Key highlights
- 8 variants of Ather 450 and Rizta approved for CSD canteen
- Sales will commence in September 2026
- Expect big discounts for defence personnel
Ather Energy has attained a new milestone. The Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer will now be able to list its specific models and variants in the CSD canteens pan-India.
As per the official announcement, Ather has received a green flag to list the eight variants of the Rizta and 450 electric scooters. Sales of these scooters will commence in September 2026 for defence personnel.
Mind you, CSD canteen rates are substantially lower than the retail market rates for civilians. These canteens operate for the Armed Forces and their families, with higher subsidies on everyday commodities. However, multiple car and two-wheeler manufacturers also sell their products through these canteens pan-India.
As per the announced, the 450 Apex remains the only electric scooter that has been excluded from the CSD canteen listing. The reason for it is unknown, but we suspect that the brand wants its mass market models to retail through the CSD stores to boost annual sales.
Moreover, the company has announced that apart from the special tax benefits that are availed by the CSD canteen, it will also add special discounts for these models so that defence personnel can enjoy low effective purchase cost.
Meanwhile, the brand will soon launch a new family scooter that will hit the mass market segment, including the TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak. This scooter is called Konarc and it is expected to get a claimed range of around 200 km.
The leaked details of this scooter have been revolving around the internet. It will boast a conventional design with sleek body panels and a comfortable riding posture along with a spacious legroom area for the rider.
Since it will be a family scooter, the Konarc is expected to get features like a big underseat storage space, USB charging port, ride modes, reverse mode, and DC charging.
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