Popular Vehicles & Services Limited (NSE: PVSL, BSE: 544144), one of India’s most established automotive dealership players, is setting its sights on the high-growth electric mobility space with a significant foray into Karnataka. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Kuttukaran Cars Pvt. Ltd., has just received two Letters of Intent (LOIs) to set up dedicated Ather Energy facilities in Bangalore—ushering in a strategic fourth state for its Ather network and marking a new chapter in both companies' EV expansion stories.
Key Highlights of the Expansion
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Popular Vehicles & Services, through Kuttukaran Cars, will soon operate two distinct Ather facilities in Bangalore.
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One facility will exclusively house an Ather Experience Centre, designed for immersive product demonstration and customer onboarding.
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The second location will integrate an Experience Centre, Service Centre, and warehouse, supporting the full spectrum of the Ather customer journey.
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The state-of-the-art service centre at this site will feature five bays, offering the capacity to service approximately 550 electric vehicles per month.
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This marked investment, pegged at around Rs 1.2 crore, underlines a robust commitment to establishing a strong EV service infrastructure in Karnataka.
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Operations are slated to start by the second week of September 2025, positioning the group at the forefront of the pre-festive automotive rush.
Strategic Rationale and Company Perspective
With these new facilities, Popular Vehicles & Services will extend its Ather retail and service presence to four states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and now Karnataka.
The move leverages successful engagements in the neighbouring southern markets, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the group already operates multiple Ather centres.
Popular Vehicles & Services also maintains a diversified automotive portfolio in Karnataka, including elite brands like Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and, more recently, Maruti Suzuki, reflecting its ability to build, scale, and sustain relationships across market segments.
In his announcement, Naveen Philip, Promoter and MD, emphasized that this expansion strengthens their 2-wheeler EV footprint and aligns with their broader corporate goal: tapping high-potential states, diversifying the group's geographical revenue mix, and creating enduring customer value through service excellence.
Broader Significance in the EV Ecosystem
The partnership with Ather Energy aligns seamlessly with Ather’s national ambition to reach 700 Experience Centres by FY26, responding to surging demand for new-economy scooters like the Rizta.
Karnataka, already a key EV hub with robust infrastructure in Bangalore, offers immense potential, and the Popular-Ather partnership is expected to catalyze further market adoption.
These newly planned facilities not only improve customer access but are expected to enhance after-sales experience, an often-cited bottleneck for EV adoption.
Industry Impact and Future Outlook
The initiative signals a deepening commitment by major auto retailers to support India’s green mobility vision by ensuring customers in diverse geographies receive reliable, high-quality EV sales and service support.
For Ather, it is another solid step in expanding into tier-1 and tier-2 cities backed by capable dealership partners, solidifying its competitive edge in the fast-growing electric 2-wheeler market.
Popular Vehicles & Services, with its proven operational expertise and extensive regional experience, is well-placed to convert this opportunity into long-term value creation for customers and shareholders alike.
Source: Company Disclosure to the Stock Exchanges
