Japanese two-wheeler brands have been cautious in entering India's electric scooter market. Honda made an early entry with the Activa e and QC1, both of which have since been discontinued. These models were launched with premium pricing and an expensive battery-swapping subscription model. Suzuki recently joined the fray with the e-Accessa, priced at Rs 1.88 lakh (ex-showroom).
Yamaha, however, has adopted a different strategy. The brand has partnered with Bengaluru-based River Mobility to co-develop an electric vehicle based on River’s Indie electric scooter. Unveiled in November 2025, this collaboration resulted in the Yamaha EC-06. Production of the Yamaha EC-06 has now begun at River Mobility’s Hoskote plant in Karnataka, with a formal launch expected soon.
The Yamaha EC-06 marks the brand’s debut in the Indian electric vehicle market. Unlike a mere rebadged version of the River Indie, the EC-06 features a unique design language. It boasts vertically stacked LED headlights, a distinctive apron, unique side body panels, and a smaller seat with under-seat storage.
Although the EC-06 isn’t marketed as an “SUV scooter,” it lacks some of the rugged, practical elements found in the River Indie. This design choice likely results in a lighter weight compared to the Indie, which tips the scales at over 140 kg. Similar to the Indie, the EC-06 is equipped with large 14-inch alloy wheels and fat tyres for enhanced stability.
The scooter features a flat floorboard and offers 24.5 litres of storage capacity—considerably less than the Indie’s 43-litre boot. Yamaha has equipped the EC-06 with an LCD instrument cluster that provides basic functionalities and disc brakes on both wheels for superior braking performance. The charging port is located behind the apron, and the scooter uses a traditional keyhole for ignition, unlike the smart key system found in the Aerox 155.
The Yamaha EC-06 is powered by a robust 4 kWh battery pack, enabling a claimed range of 160 km on a single charge. This battery powers a single electric motor that delivers 9 bhp of peak power and a top speed of 90 km/h. The scooter also includes Y-Connect integration, offering a SIM-based telematics suite for added convenience and connectivity.
The EC-06 offers three riding modes: Eco, Standard, and Power, catering to different driving needs. With a conventional home charger, the scooter takes approximately 9 hours to reach a full charge. Yamaha is expected to position the EC-06 as a fun and agile scooter, aligning with its brand philosophy.
Although pricing details remain undisclosed, they will be announced soon, giving Indian consumers another exciting option in the rapidly growing electric scooter market.