Yamaha Gears Up to Launch Electric Scooter Based on River Indie Platform

Yamaha is all set to dive into India’s booming electric scooter market with a brand-new offering: the Yamaha RY01 . This upcoming model will be based on the River Indie and marks Yamaha’s serious push into the affordable EV segment.

The RY01 is expected to use the same battery management system and powertrain as the River Indie, leveraging the startup's existing technology. This collaboration isn’t just on paper—Yamaha Motor Co., Japan invested $40 million in River during its Series B funding round in February 2024. The move aims to fast-track Yamaha’s EV roadmap by partnering with an Indian company already making strides in this space.

Production for the RY01 is likely to begin around the festive season, with a launch anticipated before the end of the year. While Yamaha will bring its global design DNA, all core engineering, R&D, and testing will be done by River. The scooter will be manufactured in Bengaluru and exported to 11 countries initially, signaling a strong export push right from the start. The partnership also means higher production volumes and local manufacturing—helping keep prices competitive.

This bold step by Yamaha highlights a growing trust in India’s electric vehicle ecosystem. By banking on River for everything from powertrain integration to product development, Yamaha is tapping into India’s evolving EV talent and manufacturing infrastructure.

Once launched, the Yamaha RY01 will join a competitive segment featuring models like the TVS iQube, Ather Rizta, Bajaj Chetak, Hero Vida V1, and the upcoming Suzuki e-Access. With electric two-wheelers currently making up around 6% of total sales in India—and that number rising—Yamaha’s entry could be perfectly timed.

In short, the RY01 isn’t just another EV-it’s a symbol of Yamaha’s evolving strategy and India’s growing role in shaping the global electric mobility future.