Ultraviolette Secures $21M to Expand Globally, Aiming for 14 Models by 2027
Indian electric motorcycle startup Ultraviolette has announced ambitious expansion plans, fueled by a $21 million investment led by TDK Corporation’s corporate venture arm. The nine-year-old company aims to quadruple its European footprint, enter new markets such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, and increase its product portfolio to 14 models by early 2027.
Ultraviolette’s global expansion follows the launch of its flagship F77 Mach 2 model in 2024 and the release of its second product, the F77 SuperStreet, in February. Founded by childhood friends Narayan Subramaniam and Niraj Rajmohan, the startup combines expertise in mechanical engineering, automotive design, computer science, and electronics to electrify the mid-segment two-wheeler market.
Drawing inspiration from Tesla, Ultraviolette set out to build electric motorcycles that could match the performance of 150cc to 800cc internal combustion engine sports bikes. After four years of development, the startup unveiled its first model in 2019 and has since released lighter models such as the Shock Wave motorcycle and the Tesseract scooter, which features advanced assisted-driving technology and blindspot detection.
Ultraviolette’s vehicles come equipped with eSIM connectivity and a proprietary diagnostics system that can detect even minor issues like chain lubrication needs. The company operates a manufacturing and assembly facility in Bengaluru, handling everything from embedded software and battery management systems to motor controllers and battery production.
The startup’s business model was shaped by Tesla owners, with the founders learning from U.S. consumers who bought the Model S in 2015. Ultraviolette aims to create a global brand, with the name “violet” being pronounceable in over 30 European languages and the term “ultra” signifying something cutting-edge. The company pursued European certification for all its vehicles before entering the market.
Expanding beyond India makes strategic sense given the domestic EV market remains relatively underpenetrated, with adoption at just 7.66%, compared to the global average of 16.48%. However, India is a price-sensitive market where two-wheelers are essential modes of daily transportation, making selling high-end variants at scale challenging initially.
Ultraviolette plans to expand its production capacity to up to 60,000 units and add a larger location to scale to about 300,000 units by early next year. The company currently operates 20 stores across 20 Indian cities and aims to grow to around 100 by March next year, with 50 new stores opening by the festive season this year.
Ultraviolette also plans to expand its European presence, where it has 40 dealers, and begin pilot programs in Latin America and Southeast Asia next year, followed by entry into markets such as the U.S. and Japan. The startup has sold over 3,000 motorcycles in India and aims to sell up to 10,000 this year, with a revenue target of over $50 million by the end of the current financial year.
