By Piyush P. Yadav | September 2, 2026
India's electric scooter market just had its most consequential fortnight of 2026. Ather Energy launched the Konarc at Rs 99,999 on August 29 — its first genuinely mass-market scooter — and Simple Energy is unveiling its family-focused Wave today, September 2. Meanwhile, the August registration data confirms a structural shift: TVS and Bajaj together now control just over half of all electric two-wheeler sales, Ather has climbed to a 16% share, and Ola Electric has fallen to about 7%. This article breaks down the Konarc's pricing and specs, what to expect from the Simple Wave, and where every major brand stands after August 2026.
Ather Konarc: Three Variants, One Price Point That Matters
The Konarc range launched on August 29, 2026 at Ather Community Day, and the headline number is Rs 99,999 (ex-showroom) for the base Konarc S 100. That undercuts the Ather 450X by around Rs 50,000 and puts Ather within Rs 4,000-5,000 of the entry-level Bajaj Chetak C2501 for the first time.
| Variant | Ex-showroom price | Battery | Peak power | IDC range | Ather TrueRange | Deliveries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Konarc S 100 | Rs 99,999 | 2.1 kWh | 4.0 kW | 100 km | 80 km | Q1 2027 |
| Konarc S 125 | Rs 1,21,999 | 2.7 kWh | 4.7 kW | 125 km | 100 km | September 2026 |
| Konarc S 161 | Rs 1,44,999 | 3.5 kWh | 4.7 kW | 161 km | 130 km | September 2026 |
| Konarc S 200 | TBA | TBA | TBA | 200 km | TBA | Q3 2027 |
A few details worth noting:
- All three launched variants use aluminium battery casings with an IP67 water and dust rating.
- A 450 W onboard charger is standard; an optional 900 W external charger takes combined charging capacity to 1.35 kW.
- Ather's "TrueRange" figures are the company's own real-world estimates, and they are 20-30% below the IDC numbers — a refreshingly honest way to advertise range.
- The S 100 is the price leader, but you cannot take one home until early 2027. The S 125 and S 161 are the variants actually reaching customers this month.
Because every Konarc variant sits below the Rs 1.5 lakh ex-factory ceiling, all qualify for the revised PM E-DRIVE incentive of Rs 2,500 per kWh, capped at Rs 5,000 per vehicle. The scheme now runs until March 31, 2028. For the details on how the subsidy changed, see our explainer on the PM E-DRIVE subsidy.
Simple Wave: What We Know on Launch Day
Simple Energy is launching the Wave today, September 2, 2026. It is the Bengaluru company's first family-oriented scooter, positioned below the performance-focused Simple One and the Rs 2.35 lakh Simple Ultra, and its first serious attempt at tier-2 and tier-3 city buyers. The company recently opened five new dealerships in Delhi, Nashik, Aurangabad and Siliguri in preparation.
Official specifications and pricing had not been published at the time of writing, so the figures below are pre-launch expectations reported by the automotive press, not confirmed numbers:
| Attribute | Expected (unconfirmed) |
|---|---|
| Price | Around Rs 1.30-1.50 lakh (ex-showroom) |
| Battery | Approximately 3.7 kWh |
| Peak motor output | Around 6.4 kW |
| Claimed range | 180-190 km |
| Top speed | Around 90 km/h |
| Confirmed hardware (from test mules) | Single-piece long seat, large floorboard, telescopic front fork, twin rear shocks, front disc / rear drum, TFT display |
| Rivals | Ather Rizta, TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Konarc S 161 |
One confirmed and interesting point: Simple Energy says it is the first Indian OEM to commercially manufacture heavy-rare-earth-free electric motors. With traction-motor localisation rules tightening from September 1, 2026 and China's export curbs on dysprosium and terbium still in force, that in-house motor capability is a real strategic advantage for a small manufacturer. We will update this story once official Wave pricing is announced.
