If you’re among the 50,000+ Indians who’ve been waiting for the Ather 450X to get better, you’re in for a shock. The 2025 model just launched with features that sound impressive on paper – until you see the price tag.
Here’s the thing: Ather wants ₹20,000 extra for features that should come standard at this price point.
Just 48 hours ago, Ather Energy CEO Ravneet S Phokela announced what he called “game-changing safety features.”
The reality? Not everyone’s convinced.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- Affects: 200,000+ potential buyers in India
- Cost: ₹1.77 lakh (with Pro Pack) vs ₹1.35 lakh for Ola S1 Pro
- Deadline: Bookings open now, deliveries start October 2025
- Verified by: BikeWale, ZigWheels test teams
- Updated: Live as of 8:55 AM IST
The Immediate Impact: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore Dealers Report Confusion
Walk into any Ather showroom in Koramangala, Connaught Place, or Andheri today, and you’ll witness chaos.
Customers who’d been waiting for the 2025 model are discovering that the advertised ₹1.47 lakh price is essentially meaningless.
Without the Pro Pack, you don’t get:
- Multi-mode traction control (the headline feature)
- Magic Twist regenerative braking
- Five riding modes
- Google Maps navigation
- WhatsApp notifications on dash
But wait:
“Customers are walking out when they realize the actual on-road price in Bangalore touches ₹1.86 lakh,” reveals a dealer source who requested anonymity.
The ₹42,000 Question: What Ola and TVS Won’t Tell You
| What Ather Claims | What’s Actually Happening | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| “Rally mode for off-road riding” | 99% of Indian roads don’t need it | You’re paying for features you’ll never use |
| “24% better range with new tyres” | Real-world tests show 10-12% improvement | Still behind Ola’s 151km claimed range |
| “Industry-first traction control” | TVS iQube ST has it for ₹30,000 less | You’re overpaying for existing tech |
"The traction control is well-executed, but asking ₹20,000 extra for it is ambitious. Most riders in Indian conditions won't notice the difference between Rain and Road modes," says Kartik Ware, Motoring World's Senior Test Rider, who tested the scooter at Aruani Grid track in Bangalore.
What Competitors Won’t Tell You: The Hidden Bangalore-Chennai Price War
Here’s what Autocar India’s report missed entirely:
Ola Electric has been monitoring Ather’s pricing strategy for months. Sources inside Ola’s Bangalore headquarters confirm they’re preparing a counter-strike.
The Ola S1 Pro Gen 2, priced at ₹1.44 lakh in Chennai, includes all premium features without any “Pro Pack” nonsense.
TVS, meanwhile, has quietly increased production of the iQube ST at their Hosur plant.
“We’re seeing a 40% uptick in inquiries since Ather’s pricing announcement,” a TVS dealer in Pune told us yesterday.
The India Twist: Why Tier-2 Cities Are Rejecting the 450X
In Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Kochi, the story is different.
Local dealers report that customers from these cities are more price-sensitive than their metro counterparts.
“In Ahmedabad, people compare it with the Activa 6G at ₹81,000,” explains Mehul Patel, who runs Gujarat’s largest two-wheeler comparison portal.
The math is brutal:
- Ather 450X (with Pro Pack): ₹1.77 lakh
- Honda Activa 6G: ₹81,045
- Difference: ₹95,955
- Petrol savings needed to recover: 8 years at current rates
Real Indians React: Social Media Erupts
@RiderRahul_Mumbai: “Paid ₹1.86L on-road in Mumbai. The Rally mode worked great… in my building’s parking lot. 🤦♂️”
@BangaloreTechie: “Love the tech but ₹20k for Pro Pack? That’s my EMI for 4 months!”
@ChennaiCommuter: “Bought 450X last month. Belt noise is LOUD. Service center says it’s ‘normal’. Really?”
15,000+ people discussing this on TeamBHP forums
The Controversial Part: Is Ather Creating Artificial Scarcity?
⚠️ Industry Insider Revelation
A senior executive from a rival EV company (speaking on condition of anonymity) claims: "Ather's Pro Pack strategy is designed to inflate Average Selling Price (ASP) for their upcoming IPO valuation."
Ather Energy has not responded to our request for comment.
Look, I get it.
Ather needs to make money. They’ve invested heavily in R&D.
But forcing customers to pay ₹20,000 extra for basic features in 2025?
That’s not innovation. That’s extraction.
“From an engineering perspective, the Magic Twist regen and traction control are software features that cost Ather virtually nothing per unit to enable,” explains Dr. Vijay Kumar, Former Head of EV Development at Mahindra Electric. “The ₹20,000 Pro Pack pricing seems disconnected from actual costs.”
Your Next Move: The 3-Step Decision Framework
If you’re in Mumbai, Delhi, or Bangalore:
- Test ride both Ather 450X and Ola S1 Pro this weekend
- Calculate your actual daily commute (90% of Indians ride less than 40km/day)
- Ask for the FULL on-road price including Pro Pack before deciding
If you’re in Tier-2/3 cities:
- Check service center availability (Ather has only 200 vs Ola’s 400+)
- Compare with TVS iQube ST (₹30,000 cheaper, similar features)
- Consider waiting for Bajaj Chetak’s 2026 model (confirmed by sources)
The Bigger Picture: India’s EV Revolution at a Crossroads
Here’s what actually happened:
The 2025 Ather 450X represents a critical moment in India’s electric vehicle story.
Will premium pricing kill adoption?
Or will tech-savvy Indians pay for features?
The truth? It’s complicated.
In Bangalore’s Electronic City, where I spent three days talking to IT professionals, the sentiment was mixed. Young engineers earning ₹15-20 lakh annually see the 450X as aspirational.
But in Chennai’s OMR corridor, where pragmatism rules, buyers are flocking to TVS iQube.
📊 Quick Poll: What’s Your Take?
Is the Ather 450X Pro Pack worth ₹20,000 extra?
- Yes, the features justify it
- No, it’s overpriced
- Waiting for Diwali discounts
- Buying Ola/TVS instead
8,234 votes so far
FAQ: What Mumbai and Bangalore Buyers Are Really Asking
Is this just another tech gimmick like the 450 Apex?
The Apex was limited edition at ₹1.99 lakh. The 450X is mainstream but approaching Apex pricing with Pro Pack. The traction control works, but whether you need it on Bangalore’s Outer Ring Road is debatable. Expert opinion: 70% marketing, 30% utility.
What’s this going to cost me monthly in EMI?
In Mumbai, with 10% down payment (₹18,600), your EMI is ₹5,356 for 3 years at 10% interest. That’s ₹1,500 more than an iPhone 15 EMI. In Bangalore, add another ₹200 due to higher RTO charges.
Will this work in my city (Pune/Indore/Coimbatore)?
Check Ather Grid availability first. Pune has 15 fast chargers, Indore has 3, Coimbatore has 8. Without home charging, you’re dependent on these. Ola has better coverage with 400+ hyperchargers nationally.
Is this better than waiting for Hero Vida V2?
Hero Vida V2 Pro at ₹1.35 lakh offers 0-40 kmph in 2.9 seconds (vs Ather’s 3.3 seconds). But Hero’s service network is unproven. Ather has 5 years of reliability data. Your call: proven expensive or unproven affordable?
Not Everyone Agrees With This
What’s your take?
Join 12,000+ Indians discussing the Ather 450X pricing controversy in the comments below.
Mark my words: By Diwali 2025, Ather will announce a “festive discount” on the Pro Pack.
