MATTER’s AERA: Riding Into Reality as the Rebellion in Electric Two-Wheelers

In an industry crowded with incremental updates and recycled templates, MATTER has positioned itself as a company attempting to rewrite the fundamentals of electric mobility. At the heart of this ambition is AERA, India’s first geared electric motorcycle a machine designed not merely as an EV adaptation but as a ground-up invention built for Indian roads, usage, and climatic realities.

In an exclusive interaction, Arun Pratap Singh, Co-Founder and Group COO of MATTER, spoke extensively about the engineering breakthroughs behind AERA and its performance philosophy.

Building India’s First Geared Electric Motorcycle

Developing a motorcycle with a gearbox, integrated onboard charger, and liquid-cooled powertrain is an uncommon engineering path for EVs. But the decision wasn’t about being different, it was about building a machine that truly works for Indian riders.

“AERA is the first geared electric motorcycle this country has. We started in January 2019, and from day one the challenge was clear, India needed a motorcycle engineered for its heat, its roads, its charging realities. We built our own liquid cooling system, integrated an onboard charger because India needs charging anywhere, anytime, and validated the bike across narrow village roads and rough terrains. We have filed more than 400 patents, with over 85 already granted, including two international patents,” he explained.

With temperatures touching 48–50°C in places like Ahmedabad or Jaisalmer, thermal management becomes a serious performance barrier for EVs.

“You cannot tell a customer that because it’s electric, power will drop in the heat. That’s unacceptable. So we engineered a liquid-cooled system, not borrowed, but designed and patented by us, to ensure consistent performance even when parked in 45–48°C heat,” he emphasized.

This engineering approach underlines MATTER’s belief that the future of Indian mobility depends on understanding real-world usage, not ideal test conditions.

AERATHON: How 25,000 Kilometers Validated the Vision

The on-board charger especially emerged as a strategic differentiator. During MATTER’s 25,000 km AERATHON ride across India, the motorcycle was charged at local shops, small eateries, temples, village kiosks, and homes, validating the hypothesis that AERA could integrate seamlessly into India’s fragmented charging landscape.

“During the AERATHONwe realized India is ahead of what we imagine. We even found a fully electric village in Gujarat, something we assumed would only happen in urban India. And it proved that India is ready, provided the product is engineered for Indian realities,” he said.

Manufacturing and Network Expansion

MATTER’s first large-scale manufacturing facility in Changodar, Ahmedabad, was inaugurated earlier this year. With a production capacity of 1,20,000 units annually, it stands among the largest EV motorcycle plants in India.

“In March this year we had just one outlet. As we approach December, we have 25 dealerships operational, and we aim for 50 by March. Based on the traction and network expansion, we believe we can sell close to 25,000 vehicles next year.
After FY27, we’ll begin looking seriously at exports to Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, talks with several international prospects are already underway,” he stated.

Arun notes that apart from cells, magnets, and semiconductors, everything in AERA is engineered, designed, and validated in-house, a statement he considers central to MATTER’s philosophy of technological sovereignty.

Designed Like a Motorcycle, Not a Scooter

One of the recurring criticisms in the EV two-wheeler segment is that many vehicles are essentially “glorified scooters” with motorcycle styling. MATTER wanted to break that image decisively.

“We wanted a true motorcycle, not a scooter pretending to be one. AERA has gears, performance, a liquid-cooled powertrain, and the riding character of a motorcycle.
And because motorcycles deserve features too, we included maps, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, remote key access which are features usually reserved for cars. Our goal is simple: an EV motorcycle should feel like a next-generation motorcycle, not a compromise,” he stated.

MATTER’s expansion strategy is built with a service-first approach.

“We do not open a dealership without service support. AERA is a connected device, so we monitor vehicle health remotely. Often we alert customers if the motorcycle isn’t charging properly, or we resolve complaints remotely. The idea is to give EV customers the confidence they’ve been missing in the two-wheeler market,” he added.

This connectivity backbone is also expected to play a critical role in predictive maintenance and OTA updates.

Mapping MATTER’s EV Ambitions

With rapid expansions in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bihar, and UP, MATTER is shifting from a West-India-heavy presence to a pan-India footprint. MATTER’s identity will always be built on engineering fundamentals, not superficial branding.

MATTER’s AERA represents a rare engineering-first approach in India’s EV two-wheeler landscape, where differentiation comes not from design tweaks but from rethinking the powertrain, charging experience, thermal management and the riding character of electric motorcycles.