Keto Motors unveils Urbanova KE9, marking its entry into India's commercial electric bus segment

Keto Motors, an emerging commercial electric vehicle manufacturer focused on developing commercial EV solutions for India, has unveiled its first commercial electric bus, the Urbanova KE9, marking its entry into India's electric bus segment. The company also ceremonially handed over the vehicle to its operating partner during the launch event.

Founded in 2018, Keto Motors is built on the legacy of the founding team that pioneered India's early electric bus industry. Long before electric mobility became mainstream, they recognised that India’s public transport system would inevitably move to clean mobility. The team was instrumental in building one of India's first successful electric bus companies, introducing international technology partnerships, establishing domestic manufacturing capabilities and demonstrating that electric buses could operate reliably at a commercial scale under Indian conditions. Their contribution helped lay the foundation for India's commercial electric bus ecosystem.

G. Kishan Reddy Garu, Hon'ble Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, said, "I am delighted to unveil Telangana-based KETO Motors' first commercial electric bus and participate in this landmark occasion. Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, India is making significant strides in manufacturing, innovation, green energy and sustainable mobility. This launch reflects the growing strength of our indigenous manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.


Electric mobility is central to enhancing energy security, reducing emissions and strengthening technological self-reliance. It is encouraging to see Telangana-based enterprises contributing to this national mission by developing indigenous mobility solutions that strengthen public transport, create employment and support sustainable growth. I congratulate KETO Motors on this achievement and wish the company continued success in advancing sustainable mobility and contributing to the vision of a Viksit Bharat."


Building on this legacy, Keto Motors represents the next chapter of that journey. Led by the same founding team that helped shape India’s early electric bus movement, the company combines years of proven expertise in engineering, manufacturing and large-scale electric bus deployment with a renewed focus on innovation, localization and next-generation product development. Rather than starting from scratch, Keto Motors is leveraging decades of industry experience to develop world-class electric buses that will support India's next phase of clean mobility.

Earlier this year, the company completed its transition into a publicly listed entity following its successful reverse merger with Taaza International Limited, further strengthening its platform for long-term growth, business expansion and product innovation. The launch of the Urbanova KE9 reflects the company's strategy of delivering reliable, locally engineered zero-emission transportation solutions for public and fleet mobility.

Supporting its growth strategy, Keto Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana in early December 2025, committing to an investment of approximately Rs 300 crore to expand its existing 20-acre facility at Jadcherla and establish a greenfield facility at the Telangana EV Mobility Valley. The investment will support the manufacturing of 9-metre electric buses, create more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next three years, and establish Telangana as the company's primary manufacturing hub for future capacity expansion.


Speaking on the importance of accelerating electric mobility adoption in public transportation, Shri Y. Nagi Reddy, Managing Director, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), said, “The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) is committed to accelerating the transition towards sustainable public transport. We currently operate 10,201 buses, including 1,050 electric buses, serving nearly 60 lakh passengers every day. With plans to induct 800 electric buses by December this year and another 1,400 by December next year, we are moving towards deploying around 3,000 electric buses in Hyderabad, which will significantly reduce carbon emissions from city bus operations. We believe capital subsidies for electric bus procurement will help State Road Transport Corporations accelerate this transition, while greater collaboration between RTC, Metro Rail and private mobility operators will be crucial to improving public transport and last-mile connectivity. Telangana's EV incentives have further supported clean mobility adoption, and we are confident that cleaner transport technologies will help reduce urban pollution in the coming years."


Complementing its vehicle engineering capabilities, Keto Motors, along with ROQIT, has developed KETO Connected, an integrated digital operations platform designed specifically for commercial fleet operators. The platform provides real-time vehicle health monitoring, battery analytics, remote diagnostics, operational visibility and predictive maintenance capabilities, enabling operators to maximize fleet uptime while reducing operating costs. The company has further strengthened its technology ecosystem through a strategic partnership with TRON Energy Technology, a leading Taiwanese electric bus manufacturer.


The partnership provides Keto Motors access to advanced battery systems, patented liquid-cooled battery technology, Battery Management Systems (BMS), connected vehicle technologies, powertrain technologies and chassis engineering expertise, strengthening the company's ability to deliver globally benchmarked electric buses tailored for Indian public transport and fleet requirements.


Purpose-built for urban and institutional transportation, the Urbanova KE9 is a 9-metre electric bus measuring 8,985 mm in length, 2,532 mm in width and 3,189 mm in height. It offers seating for up to 31 passengers, features a floor height of 900 mm for convenient passenger boarding, and offers a certified operating range of over 150 km under fully loaded operating conditions with a top speed of up to 80 km/h. The bus is equipped with electro-hydraulic power steering, an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), regenerative braking and disc brakes, designed to enhance safety, driving comfort and operational efficiency.


Commenting on the launch, Shri Venkatesh Challa, Director, Keto Motors Limited, said,"The launch of the Urbanova KE9 represents much more than the introduction of a new electric bus. It marks the beginning of Keto Motors' next phase of growth as we work towards building a comprehensive commercial mobility ecosystem for India. Our vision goes beyond vehicle manufacturing to integrating advanced engineering, connected technologies, charging infrastructure and digital fleet management into a single platform. By combining indigenous manufacturing with proven global technology partnerships, we are developing commercial electric mobility solutions engineered specifically for Indian operating conditions. At Keto Motors, we are not here merely to participate in the electric bus market—we are here to bring something new to commercial mobility."


Beyond the vehicle itself, Urbanova KE9 has been engineered as a connected commercial mobility platform. The integrated digital ecosystem enables fleet operators to remotely monitor vehicle performance, battery health, maintenance requirements and operational efficiency, while laying the foundation for future connected vehicle capabilities including remote diagnostics, integrated safety systems and over-the-air software enhancements.


The Urbanova KE9 has secured CMVR Type Approval Certification from the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), validating compliance with statutory safety and performance standards, including structural integrity, passenger safety, range efficiency and operational reliability.


Beyond vehicle manufacturing, Keto Motors is building a connected commercial mobility ecosystem through engineering, technology integration, digital services and lifecycle support. By combining intelligent software with robust vehicle engineering, the company aims to help fleet operators improve safety, maximise vehicle uptime and enhance operational efficiency throughout the vehicle lifecycle.


The unveiling of the Urbanova KE9 marked an important milestone in Keto Motors' growth journey and reinforced its commitment to accelerating India's transition towards sustainable public transportation. As India continues to adopt cleaner mobility solutions, Keto Motors will build on the legacy of its founding team by combining proven industry experience with advanced technology, strategic partnerships and indigenous manufacturing to deliver the next generation of reliable electric buses for India and global markets.