Commercial electric vehicle manufacturer Keto Motors Ltd has entered India’s electric bus market with the launch of its first commercial electric bus, the Urbanova KE9.
The Urbanova KE9 is a 9-metre electric bus measuring 8,985 mm in length, 2,532 mm in width and 3,189 mm in height. It can accommodate 31 passengers and has a floor height of 900 mm. It has an operating range of over 150 km under fully loaded conditions and a top speed of up to 80 kmph.
Safety features
The EV is equipped with electrohydraulic power steering, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), regenerative braking and disc brakes to improve safety, driving comfort and operational efficiency.
KE9 has also been developed as a connected commercial mobility platform, enabling fleet operators to remotely monitor vehicle performance, battery health, maintenance requirements and operational efficiency.
TGSRTC Plans EV Expansion
“We believe capital subsidies for electric bus procurement will help State Road Transport Corporations accelerate this transition. Greater collaboration between RTC, Metro Rail and private mobility operators will be crucial to improving public transport and last-mile connectivity,” said TGSRTC Managing Director Y. Nagi Reddy.
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) currently operates 10,201 buses, including 1,050 electric buses, serving nearly 60 lakh passengers every day.
TGSRTC plans to induct 800 electric buses by December 2026 and another 1,400 by December 2027, moving towards deploying around 3,000 electric buses in Hyderabad.
Growth Strategy
“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,” said Keto Motors Director Venkatesh Challa.
Earlier this year, Keto Motors became a publicly listed company following its reverse merger with Taaza International Ltd. The company said the launch of Urbanova KE9 aligns with its strategy of offering locally engineered zero-emission mobility solutions for public transport and fleet operators.
Manufacturing Expansion
In December 2025, Keto Motors signed a memorandum of understanding with the Telangana Government to invest ₹300 crore in expanding its existing 20-acre manufacturing facility at Jadcherla and setting up a greenfield facility at the Telangana EV Mobility Valley.
The investment will support manufacturing of 9-metre electric buses, create more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next three years and establish Telangana as Keto Motors’ primary manufacturing hub for future capacity expansion.