Tarun Mehta Biography: Driving India’s EV Revolution
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- July 22, 2025
Tarun Mehta, born October 31, 1989, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is the co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy, a leading Indian electric vehicle (EV) company. With a vision for sustainable mobility, he has transformed India’s two-wheeler market with innovative scooters like the Ather 450X. This biography explores his early life, career highlights, struggles, controversies, personal life, social media presence, philanthropy, and lesser-known facts, highlighting his impact in 2025.
About Tarun Mehta
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tarun Sanjay Mehta |
| Born | October 31, 1989, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, CEO of Ather Energy |
| Notable Work | Ather 450X, Ather Rizta, Ather Grid |
| Marital Status | Private; Details not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Private; Details not publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed (Ather valued at $1.3B, 2024) |
| Awards | Forbes 30 Under 30 (2018), Fortune 40 Under 40 (2017, 2019) |
Tarun Mehta’s Early Life
Ahmedabad Upbringing
Born into a disciplined Marwari family in Ahmedabad, Tarun Mehta grew up with a focus on education and ambition. His early exposure to technology sparked a curiosity for innovation, setting the stage for his future in engineering and entrepreneurship.
IIT Madras Journey
Tarun enrolled at IIT Madras in 2007, earning a dual degree in Engineering Design by 2012. There, he met Swapnil Jain, his future co-founder. Their shared passion for sustainable technology led to discussions about electric mobility, laying the foundation for Ather Energy.
Struggles and Down Phases
Early Career Setbacks
After graduating, Tarun joined Ashok Leyland but felt unfulfilled. He told The Ken that he spent months without meaningful work, even lacking a computer, which pushed him to return to IIT Madras and explore entrepreneurial ideas.
Startup Challenges
Launching Ather Energy in 2013 was tough. Tarun and Swapnil struggled to find talent with EV expertise and faced skepticism from investors about India’s EV market. Convincing stakeholders to fund heavy R&D without immediate returns tested their resilience, as noted by Forbes India.
Career Highlights
Founding Ather Energy
In 2013, Tarun Mehta co-founded Ather Energy with Swapnil Jain to build high-performance electric scooters. Starting in a hostel room, they developed the Ather 450 series, India’s first smart scooters, launched in 2018. The company reached a $1.3 billion valuation by 2024.
Scaling Innovation
Under Tarun’s leadership, Ather launched the 450X and Rizta scooters, known for advanced tech and design. The company set up Ather Grid, with over 1,000 charging points across 80+ cities by 2023. Ather’s Hosur factory produces 110,000 scooters annually.
2025 IPO Success
In May 2025, Ather went public, raising ₹3,000 crore through its IPO, becoming India’s second EV company to list after Ola Electric. Tarun’s 36.3% salary hike to ₹3 crore in FY25 reflects his growing influence, per Storyboard18.
Personal Life
Tarun keeps his personal life private, sharing little about his family or relationships. Based in Bengaluru, he enjoys reading about technology trends and mentoring young entrepreneurs. His focus remains on Ather’s mission, as seen in his LinkedIn posts.
Controversies
PLI Scheme Exclusion
In 2025, Tarun criticized the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for excluding startups like Ather, creating a “non-level playing field” against larger players like Hero MotoCorp. His comments sparked debate on X, with users like @EVWatcher praising his candor.
Market Strategy Debate
Tarun’s decision to avoid sub-₹1 lakh scooters drew criticism from competitors like Ola Electric, who targeted budget segments. Some X users, like @TechBit, argued Ather’s premium focus limits accessibility, though Tarun defended it as sustainable, per Fortune India.
Social Media Presence
Active on X (@tarunsmehta) and LinkedIn (@tarunmehta), Tarun shares Ather’s milestones, like the 2025 IPO, which gained 5,000 likes on X. With 10,000+ X followers, he engages with EV enthusiasts, posting about sustainability and innovation, earning praise from users like @amitabhk87.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Hostel Startup: Began Ather in an IIT Madras hostel room with Swapnil Jain.
- No MBA: Applied to Harvard Business School but chose entrepreneurship instead.
- Patent Holder: Contributed to Ather’s patented battery technology.
- Early Job: Worked briefly at Mercedes-Benz R&D before Ather.
- Forbes Recognition: Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2018.
- Mentor Role: Advises startups through IIT Madras’ incubation cell.
- Localization Push: Achieved 90% localization for Ather scooters by 2024.
- Policy Advisor: Served on NITI Aayog’s EV advisory group.
Philanthropy
Tarun supports STEM education through Ather’s partnerships with IIT Madras, funding research grants for EV technology. In 2024, Ather donated to sustainable mobility programs in Bengaluru, promoting green urban transport, as reported by Business Standard. He also backs local NGOs for community development.
Current Status and Influence
In 2025, Tarun Mehta leads Ather Energy, a $1.3 billion unicorn with a presence in 27 cities. The company aims for $1 billion in revenue, per Business Today, with plans for international expansion into Japan and Europe. Tarun’s focus on premium EVs and sustainability shapes India’s mobility future.
Conclusion
This Tarun Mehta biography traces his journey from an IIT graduate to a pioneer in India’s EV revolution. Overcoming early career setbacks and startup hurdles, Tarun Mehta built Ather Energy into a unicorn, redefining electric mobility. His philanthropy and leadership continue to inspire. In 2025, he drives sustainable innovation, cementing his legacy as a visionary entrepreneur.
