Keto Motors Unveils Urbanova KE9, Enters India’s Commercial Electric Bus Market

Keto Motors has unveiled the Urbanova KE9, its first commercial electric bus, marking the company’s entry into India’s electric bus segment. The company also handed over the vehicle to its operating partner during the launch event.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Hyderabad, Keto Motors develops commercial electric vehicles. Earlier this year, Keto Motors became a publicly listed company following a reverse merger with Taaza International Limited.

In December 2025, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana to invest approximately ₹300 crore to expand its existing manufacturing facility at Jadcherla and establish a new facility at the Telangana EV Mobility Valley. According to the company, the investment will support the production of 9-metre electric buses and is expected to create more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next three years.

The Urbanova KE9 is a 9-metre electric bus with the following specifications:

• Length: 8,985 mm | Width: 2,532 mm | Height: 3,189 mm
• Seating capacity: Up to 31 passengers
• Floor height: 900 mm
• Claimed operating range: More than 150 km under fully loaded conditions
• Top speed: Up to 80 km/h
• Features include electro-hydraulic power steering, anti-lock braking system (ABS), regenerative braking and disc brakes.

Keto Motors said it has developed KETO Connected, a digital fleet management platform in collaboration with ROQIT. The platform includes features such as vehicle health monitoring, battery analytics, remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance and fleet operations management.

According to the company, the Urbanova KE9 has received CMVR Type Approval Certification from the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), certifying compliance with applicable statutory safety and performance requirements.

The company has also entered into a partnership with TRON Energy Technology of Taiwan for liquid-cooled battery technology, battery management systems (BMS), connected vehicle technologies, powertrain technologies and chassis engineering.

The launch event was attended by G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, who unveiled the bus. In his address, he 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.”

Y. Nagi Reddy, Managing Director of 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.”

Commenting on the launch, Venkatesh Challa, Director, Keto Motors, 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.”

Keto Motors said it intends to focus on commercial electric mobility through vehicle manufacturing, engineering, technology integration, digital fleet management and lifecycle support for fleet operators.

Also read: Keto Motors Debuts on Bombay Stock Exchange