Keto Motors Urbanova KE9 Electric Bus Launched in India, ₹300 Crore Telangana Expansion Announced

Key Highlights

• Keto Motors launched its first 9-metre electric bus, Urbanova KE9.

• ₹300 crore investment planned to expand manufacturing in Telangana.

• Urbanova KE9 offers over 150 km certified range and seats 31 passengers.

• KETO Connected platform provides real-time fleet monitoring and diagnostics.

• GARC-certified electric bus with ABS, regenerative braking and disc brakes.

Hyderabad-based Keto Motors has officially entered India's commercial electric bus segment with the launch of its first 9-metre battery-electric bus, Urbanova KE9. The new electric bus has been designed for urban public transport and institutional mobility. During the launch event, the company also handed over the first Urbanova KE9 bus to its operating partner.

Founded in 2018, Keto Motors said the launch marks a major milestone in expanding its commercial electric vehicle (EV) portfolio. The company added that its founding team has been involved in the early development of India's electric bus ecosystem, bringing valuable industry experience to the new product.

₹300 Crore Investment to Expand Manufacturing in Telangana

To support its growth in the electric bus segment, Keto Motors is significantly expanding its manufacturing capacity in Telangana.

As part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Telangana government in December 2025, the company plans to invest around ₹300 crore. This investment will be used to expand its existing manufacturing facility at Jadcherla and set up a new greenfield plant at the Telangana EV Mobility Valley.

The expansion is expected to increase production capacity for 9-metre electric buses while generating more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next three years.

Urbanova KE9: Key Specifications and Features

The Urbanova KE9 is a 9-metre electric bus designed to meet the needs of city transport operators and institutional fleet owners.

Key Specifications

Safety and Performance Features

The Urbanova KE9 comes equipped with several safety and driving assistance technologies, including:

• Electro-hydraulic power steering

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

• Regenerative braking

• Disc brakes

These features are aimed at improving driving comfort, passenger safety and overall operating efficiency.

KETO Connected Platform for Fleet Management

Along with the launch of the new electric bus, Keto Motors introduced KETO Connected, a digital fleet management platform developed in partnership with ROQIT.

The platform offers multiple connected vehicle features, including:

• Real-time vehicle health monitoring

• Battery performance analytics

• Remote diagnostics

• Predictive maintenance

These tools are designed to help fleet operators improve vehicle uptime, monitor battery performance and reduce maintenance costs.

Technology Partnership with TRON Energy Technology

Keto Motors has also partnered with Taiwan-based TRON Energy Technology to strengthen its electric vehicle technology.

The collaboration will focus on:

• Advanced battery systems

• Electric powertrain technologies

• Chassis engineering

This partnership is expected to support the company's future commercial EV development plans.

Urbanova KE9 Receives GARC Certification

The Urbanova KE9 has received CMVR Type Approval certification from the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC). This certification confirms that the electric bus complies with India's statutory safety and performance standards required for commercial vehicles.

Company Statement

Speaking at the launch, Venkatesh Challa, Director, Keto Motors, said that the Urbanova KE9 represents more than just a new electric bus. According to him, the launch marks the beginning of the company's next phase of growth as it aims to build a comprehensive commercial mobility ecosystem for India.

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CMV360 Says

With the launch of the Urbanova KE9, Keto Motors has entered India's fast-growing electric bus market while strengthening its long-term expansion plans. Backed by a ₹300 crore investment, new manufacturing facilities, advanced technology partnerships, connected fleet solutions and GARC certification, the company is positioning itself to serve urban and institutional transport operators as demand for commercial electric mobility continues to grow across the country.