Raptee is looking to ramp up hiring, as it prepares to begin production of the first batch of 10,000 250-cc ICE equivalent mid-premium motorcycles.
The Chennai-based EV firm which recently raised more than $3 million in a pre-series A funding round led by VC fund Bluehill Capital, will hire across functions and is looking at increasing the headcount from 80 to 200 employees by 2025. The first round of deliveries is expected to begin by mid-March 2024.
Dinesh Arjun, Co-founder and CEO, Raptee said that the company is looking to onboard new hires that ‘can align with our one goal-the user experience.”
“The user experience also includes rider safety, which translates into peace of mind, and we have worked hard in this area. For example, we have patented driver assistance systems that can operate in congested areas, such as urban Indian roads, to help prevent accidents” Arjun emphasised.
He added that the company has also patented battery assembly methods that can prevent on road failures over time (10-15 years.)
Arjun added that “We will need the bench strength while prioritising the expansion of its manufacturing unit to reach peak capacity of 1,08,000 units over the next 2 to 3 years,” of which 50 employees will remain dedicated to R&D.
In less than three years of operation, the company has developed its motor controller, battery management system, and vehicle control unit, focusing on its R&D capabilities, and has filed multiple patents.
The Raptee mid-premium motorcycle is priced at around Rs 2 lakh and is equivalent to a 250 cc ICE motorcycle. It has a top speed of 135 kmph and can do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Additionally, it is equipped with CCS2 charging, which is compatible with passenger car charging stations.