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Ola goes the distance as Roadster X+ gets green light for 500 km rides
MUMBAI: Range anxiety just met its match. Ola Electric has shifted the electric motorcycling conversation up a gear after its flagship Roadster X+ (9.1 kWh) received regulatory approval, clearing the way for deliveries of a bike that promises to go farther than any electric motorcycle in India so far.
The certification, granted under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), 1989 by the International Centre for Automotive Technology, makes the Roadster X+ the first electric motorcycle in the country to be approved with a completely in-house developed 4680 Bharat Cell battery pack.
With a claimed industry-leading range of up to 500 km, the Roadster X+ is designed to push electric riding beyond city limits. Powered by Ola Electric’s homegrown 4680 Bharat Cell technology, the motorcycle combines high energy density with improved thermal performance, making longer inter-city and highway rides more practical especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets where charging infrastructure remains sparse.
An Ola Electric spokesperson described the certification as a defining milestone in the company’s vertical integration journey, noting that the Roadster X+ delivers “unmatched range along with superior performance, safety and reliability,” all built on indigenously developed cell and battery technology.
The approval follows rigorous vehicle-level testing, including constructional and functional safety, range validation, gradeability, braking, noise and electromagnetic compatibility, as mandated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for battery-operated vehicles.
In parallel, the 9.1 kWh battery pack built using Ola’s 4680 Bharat Cells has also secured certification from the Automotive Research Association of India under AIS-156 Amendment 4. The pack successfully cleared demanding safety benchmarks, including water immersion, thermal runaway and fire tests, vibration and mechanical shock assessments.
With this clearance, Ola Electric has now extended the use of its 4680 Bharat Cell platform across its two-wheeler portfolio, covering both scooters and motorcycles, and laying the groundwork for future products such as Ola Shakti.
As India’s motorcycle-heavy market looks for credible electric alternatives that can match petrol bikes on range and reliability, the Roadster X+ marks a significant step suggesting that long-distance electric riding may no longer be a leap of faith, but a certified reality.
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Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
