Ola Electric has introduced its first in-house 4680 Bharat cell battery and a rare earth-free motor at its annual Sankalp event at its Gigafactory in Tamil Nadu.

The company also launched the S1 Pro+ scooter powered by the new battery, and revealed price cuts for the S1 Pro+ and Roadster X+ models.

The 4680 cell offers 10% higher energy density and around a 15-year battery life, and the motor uses ferrite instead of neodymium to address supply risks from China’s export controls.

Ola also unveiled MoveOS 6, its upgraded operating system with new features.

It announced plans to launch the S1 Pro Sport scooter in 2026 and the Diamond Head electric bike in 2027.

These updates come as Ola’s market share in India’s electric two-wheeler segment dropped to 16.8% in July, while the company posted a net loss of 428 crore rupee (US$48.9 million) in Q1 2025.

🔗 Source: The Economic Times

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Legacy automakers are reclaiming EV market share from early pioneers

Ola’s market share decline from over 50% to 16.8% reflects a broader pattern where established manufacturers are successfully entering the electric vehicle space.

Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor now dominate India’s electric two-wheeler market, holding 19.73% and 20.84% market share respectively as of FY202512.

Bajaj’s electric two-wheeler sales surged 125% year-over-year, while TVS achieved 44% growth, demonstrating their ability to scale production and distribution more effectively than newer entrants1.

These traditional automakers leverage existing dealer networks, manufacturing expertise, and brand trust to compete against EV startups that initially captured consumer imagination but struggled with execution challenges.

The shift suggests that while startups can pioneer new categories, established players often possess the operational capabilities needed for sustained market leadership once they commit resources to the transition.

2️⃣ Rare earth independence becomes critical competitive advantage

Ola’s rare earth-free motor development addresses a genuine supply chain vulnerability as China controls most global rare earth production and has been tightening exports.

Recent Ola Electric developments