We recently broke the news that Yamaha will launch a new electric scooter this year based on the River Indie. The scooter is codenamed the RY01 and spy images captured in Bengaluru show what appears to be that scooter out on test.
- Gets significant redesign
- Based on River Indie chassis and powertrain platform
- To go on sale later this year
River Indie-based Yamaha e-scooter: what to expect?
The first news of the association between River and Yamaha broke last year when the latter invested USD 40 million (over Rs 341 crore) into the start-up. However, unlike other similar relationships (think Hero-Ather and TVS-Ultraviolette), Yamaha will be using the River platform for a product of its own. This scooter will be manufactured by River at its Bengaluru facility.
Will have a differentiated design from River Indie
The spy images suggest that the scooter will get a significant design makeover, but the fact that this scooter is based on the River Indie is evident in details like the swingarm design, 14-inch wheels as well as the shape and placement of the 6-inch colour LCD display.
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The design has been changed quite a lot, with a completely different tail-lamp arrangement that's positioned higher up than on the Indie. The side panels have also been completely redesigned with less of a slab-sided appearance that leaves more of the rear wheel and suspension on display.
The front apron has also been reworked significantly, not just from the front but also how it wraps around the sides. The headlamp is also new, and while it looks like a vertically oriented version of the River Indie’s unit at first glance, it does appear to be a different unit with a smaller gap between the two LED lights.
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While there is significant camouflage on the test unit, it does appear that the Yamaha version will not have the same rectangular luggage mounting bars in the side bodywork under the seat. However, the crash protection bars on the sides of the front apron still appear to be in place.
While it is too early to know for sure, the Yamaha scooter may drop the River’s unusual “SUV of scooters” positioning in exchange for a more traditional maxi theme. That would work well because, like the River Indie, this will be a large and spacious scooter. On that topic, the River Indie weighs a substantial 143kg, but also has the most boot space of all Indian EVs, at 43 litres.
River Indie-based Yamaha e-scooter specs and performance
Performance should be decently strong as well with a 6.7kW (4.5kW continuous) mid-mounted motor in the Indie that results in a claimed top speed of 90kph. The River uses a 4kWh NMC battery pack and we were able to extract a range of 100km in Eco mode in our tests. You can check out our detailed road test review to know more about how the Indie performs.
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River Indie-based Yamaha e-scooter expected price
The River Indie is priced at Rs 1.44 lakh (ex-showroom, India), and it won’t be a surprise to see Yamaha take on a more premium positioning when it sells its version of this scooter out of its own dealer network later this year.
Alongside the River Indie-based EV, Yamaha is also working on its own global EV platform, for which it is taking development contributions from major global markets including ours. This future Yamaha electric scooter is lined up for 2026-27.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
