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Matter to launch one EV bike each year; targets 60 dealerships in FY26

Matter to launch one EV bike each year; targets 60 dealerships in FY26

Time of India7 days ago
Matter Motor Works
, an Ahmedabad-based electric motorcycle startup, plans to launch one new model every year for the next three years as part of its expansion strategy, said Co-founder and COO Arun Pratap Singh, as reported by PTI.
Speaking at the launch of the company's first geared electric bike, AERA, Singh said Matter aims to scale operations nationwide, targeting 50–60 dealerships by the end of FY26. Of these, 20 outlets are expected to be in South India, a key region for premium motorcycle demand.
'There are products planned, at least a new launch every year,' Singh said, adding the company remains focused on
electric motorcycles
, with no immediate plans for scooters.
The company began deliveries of the AERA in October 2024, after nearly six years of development. Sales were initially limited to Ahmedabad to gather feedback before rolling out nationally.
Matter expects to sell around 10,000 vehicles in FY26, ramping up to 50,000–60,000 units in the following year. Its Ahmedabad plant has a capacity of 10,000 units per month.
Strategy to resolve supply chain issue
The company has so far raised $80 million and plans to secure an additional $200 million in the next couple of years, ahead of a potential IPO in 3–4 years. On supply chain concerns, Singh acknowledged challenges around sourcing rare earth magnets and said the company is working with Chinese suppliers while also exploring non-Chinese alternatives that use magnets without rare earth materials.
'We're actively looking at alternatives to avoid future supply disruptions,' Singh said.
Matter's expansion and product roadmap signals its ambition to emerge as a key player in India's growing
electric two-wheeler market
, with a clear focus on technology, scale, and regional reach.
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How U.S. buyers of critical minerals bypass China's export ban
How U.S. buyers of critical minerals bypass China's export ban

The Hindu

time27 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

How U.S. buyers of critical minerals bypass China's export ban

Unusually large quantities of antimony— a metal used in batteries, chips and flame retardants— have poured into the United States from Thailand and Mexico since China barred U.S. shipments last year, according to customs and shipping records, which show at least one Chinese-owned company is involved in the trade. China dominates the supply of antimony as well as gallium and germanium, used in telecommunications, semiconductors and military technology. Beijing banned exports of these minerals to the U.S. on December 3 following Washington's crackdown on China's chip sector. The resulting shift in trade flows underscores the scramble for critical minerals and China's struggle to enforce its curbs as it vies with the U.S. for economic, military and technological supremacy. Specifically, trade data illustrate a re-routing of U.S. shipments via third countries— an issue Chinese officials have acknowledged. 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ETMarkets Smart Talk: Fixed income still has a place in FY26 - 15–20% allocation ideal for most, 70% for seniors, says Aamar Deo Singh
ETMarkets Smart Talk: Fixed income still has a place in FY26 - 15–20% allocation ideal for most, 70% for seniors, says Aamar Deo Singh

Economic Times

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ETMarkets Smart Talk: Fixed income still has a place in FY26 - 15–20% allocation ideal for most, 70% for seniors, says Aamar Deo Singh

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Can China compete against US in AI talent war with homegrown minds?
Can China compete against US in AI talent war with homegrown minds?

Business Standard

time34 minutes ago

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The latest eye-watering artificial intelligence outlays aren't going toward high-end chips or data-center buildouts, but individuals. The competition for AI talent prompted Meta Platforms Inc. to reportedly offer sign-on bonuses of $100 million to lure senior staff from rivals. It feels 'as if someone has broken into our home and stolen something,' OpenAI's chief research officer said of the aggressive poaching in a memo to staff obtained by Wired. The latest victim: Apple Inc., which just lost top executive Ruoming Pang to Meta. It's telling that so many of the superstar players US tech titans are boasting about adding to their rosters are of Chinese origin. Including Pang, eight out of the 12 new recruits to the Meta Superintelligence Labs team graduated from universities on the mainland before pursuing careers abroad. It means that a key driver of the global AI race is an intense scramble for the people building it: Chinese talent. But American business leaders shouldn't assume that the big paychecks alone will win an international talent contest. Researchers at Harvard University last month said that the number of high-impact scientific publications shows that China dominates in 'raw human capital for AI.' This helps drive indigenous research despite US advantages in computing power and investment. Top workers may still be keen on making money overseas, but that doesn't mean a lot of them won't stay at home. Separate researchers at Stanford University in May analyzed data on the more than 200 authors listed on DeepSeek's technical papers. The firm's success story is 'fundamentally, one of homegrown talent,' they found. Half of DeepSeek's team never left China for education or work, and those who did ultimately returned to pursue AI development. This has policy implications for the US. China looks at international experience less as a brain drain and more as a way for researchers to acquire knowledge before returning home, the Stanford paper said. The US 'may be mistakenly assuming it has a permanent talent lead.' It aligns with other data that suggests America has been losing its allure as a destination for top-tier AI researchers. Only 42 per cent of these individuals worked in the US in 2022, compared to 59 per cent in 2019. During that same period, China was closing the gap fast, rising to 28 per cent from 11 per cent. The Chinese government, meanwhile, has been funding AI labs and research at universities as part of industrial policy. It's not clear how well this investment has paid off, but it has helped incubate talent who went on to support breakthroughs at private companies. One of DeepSeek's keystone papers, for example, was co-authored by scholars at Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nanjing University. In this way, China has been building up an ecosystem of innovation that doesn't center around poaching individual star players. Domestic firms are less able to spend so lavishly to attract top talent. US private investment in AI was nearly 12 times the amount in China, according to one analysis. Earlier this year, state-backed news outlet the Global Times reported on the 'high-paying job offers' from DeepSeek, which could amount to annual income of some 1.54 million yuan per year (just under $215,000). It's a significant sum in urban China, but hardly the instant millionaire-minting figures being tossed around in Silicon Valley. DeepSeek is nonetheless in the midst of a recruiting blitz — one that's trying to attract overseas Chinese AI researchers to come back home. It has posted a spate of roles on LinkedIn, a platform that's not used domestically. As my colleague Dave Lee has written, this is about more than just money, but instead convincing workers that their contribution 'will matter most in the history books.' DeepSeek may be hoping that this pitch will work on homesick Chinese talent. Ultimately, just under half of the world's top-tier AI researchers come from China, compared to 18 per cent from the US. Many may be seeking opportunities abroad, but Beijing is pulling all its levers to convince at least some to stay at a time when America isn't signaling a warm welcome. Mind boggling sign-on bonuses from Silicon Valley may be enough to win a cross-border battle for talent, but time will tell if it's enough to win the war.

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