River

River, a Bengaluru-based electric vehicle startup, was founded in March 2021 by Aravind Mani and Vipin George. The duo, former colleagues, combined their expertise to enter the competitive EV market. Mani, the CEO, has a background in managing large manufacturing organizations, while CPO George previously worked as an automotive designer at Honda. Their goal was to create a niche in the market by focusing on what they term a "utility lifestyle," blending practicality with design.

The company's business model revolves around designing, manufacturing, and selling its electric scooters directly to consumers and through a growing network of dealer-run stores. Revenue is generated from the sale of the scooters and related accessories. The target market is the modern Indian consumer who requires a versatile and stylish vehicle for daily commutes and carrying goods. River has established a significant R&D facility in Bengaluru and a 120,000 sq ft manufacturing plant in Hoskote with an annual production capacity of 100,000 units.

River's flagship product is the "Indie," marketed as the "SUV of Scooters." Launched for sale in October 2023, the Indie addresses a perceived gap in the market for electric scooters with substantial storage. A key feature is its class-leading 55 litres of storage, comprising a 43-litre under-seat space and a 12-litre front glove box. The scooter is also equipped with "Lock & Load" pannier mounts for additional cargo capacity and unique front foot-pegs that allow the rider to use the flat floorboard for storage. The Indie is built on a steel tubular dual cradle chassis with a telescopic front suspension, 14-inch alloy wheels, and a combined braking system with front and rear disc brakes. It is powered by a mid-drive motor with a peak output of 6.7 kW, reaching a top speed of 90 km/h and accelerating from 0-40 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Its 4 kWh battery offers a real-world range of 120 km and can be charged to 80% in 5 hours.

The company has successfully raised a total of $68 million in funding through multiple rounds. Key milestones include a $2 million seed round in March 2021, an $11 million Series A in July 2022, and a $40 million Series B round led by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. in February 2024. This funding is being used to scale up its distribution and service network across India and for further R&D. River opened its first physical store in Bengaluru in January 2024 and aims to expand to 100 cities by 2026. The company crossed the 1,000-unit monthly sales mark in March 2025. Keywords: River, Indie scooter, electric scooter, EV startup, Aravind Mani, Vipin George, utility scooter, electric two-wheeler, Yamaha Motor, urban mobility, Bengaluru, electric vehicle manufacturer, high-storage scooter, automotive design, EV funding, motorcycle, e-scooter, electric bike, two-wheeler, moped, Indian EV market, last-mile delivery, sustainable transport, battery electric vehicle