From a Small Town to Ruling the Roads with a Rs 45 Crore Turnover Electric Two Wheeler Brand

Life came to a standstill during the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, with vehicles off the roads as people stayed home. While many talked about the cleaner air, Prashant Vashistha started thinking about how this improvement could last, even after vehicles returned.

A two-wheeler enthusiast since his teen years, Prashant had begun researching greener automobiles as early as November 2019. The lockdown made him realise the even greater potential of the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Prashant Vashistha found a need for quality electric two-wheelers  in the Indian market and launched  Sokudo Electric in 2021 (Photos: Special Arrangement)

He noticed a gap in the Indian auto sector, especially in the quality and performance of domestic electric two-wheelers compared to international models.

“The dominance of low-speed electric scooters that didn’t meet quality standards or regulatory norms really bothered me. The government’s push for a green energy revolution in India and the promotion of electric two-wheelers further fuelled my interest in the segment,” recounts Prashant.


“I began to connect with several dealers and market players, and became aware of challenges like the high upfront cost of vehicles, widespread availability of subpar products, frequent battery explosions, substandard vehicle and battery components, and motor-related issues.”

In an effort to tap this burgeoning market of electric vehicles, Prashant founded Sokudo Electric in 2021 as a private limited company along with his younger brother Nishant Vashishtha, 40. The brothers jointly invested around Rs 100 crore in the project.

Sokudo Electric’s headquarters office and plant are located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It also has an active branch office in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

“Before launching Sokudo Electric as a business, I worked in several institutions including private and government organisations such as MOIL Ltd., Shree Ganesh Group, Money Matters Consulting LLP, and Arth Concepts India Pvt. Ltd, for over 25 years,” says Prashant, the Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Prior to launching Sokudo, Prashant has worked in various companies in the finance industry

“Most of these companies are involved in the finance industry. So you can say that I have been a ‘finance guy’ for most part of my career. I have held the role of Director in all of these companies. In fact, I am still a Director at MOIL Ltd., in addition to my role at Sokudo Electric.”

Sokudo Electric accepts bookings for its scooters online through its website and a network of dealership outlets. The company is already operating in approximately 100 locations across India, including Tier-I and Tier-II cities such as Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Surat, Ahmedabad, Indore, Ujjain, Jalgaon, Mathura, Agra, and Prayagraj.

“When we launched the company, we had around 50 employees, mostly R&D guys. Our first electric two-wheeler was Acute. But we made 32 changes to the model based on feedback from customers,” shares Prashant.

“For example, some said there was no boot space in the scooter, some complained about the height, so we decreased it; some said the rear view mirror was heavy; some wanted a different headlight. We also introduced a single disc brake instead of two. We began recruiting our sales team in April 2024.”

Sokudo’s customers include students, urban and rural commuters, young professionals, last-mile service personnel, eco-conscious riders, individuals with mobility issues, and older adults.

“Our electric scooters are designed to meet the needs of both high-speed and low-speed users, making them practical for a wide range of customers,” says Prashant. “However, our vehicles are most popular among the educated urban population and those who understand the benefits of electric scooters. We are also looking to expand into rural areas.”

Their scooters are powered by Lithium Ferro Phosphate batteries for a longer range and come with a 15-amp converter for efficient charging. They feature certified IP 67 motors, fireproof batteries, and tough ABS plastic bodies ranging from 3.5mm to 5.25mm thick. CANBUS connectors allow real-time monitoring for riders. Each scooter comes with a three-year warranty on the battery and a five-year warranty on the vehicle.

Around 200 people are employed with Sokudo Electric

The Acute model, with a range of up to 150 km, features self-start, automatic transmission, and reverse gear, and is priced at Rs. 1,04,890. The Select 2.2, available at Rs. 89,889, offers a range of up to 100 km, while the Rapid 2.2, priced at Rs. 82,889, also provides a range of up to 100 km. The Plus model, priced at Rs. 59,889, offers a range of up to 105 km.

In addition to two-wheelers, Sokudo Electric also offers riding accessories such as helmets, anti-theft alarms, Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, front and back guards, footrests, mats, and chrome rearview mirrors for two-wheelers. These accessories account for 1-2% of the company's revenue.

Today, the company employs around 110 people with expertise in various fields such as sales, plant operations, quality analysis, and customer service. "Their collaborative efforts continue to help us achieve our growth and efficiency targets with ease," says Prashant.

Born and raised in a small town called Anupshahr situated on the banks of Ganges in Bulandshahr district, U.P., 100 km from Delhi, Prashant completed his schooling from the Hindi medium LDAV Inter College in 1991.

He completed his B.Sc (Physics Hons) in 1994 from Aligarh Muslim University. “Later, I enrolled in a management programme and graduated from the Indian Institute of Rural Management, Jaipur.”

Two-wheelers being assembled at a Sokudo Electric plant

“I used to drive friends' scooters and bikes right from my teen years, and was always fascinated about two-wheelers.”

Prashant’s father is a practicing advocate at the district court in Bulandshahr and Anupshahr, and his mother is a homemaker. His wife too is a homemaker and the couple has two daughters and a son.

“My family has always been a source of inspiration for me. The joint-family set up has taught me to approach challenges with an open mind and treat them as valuable learning experiences. My brother’s role has also been significant in my entrepreneurial journey and his faith in my vision has kept me motivated throughout the years,” says Prashant.

When he is not occupied with work, Prashant likes to unwind with a book, watch a movie, or learn about new topics that interest him. - ©TWL