Ather has a wonderful problem on its hands. The company says that it is now raking in a monthly demand of around 50,000 units from its dealer base, but is struggling to supply much more than half that figure. Fortunately, the solution is just a few months away, and the upcoming manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will begin to scale up in the first half of next year.
The Konarc plays a key role in Ather’s growth ambitions. This scooter is based on a new steel platform that’s designed to be cheaper and faster – not only to build, but also to service. With this cost-effective new platform in place, the expectation was that the Konarc would occupy a new space for Ather, one that slots in comfortably below the Rizta and 450 models. As it turns out, that is not entirely the case.
The base Konarc is priced at Rs 99,999, which is a good Rs 22,000 less than the base Rizta. Ather is excited about the new market space that this scooter will unlock for them, and it surely will bring in a new client base. However, a closer examination of the spec sheet suggests that the base Konarc variant is a bit too stripped down, and we’d suggest you pick from the next variant onwards.
When you do that, you’ll realise that the Konarc is effectively priced on par with the Rizta for a similar battery pack size, and this took me by surprise. Conversations with company officials unearthed the very sound rationale that manufacturing input costs have risen by a massive 30-40 percent over the past year. However, I still can’t shake the feeling that the Konarc is not as affordable as expected.
To be fair, most EVs have gotten quite a bit more expensive in the recent past, and the iQube range is priced at a similar level to the Konarc. However, that’s before you pay the extra amount for Ather’s optional StackPro features, which is something you’d want to do because they add valuable appeal and functionality. What I find disappointing is that none of the Konarc S models come with a full colour TFT display, and that means it’s not compatible with a lot of Ather’s more uniquely clever features like pothole alerts, WhatsApp alerts, voice control and more.
While the Konarc is not as affordable as expected, there is no doubt that it lives up to Ather’s premium image. Quality and finish are excellent, and more importantly, it is genuinely comfortable to ride, which isn’t something you could say about previous Athers. The fundamentals are in place with this scooter, and that is a solid win for the company.
The fact remains that Ather is already experiencing such big demand for its existing scooters, which don’t come cheap. The customer’s appetite to spend appears to be in place, and the new Konarc will certainly widen it, although I’m sure it will also eat into the Rizta’s market share. With its superior comfort, practical on-board charger and promise of lower running costs, I’m convinced it’s a better scooter than the more flashy looking Rizta. Whether customers feel the same way remains to be seen, but Ather appears well on course to reach new heights in 2027.
Avik Chattopadhyay
Sergius Barretto
