Hyderabad: Keto Motors, an emerging commercial electric vehicle manufacturer, on Sunday unveiled its first commercial electric bus, the Urbanova KE9, marking its entry into India’s fast-growing electric bus segment. The company said the Urbanova KE9 has been developed as a locally engineered solution for urban and institutional transportation, reflecting its strategy to deliver reliable zero-emission mobility solutions for public transport and commercial fleet operators.
Founded in 2018, Keto Motors said it builds on the experience of a founding team that played a key role in the development of India’s early electric bus industry by introducing global technology partnerships, establishing domestic manufacturing capabilities and supporting large-scale deployment of electric buses under Indian operating conditions.
The company said it aims to leverage this experience to develop next-generation electric buses with a focus on engineering, localisation and advanced technology integration.
Earlier this year, Keto Motors became a publicly listed company following its reverse merger with Taaza International Ltd, a move it said would strengthen its long-term growth plans, product development and business expansion.
To expand its manufacturing footprint, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Telangana government in December 2025 to invest around Rs 300 crore. The investment will be used to expand its existing 20-acre manufacturing facility at Jadcherla and establish a new greenfield facility at the Telangana EV Mobility Valley.
The project is expected to support the production of 9-metre electric buses and generate more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next three years, while making Telangana the company’s primary manufacturing hub.
The Urbanova KE9 is a 9-metre electric bus designed for city and institutional transport operations. It can accommodate up to 31 passengers and offers a certified operating range of more than 150 km under fully loaded conditions. The bus has a top speed of up to 80 kmph and is equipped with electro-hydraulic power steering, anti-lock braking system (ABS), regenerative braking and disc brakes.
Keto Motors said the bus has been developed as a connected mobility platform, enabling real-time vehicle health monitoring, battery analytics, remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance through its integrated digital ecosystem.
The company has also developed the KETO Connected platform in collaboration with ROQIT to provide fleet operators with digital tools for vehicle monitoring, operational visibility and maintenance management aimed at improving fleet uptime and reducing operating costs.
In addition, Keto Motors has entered into a strategic partnership with Taiwan-based TRON Energy Technology to access advanced battery systems, liquid-cooled battery technology, battery management systems, connected vehicle technologies, powertrain solutions and chassis engineering expertise.
The company said the Urbanova KE9 has received CMVR Type Approval Certification from the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), validating compliance with statutory safety and performance standards, including structural integrity, passenger safety, operational reliability and range efficiency.
Keto Motors said it plans to combine indigenous manufacturing, advanced engineering and strategic technology partnerships to strengthen its presence in India’s electric commercial vehicle market while also targeting opportunities in overseas markets.