Brands
Oben powers ahead with 50th showroom, eyes 150 outlets by year-end
MUMBAI: From zero to fifty, Oben Electric is revving up India’s EV race at full throttle. The homegrown R&D-driven motorcycle brand has just cut the ribbon on its 50th showroom and service centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh marking a pit stop on its road to 150 outlets by the close of this financial year.
The milestone comes on the back of rapid expansion. In recent months, Oben has entered Visakhapatnam and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Ranchi in Jharkhand, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, Aligarh and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, and Palakkad in Kerala. With this, its network now spans 15 states and 37 cities, a footprint fuelled by soaring demand for its flagship Rorr EZ and the newly launched Rorr EZ Sigma.
The Rorr EZ Sigma pitched as the commuter’s next-gen ride builds on the success of the original Rorr EZ with better performance, smarter tech, and everyday practicality. Together, the duo has become the brand’s biggest growth engine, drawing in first-time EV buyers as well as seasoned riders looking for clean mobility alternatives.
“Inaugurating our 50th dealership is a powerful milestone,” said Oben Electric founder & CEO Madhumita Agrawal. “Andhra Pradesh is a key clean mobility market for us, and with in-house manufacturing and customer-focused service, we’re set on raising benchmarks for electric motorcycle ownership across India.”
Oben Electric also stands out in the crowded EV space for its vertical integration: it designs and manufactures critical EV components in-house from high-performance LFP batteries to motors, chargers and vehicle control units. This, the company claims, ensures durability and consistency tailored to India’s diverse riding conditions.
With the Visakhapatnam showroom now open, Oben has 100 more outlets in its sights before March 2026. Each will come equipped with a service centre, promising customers not just a flashy ride but robust after-sales support too.
Brands
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.
