MAM
$ 5 million in the kitty, Karthikeyan to race for Jordan in F1
MUMBAI: He has made it! India’s motor sport icon Narain Karthikeyan is all set to become the first Indian to drive on the F1 circuit. Tata Motors, along with JK Tyres and Bharat Petroleum, have put together the $ 5 million required to secure an offer from the Jordan team.
“Narain has been offered a full drive by Jordan as their number one driver. He has accepted it,” Karthikeyan’s manager Sanjay Sharma was quoted in a Reuters report as saying.
Karthikeyan is scheduled to address a press conference in Mumbai later today confirming the news. The 2005 F1 season starts in March.
It is pertinent to note that Karthikeyan had got an offer to race with Minardi in 2003, but missed out as he was unable to raise the monies required to secure the offer. Currently, $ 5 million is the minimum required to secure a place in F1 with any of the top teams.
An immediate spin-off from Karthikeyan’s driving for Jordan is that it will give huge positive traction on the advertising front for ESPN Star Sports, which has exclusive telecast rights for Formula 1 in India.
Karthikeyan has been sponsored by Tata Motors (then called Tata Engineering) since 2002 as India’s entry into the Formula 3 World Series motor car racing.
Interestingly, JK Tyres, the other sponsor, was earlier backing Karun Chandhok, who, along with Karthikeyan and Hari Singh, are the three Indians to have made a mark in the international motor sport arena.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
