Arun Pratap Singh, Co-Founder and Group COO of MATTER
In an industry littered with incremental updates and recycled templates, MATTER is positioning itself as a company trying to rewrite the foundations of electric vehicles. At the heart of this ambition is AERA, India’s first geared electric motorcycle, a machine not only designed to be an EV retrofit but a radical invention built for Indian roads, usage and climate realities.
In an exclusive interaction, MATTER Co-Founder and Group COO Arun Pratap Singh spoke extensively about the engineering breakthroughs behind AERA and its performance philosophy.
Making India’s first geared electric motorcycle
Developing a motorcycle with a transmission, integrated on-board charger and liquid-cooled powertrain is an unusual engineering path for electric vehicles. But the decision wasn’t about being different, but about building a machine that would truly suit the Indian rider.
“AERA is the country’s first geared electric motorcycle. We started in January 2019 and from day one, the challenge was clear that India needed a motorcycle designed for its heat, roads and charging realities. We built our own liquid cooling system, integrated on-board charger because India needs anytime, anywhere charging, and proven the bike on narrow country roads and rough terrain. We have filed over 400 patents, of which over 85 projects have been approved, including two international patents,” he explained.
With temperatures reaching 48–50°C in places like Ahmedabad or Jaisalmer, thermal management becomes a serious performance impediment for electric vehicles.
“You can’t tell customers that because it’s electric, the power will drop at high temperatures. That’s unacceptable. So we designed a liquid cooling system, not borrowed, but designed and patented by us, to ensure consistent performance even at high temperatures of 45-48°C,” he emphasizes.
This engineering approach underscores MATTER’s belief that the future of mobility in India depends on understanding real-world usage, rather than ideal testing conditions.
AERATHON: How 25,000 kilometers validated the vision
On-board chargers in particular have emerged as a strategic differentiator. During MATTER’s 25,000-km AERATHON ride across India, the motorcycles were charged at local shops, eateries, temples, village kiosks and homes, validating the assumption that AERA can fit seamlessly into India’s fragmented charging environment.
“During AERATHON, we realized that India is ahead of our imagination. We even discovered an all-electric village in Gujarat, which we thought would only happen in Indian cities. This proves that India is ready, as long as the products are designed for Indian realities,” he said.
Manufacturing and network expansion
MATTER’s first large-scale manufacturing facility in Changodhar, Ahmedabad was inaugurated earlier this year. With an annual production capacity of 120,000 units, it is one of the largest electric motorcycle factories in India.
“In March this year, we had only one dealership. As December approaches, we have 25 dealerships operating and our target is to reach 50 by March. Based on traction and network expansion, we believe we can sell close to 25,000 vehicles next year.
After FY27, we will start seriously considering exports to Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, and negotiations with several international potential customers are already underway,” he said.
Arun noted that with the exception of the cells, magnets, and semiconductors, everything in AERA was engineered, engineered, and verified in-house, a statement he considers central to MATTER’s technology sovereignty philosophy.
Designed like a motorcycle, not a scooter
One of the recurring criticisms in the electric two-wheeler space is that many vehicles are essentially “glorified scooters” with motorcycle styling. Matter wants to break this image decisively.
“We wanted a real motorcycle, not a pretend scooter. The AERA has the gear, performance, liquid-cooled powertrain and riding characteristics of a motorcycle.
Since motorcycles should also have features, we added maps, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, remote key access, and other features that are usually reserved for cars. Our goal is simple: electric motorcycles should feel like the next generation of motorcycles, without compromising,” he said.
MATTER’s expansion strategy is structured with a service-first approach.
“We would not open a dealership without service support. AERA is a connected device so we can monitor the health of the vehicle remotely. If the motorcycle is not charging properly, we usually alert the customer or resolve the complaint remotely. The idea is to give EV customers the confidence they have been missing in the two-wheeler market,” he added.
This connectivity backbone is also expected to play a key role in predictive maintenance and OTA updates.
Mapping MATTER’s EV ambitions
With rapid expansion in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, MATTER is moving from a West India-focused business to an all-India presence. MATTER’s identity has always been built on engineering, not superficial branding.
MATTER’s AERA represents a rare engineering-first approach to the Indian electric two-wheeler segment, with differentiation coming not from design tweaks but from rethinking the powertrain, charging experience, thermal management and riding characteristics of electric motorcycles.