performance, River is chasing utility without compromise.
Final Thoughts:
From going indie to going national, River is on a power trip — and not the kind that comes with emissions. With numbers stacking up faster than the monthly EMIs on a new scooter, it looks like the Indie has gone from niche to mainstream in no time. Watch out, the SUV of scooters might just run over your range anxiety next.