Building EVs for Bharat’s Reality: In Conversation with Siddharth Patel, Founder of Greenway Mobility

India’s electric vehicle story is often told through sleek urban scooters and premium cars zipping through metro cities. But beyond this narrative lies a much larger, underserved market, suburban and rural India where mobility isn’t about convenience, but livelihood.

It is in this gap that Siddharth Patel, Founder of Greenway Mobility (AURON & EVI), is quietly building something different.

Bootstrapped, deeply grounded in on-field insights, and focused on durability over display, Greenway Mobility is designing electric vehicles not just for roads, but for real usage.

In this conversation, Siddharth breaks down his approach to building “workhorse EVs,” why he chose fundamentals over hype, and what it truly takes to win trust in India’s commercial EV ecosystem.

Q. India’s EV story is often centered around urban scooters and premium cars. What do you think is missing?

The current narrative is heavily urban-focused. But the majority of India is actually suburban and rural. Eventually, we need vehicles that are designed for those environments and their specific needs and that’s not being addressed enough right now.

Q. What problem were you trying to solve when you started Greenway Mobility?

We are still in the early stages, and we’re still solving the same problem we started with building reliable electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers that are made in India and offer strong value for money.

Q. You often talk about building workhorse EVs. What does that mean in product design?

It means prioritizing durability and low maintenance. We focus on features that make the vehicle last longer. Sometimes, that comes at the cost of cosmetic appeal but for our users, performance matters more than looks.

Q. How does designing in India give you an edge over imported or retrofitted EV platforms?

Retrofitted vehicles are originally designed for diesel or CNG engines, not electric systems. Imported EVs are built for different road and weather conditions. We design everything around Indian conditions, roads, weather, and usage patterns. That results in better durability, lower maintenance, and overall cost-effectiveness.

Q. Durability is a recurring theme in your approach. How do you measure it?

Durability is about the lifecycle of the vehicle, how long it lasts and what it costs over time. We look at total cost of ownership: maintenance, operating costs, and even resale value over 8–10 years. That’s how we define true durability.

Q. What did you learn from interacting with drivers and fleet owners?

They use vehicles very differently from how engineers test them. For them, business comes first. Comfort matters, but not at the cost of earning potential. They prioritize things like cargo capacity and passenger volume because that directly impacts income.

Q. How do you decide which features to include in your vehicles?

By talking to users directly, we understand their challenges and try to solve them. We make sure we don’t compromise on their ability to generate income using the vehicle.

Q. A five-year warranty is uncommon in this segment. What gave you the confidence?

Our build quality and extensive in-house testing. We’ve been testing these vehicles for over two years. We believe the vehicle lifecycle is around 10 years, so offering a five-year warranty is a reflection of that confidence.

Q. How critical is after-sales service in commercial EVs?

It’s the most important factor. For customers, the vehicle is their business. Uptime directly affects their income. So fast service and minimal downtime define success in this segment. We are currently able to offer a 95% uptime to our B2B partners.

Q. Your brand Auron targets suburban and rural users. What gap did you identify?

One major issue is water-wading capability. Most electric two-wheelers can’t handle waterlogging, common in rural and semi-urban areas. Our design ensures that critical electrical components are placed higher, improving durability in such conditions.

Q. What’s the idea behind modular bikes and trikes?

It’s about versatility. We wanted one vehicle to serve multiple purposes—personal commuting, family use, and even business applications. Modularity allows users to adapt the vehicle to different needs.

Q. How do IoT and battery systems fit into your ecosystem?

IoT is mainly useful for monitoring vehicle health and for financiers to track assets. For users, it’s limited to basic insights like battery health, range, and speed.

Swappable batteries are more relevant for B2B use cases. For personal users, removable batteries are more practical, they can charge them at home without needing infrastructure.

Q. What does a strong EV distribution model look like in smaller cities?

A good model needs local dealership touchpoints that handle both sales and service, along with reliable spare parts availability.

Q. How has being bootstrapped shaped your journey?

It forces discipline. We operate with a lean team and limited resources, so prioritization becomes critical. We can’t pursue everything—we have to focus on what truly matters. It also makes decision-making tougher, especially when choosing where to invest time and effort.

Q. How has your partnership with Harsh Rawal shaped Greenway Mobility?

We have complementary strengths and personalities. We started as just two people and gradually built the company step by step. Today, we’ve grown into a team of around 60 people with a full manufacturing setup. Our partnership has played a key role in maintaining balance and shaping the company culture.

Q. Which markets excite you the most?

Right now our focus is India, especially suburban regions. In the future, emerging markets like Africa and Sri Lanka are exciting because their needs are very similar to India—durable, cost-effective, low-maintenance vehicles.

Q. Many startups chase rapid growth. Why have you taken a slower, more fundamental approach?

Because I want to build a sustainable and profitable business. I don’t believe in burning cash aggressively and hoping things work out. We’re taking a measured approach, building strong fundamentals first.

Q. What does success look like for you over the next 10 years?

If customers trust our brand and come back to buy from us again—that’s success. Repeat customers and brand recognition mean we’ve done something right.

Closing Note by Siddharth Patel

Greenway Mobility isn’t trying to win headlines, it’s trying to win trust. In an EV & Automobile industry often driven by valuation metrics and rapid expansion, my approach stands: grounded in reality, shaped by users, and built for longevity. Because in Bharat’s mobility landscape, the real innovation isn’t just electric, it’s practical, durable, and dependable.