Tork’s first electric motorcycle launch later this year; raises funding from Ola

Revolutionary enterprises like Tesla have initiated a sort of a paradigm shift across the globe in terms of alternate mobility solutions. With its latest offering, the Model 3, Tesla has also set the Indian electric car market on fire by grabbing several thousand bookings in the first few days of the announcement.

At a sticker price north of Rs 25 lakh though, the likes of the Tesla Model 3 still elude an average middle-class Indian who aspires to take the electric route. However, the upcoming breed of entrepreneurs in India are in the process of bridging this gap by creating practical electric two-wheeler mobility solutions. 

One such emerging start-up, Tork Motorcycles that aims to manufacture India’s first electric motorcycle, has recently been imparted a forward push in its endeavours. The avant-garde company has raised angel funding from a host of marquee investors, including Ola founders Bhavish Agarwal, Ankit Bhati and a group of angels led by CoCubes co-founder and CEO Harpreet Grover. 

The company believes in using race tracks as a laboratory test for their prototypes and have participated as well as won races at various events like the Isle of Man TT and Snetterton (UK). Its first prototype called TX 01 stood third at the Isle of Man in 2009, and after years of prototyping, its latest model, T6X is all set to go into production.

“The aesthetics of the T6X have been designed keeping in mind the needs of Indian markets,” said the founder of Tork Motorcycles, Kapil Shelke in a conversation with us. “Electric two-wheelers are usually associated with a ludicrous appearance. We have tried to break free from that image and designed a product that appeals to India’s masses,” he added.

“We are looking at a launch by the third or fourth quarter of this year. If you look at it, one could own a T6X before the Tesla Model 3 arrives in India,” Shelke laughed. In terms of manufacturing, Tork Motorcycles is scouting for property in Pune and it claims that the production capacity will be enough to cater to the national demand.

Shelke remained tight-lipped on the price of the new offering but indicated that the bike could demand a slightly higher premium of around Rs 55,000 to Rs 60,000, given the features and efficiency that it will offer. The company plans to open exclusive ‘Experience Tork’ showrooms to allow customers to test Tork motorcycles and will also set up charging units in four locations initially – Pune, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Chennai.