Dark horse Ather is the real challenger to India’s legacy two-wheeler makers in 2026

“Slow and steady you can win the race,” said Subhabrata Sengupta, partner at Avalon Consulting, highlighting Ather’s strategy. “A solid study of the technology, robust testing of the products, getting the basics right before scaling up helped them,” Sengupta said. “They’ve done a good job, but now they’re in danger of being left behind as ICE (internal combustion engine) officials get their act together.”