Ather 450 and 340 get a massive price cut post GST rate reduction

01/08/2019 - 17:15 | Ather 450, Ather 340, Announcements, Electric vehicles, Ather | Suvil Susvirkar

Ather Energy has revised the prices of its 450 and 340 electric scooters post the GST rate reduction. The Ather 450 is now available at INR 1,13,715*, while the 340 retails at INR 1,02,460*.

Ather Grid Charging Network Outdoor Shot 1 — The Ather 450 and 340 get a massive price cut post the implementation of reduced GST rates. The Ather 450 is approximately INR 9,000 cheaper now.

Also Read: Ather Energy inaugurates new outlet in Chennai

Check out the pre- and post-GST rate reduction prices* in the table below:

Model	Pre-GST Cut Price	Post-GST Cut Price	Difference
Ather 450 (Bangalore)	INR 1,22,647	INR 1,13,715	INR 8,932
Ather 340 (Bangalore)	INR 1,10,647	INR 1,02,460	INR 8,187
Ather 450 (Chennai)	INR 1,31,683	INR 1,22,224	INR 9,459
Ather 340 (Chennai)	INR 1,19,091	INR 1,10,608	INR 8,483

The GST Council reduced the GST rate for electric vehicles to 5% as against the previous rate of 12%. With the GST cut, the entry-level Ather electric scooter is available at very close to INR 1 lakh (on-road) mark in Bangalore. The 4% road tax that is levied by the Tamil Nadu government is one of the reasons behind the higher price tags in Chennai.

The reduced prices will help the Ather Electric scooters compete with the rivals more efficiently. While the company welcomes the GST reduction, Tarun Mehta, CEO, Co-founder - Ather Energy, hopes that the government also review the current taxation on raw material and the final product. Mehta said:

As a manufacturer, we would like the Centre to review the current taxation framework applicable on raw material and the final product. There is an inherent inverted duty structure as the GST input on raw material and other overheads are on average of 18 % wherein the output is now going to be pegged at 5%. This structure results in significant working capital blockage. Even with the existing GST inverted duty refund framework in place, there is working capital blockage on the overheads and capital investments. A comprehensive GST refund structure of electric vehicle manufacturers or a reduced GST liability on the raw material should be assessed for seamless cash flows in the long run.

Ather Energy has also announced its subscription plans that would be applicable after the initial plan expires:

Plan	Ather Connect	Ather Charge	Ather Service	Ather One Plan
Connected Service	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Over-the-air updates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vehicle Service	No	No	Yes	Yes
Public Charging	No	Yes	No	Yes
Home Charging	No	No	No	Yes
Price/year (excluding GST)	INR 3,000	INR 6,000	INR 6,000	INR 8,400

The Ather 450 is the flagship product of the company that carries higher performance numbers and range than the relatively affordable 340. The 450 draws 5.4 kW of power and 20.5 Nm of maximum torque from its electric motor. The 0-40 km/h acceleration takes just 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is rated at 80 km/h. The 450 can cover a distance of 75 km (Eco mode) per full charge. The electric mill on the Ather 340, on the other hand, is tuned to deliver 4.4 kW of power and 20 Nm of torque. The 340 accelerates to 40 km/h in 5.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of 70 km/h. The 340 boasts a range of 60 km (Eco mode).