Ather Energy introduces buyback programme for the 450X

Ather Energy has introduced a buyback programme for its flagship scooter, the 450X. The buyback programme assures customers a sum of Rs 85,000 at the end of three years for the 450X. The bold step of a buyback programme was taken to draw more attention of the customers towards EV adoption which also gives them a sense of surety of receiving a hefty sum after using an electric vehicle for three years if they wish to return it after three years.

Besides the buyback programme, Ather Energy emphasizes on improving the ownership solution of Ather 450X. After the success of subscription plans in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, the company plans to offer this programme in all cities across India. This programme will not only allow customers to opt-in for Ather 450X at a lower price and nominal subscription fee but will also serve the purpose of getting full ownership of the EV during this economic crisis due to the pandemic. Also, customers from Bengaluru can choose to exchange their old two-wheelers against the 450X as well. Ather Energy has also reduced the price of the 450 Plus which is now Rs 10,000 cheaper than the previous model and now comes with a sticker of Rs 1.39 lakh. Customers also get the provision of vehicle loans at low-interest rates for owning the Ather from the multiple partners, Ather Energy has tied-up with in the past.

The Ather 450X comes with a 6kWh electric motor that delivers 26Nm of instant torque. The company is one of the few to take the part in the ‘Make in India’ initiative who develop their own lithium-ion battery packs that are reliable and have been tested on the 450 lineup since 2018.

Speaking about the buyback programme, Tarun Mehta, co-founder and CEO, Ather Energy said, "Our faith in our product line has allowed us to create innovative solutions to make the switch to electric, easier - whether it is purchase or ownership. We believe Ather Energy's electric scooters are going to have a fantastic value for years and will keep improving with new features which we will roll out as over the air upgrades. And to strengthen that assurance we are announcing a resale guarantee.”

Ather Energy with this buyback plan has also revised the subscription plans that make it more feasible for aspiring EV buyers that start from as low as Rs 129/month. The customers can now choose from four subscription plans that are the Ather Connect Lite which includes all basic connected features, the Ather Connect Pro and Ather Service lite that include the periodic maintenance, RSA and labour and lastly the Ather Service Pro which offers a premium service experience to the customers. Lastly, as a part of Ather Grid, the charging facilities at public charging stations would be free for the customers until March 2021.