KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Yamaha developing its first electric scooter with River
- Likely to be launched by the end of this financial year
- Production to begin by September 2025
After having its legacy in the motorcycle and acooter space for a long time, Yamaha has now made up its mind to venture into the electric scooter space and has partnered up with the River Indie in a bid to launch its first ever global electric scooter, currently codenamed the RY01. Read on to find out more about the upcoming project and what to expect from it, but before that, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community of avid petrolheads to never miss out on any latest news and automotive updates.
Also Read- New Hero Electric Scooters Slated For Launch In July 2025
River Indie Based Yamaha Electric Scooter Coming Soon
Yamaha is gearing up for its electric two-wheeler debut in India by partnering with Bengaluru-based startup River. The upcoming EV, codenamed RY01, is set to enter production between July and September 2025 and is being jointly developed by Yamaha's engineering teams in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, with River taking charge of end-to-end execution, from R&D and powertrain development to battery integration and manufacturing. While the new scooter will likely share its platform and core components with the River Indie, it will feature a distinct, sportier Yamaha design. The made-in-India electric scooter will also be exported to international markets. In parallel, Yamaha is working on a separate global EV platform, shaped with inputs from multiple markets, including India, and expected to arrive by 2026-27.
This also comes at a turning point in the industry where it clocked over 1 million in sales in a financial year, signifying the rapidly evolving landscape in the country. Although the Ola electric currently dominates the sales chart (not without equal controversies), other players like Bajaj, TVS, and Ather are also pretty solid in their respective places.
Also Read- Norton V4 Superbike One Of The Two Launches From Brand In 2025
This collaboration goes deeper than just production alignment. Yamaha's $40 million Series B investment in River in 2024 marked the start of a strategic alliance, not just a financial partnership. River is driving the execution side of the project, from powertrain development to battery integration, while Yamaha steers the core product concept. The RY01 will be built on River's platform but infused with Yamaha's design DNA, bypassing the brand's global EV platforms in favour of a locally engineered solution aimed at markets where affordability, speed, and performance matter most.
River, known for launching the Indie electric scooter in 2023, has quickly earned a reputation for delivering performance, reliability, and thoughtful design, qualities that align well with Yamaha's brand ethos, River is playing a key role in bringing Yamaha's first India-centric electric scooter, codenamed RY01, to market by the end of this financial year.
Verdict
By leaning on River's agility and localisation strengths, Yamaha is repositioning itself to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving two-wheeler EV segment, particularly in India, one of the world's most competitive and high-volume markets. Although this is a bit late on the part of a legacy player, a lot of new players have emerged and have made a name for themselves in the space. Can this new electric scooter do what the River Indie failed to achieve? With Yamaha moniker, it can surely have the attention that it requires.
