Brands
Exelmoto shifts gears from vanity to utility
MUMBAI: Forget the flowery talk about clean air and conscious commuting. Exelmoto, the electric cycle venture backed by actor Suniel Shetty, cricketer KL Rahul and actor Ahan Shetty, is done playing the aspirational mobility game. It’s now chasing something far more lucrative: last-mile logistics.
The company has signed up Delhivery, one of India’s largest delivery networks, for a phased rollout of 200 electric bikes purpose-built for hauling parcels through congested urban streets. The deal, which began as a pilot in June, validates founder Akshai Varde’s bet that sturdy frames and fat tyres built for Indian roads could handle real-world commercial pounding.
“Delhivery validated what we built under real-world conditions,” said Varde, a designer with over two decades in motorcycles. “It showed that our design and engineering hold up even in demanding daily use.”
The pivot marks a sharp turn for a brand that launched with lifestyle credentials in June 2025 —lightweight electric cycles that need no registration or licence, aimed at students, office workers and the elderly. But whilst the personal mobility pitch has its charms, the margins and scale lie in B2B contracts.
“Our commercial pivot creates clear paths to profitability,” said Rahul, who joined Shetty and Ahan as co-investor earlier this year. “This isn’t just about personal mobility anymore; it’s about building last-mile infrastructure for India.”
The company hasn’t abandoned retail entirely. Exelmoto recently launched Scoot, an electric cycle with a step-through frame and bench seat designed for women and older riders. It offers 45 kilometres of range with pedal-assist, keeping it licence-free whilst targeting comfort over speed.
“When my generation can confidently adopt electric mobility, the revolution is truly underway,” said Shetty, who came aboard after seeing Varde’s prototype.
With 68 outlets opening, Amazon and Flipkart listings set for November, and manufacturing capacity targeted at 50,000 bikes by 2026, Exelmoto is scaling fast. The company holds two granted patents and four pending, covering frame architecture and component packaging. Exports to southeast Asia and west Asia are in the works.
Ahan, the youngest investor, summed up the shift: “My generation’s looking for brands that evolve with us, not just talk to us. Exelmoto began with style, and now it’s about substance and infrastructure.”
Whether India’s clogged streets need another electric two-wheeler is debatable. Whether they need one that can turn a profit delivering packages is a far more interesting question. Varde and his celebrity backers are betting the answer is yes.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