August 2026 Electric Two-Wheeler Sales: The New Order
Provisional Vahan registrations for August 1-26, 2026 totalled 1,46,770 electric two-wheelers. The full-month figure will be higher, but the shares are already clear:
| Brand | Aug 1-26 registrations | August share | July share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TVS Motor (iQube, Orbiter, X) | 40,349 | 27.5% | 27.1% | +0.4 pp |
| Bajaj Auto (Chetak) | 33,422 | 22.8% | 22.3% | +0.5 pp |
| Ather Energy | 23,542 | 16.0% | 14.9% | +1.1 pp |
| Hero Vida | 14,388 | 9.8% | 11.2% | -1.4 pp |
| Ola Electric | 10,400 | 7.1% | — | — |
| Others | 24,669 | 16.8% | — | — |
Bajaj's full-month August number was 37,976 units, up a remarkable 210% over August 2025. TVS set the all-time monthly record for any Indian e-2W maker in July with 55,823 units.
The year-to-date leaderboard (January-August 2026)
- TVS: around 3.53-3.57 lakh units, up 77% year-on-year, 26% share
- Bajaj: 3.02 lakh units, up 68%, 22% share — the second brand after TVS to cross 3 lakh in a calendar year
- Ather: around 2.27-2.29 lakh units, up 83%, 17% share
- Hero Vida: fourth, with share slipping in August
Together, the top four have sold 10,38,973 units in eight months — an 84% increase over the 5,65,635 units they sold in the same period of 2025. For context on how the rankings were shifting at the start of August, read our August 2026 e-scooter market update.
What the Konarc Changes for Buyers Under Rs 1.5 Lakh
Until last week, a buyer with Rs 1.0-1.25 lakh had to choose between the Bajaj Chetak C2501, the TVS iQube base variant and the Hero Vida VX2. The Konarc S 100 and S 125 now put Ather's software, app ecosystem and fast-charging network into that bracket.
| Model | Ex-showroom price | Battery | Claimed range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Vida VX2 | From Rs 84,999 | 2.2-3.4 kWh | 93-128 km | Cheapest entry; BaaS option |
| Ather Konarc S 100 | Rs 99,999 | 2.1 kWh | 100 km (80 km TrueRange) | Deliveries only from Q1 2027 |
| Bajaj Chetak C2501 | Around Rs 1.05 lakh (Delhi) | 2.5 kWh | 113 km | 3.45 h charge; metal body |
| Ather Konarc S 125 | Rs 1,21,999 | 2.7 kWh | 125 km (100 km TrueRange) | Deliveries September 2026 |
| Ather Konarc S 161 | Rs 1,44,999 | 3.5 kWh | 161 km (130 km TrueRange) | Best-value long-range Konarc |
Our advice: if you need a scooter this month, the Konarc S 125 at Rs 1.22 lakh and the Chetak C2501 are the two to test ride. If you can wait, the Rs 99,999 S 100 in early 2027 — or the Simple Wave once its price is confirmed — may reset the value benchmark again. Our full Chetak vs 450X vs Activa e comparison covers the premium end of the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of the Ather Konarc?
The Ather Konarc launched on August 29, 2026 at Rs 99,999 for the S 100 (2.1 kWh, 100 km IDC range), Rs 1,21,999 for the S 125 (2.7 kWh, 125 km) and Rs 1,44,999 for the S 161 (3.5 kWh, 161 km), all ex-showroom. A 200 km variant arrives in Q3 2027.
When will Ather Konarc deliveries start?
Deliveries of the S 125 and S 161 begin in September 2026. The Rs 99,999 S 100 will be delivered from the first quarter of 2027.
What is the Simple Wave and when is it launching?
The Simple Wave is Simple Energy's first family-oriented electric scooter, launching on September 2, 2026. It sits below the Simple One and is expected to be priced around Rs 1.3-1.5 lakh with a roughly 3.7 kWh battery, though official figures were pending at publication.
Which company sells the most electric scooters in India in 2026?
TVS Motor leads with about 26% share and over 3.5 lakh units sold from January to August 2026, followed by Bajaj Auto at 22% (3.02 lakh units) and Ather Energy at 17%. TVS and Bajaj combined held just over 50% of the market in August 2026.