Ather Energy says its new Konarc can deliver better margins than the Rizta even though the entry version starts at Rs 99,999, around Rs 22,000 below the Rizta S. The reason is not a plan to sell the cheaper scooter at thin margins. Ather has redesigned the underlying vehicle architecture so the Konarc costs less to build.
Chief Business Officer Ravneet Phokela says the Konarc’s economics are stronger because it uses Ather’s new EL platform, developed from scratch for higher-volume family and commuter scooters. That gives the company room to lower the entry price without turning the scooter into a loss-making traffic builder.
The Konarc moves away from some expensive engineering used on Ather’s original 450 architecture. Instead of an aluminium chassis, the EL platform uses a tubular steel structure. Ather has also replaced the earlier two-stage belt transmission with a gear drive. The charger and motor controller have been integrated into a single unit rather than remaining separate components.
Each change simplifies the scooter and reduces component or manufacturing cost. Phokela’s explanation is that the 450 platform made sense for a performance-focused scooter, but was more elaborate than necessary for a family product such as the Rizta. Rizta had to use that existing base because Ather wanted to get the model to market within its development timeline.
Konarc gave the company the chance to start again. The EL architecture was designed around scale, easier service and a lower cost structure from the beginning. This is why the company can claim stronger margins despite the lower starting price.
The base Konarc S 100 has an introductory effective ex-showroom price of Rs 99,999 and a 100km IDC range. The S 125 and S 161 offer claimed IDC ranges of 125km and 161km, with prices announced at Rs 1,21,999 and Rs 1,44,999 respectively. Ather also plans a 200km S version and more feature-rich Konarc Z variants.
The current Rizta range starts at Rs 1,21,999 for the Rizta S, so Konarc does not sit entirely below it. As battery capacity and equipment rise, the two ranges begin to overlap. That makes the cost advantage of the EL platform important. Ather is not relying only on a stripped base version to create a low advertisement price.
The Konarc itself is aimed at everyday use rather than the sporty character of the 450. It gets a metal body, steel unibody chassis, 14-inch front wheel, 31-litre under-seat storage and a service interval of one year or 10,000km. Ather lists a top speed of 70kph for the S variants currently detailed.
Rizta transformed Ather’s volumes. It accounted for 76 percent of the company’s FY2026 sales, while Ather sold 2,62,942 scooters during the year, up 69 percent. Total income rose 66 percent to Rs 3,823 crore and adjusted gross margin improved to 24 percent of total income.
Konarc is intended to take Ather into an even larger, more price-sensitive part of the scooter market. That makes unit economics particularly important. A Rs 99,999 scooter selling in large numbers helps only if the company has removed enough cost from the product and factory process.