Coimbatore's Konwert raises pre-Series A to turn auto-rickshaws electric

Konwert India Motors, a Coimbatore start-up that converts petrol, CNG and LPG auto-rickshaws into electric vehicles, has raised a pre-Series A funding round led by The Chennai Angels, an angel investor network, the company announced on October 23, 2026. Campus Angels Network, Keiretsu Forum Chennai and Native Angel Network also put in money as follow-on investors. The amount was not disclosed. The company said it will use the funds to grow sales, add products and enter new markets in India and abroad.

Many auto-rickshaws on India's roads run on petrol, CNG or LPG, the fuels Konwert's kits are designed to replace, and a vehicle that still runs may have years of working life left. A new electric three-wheeler is a large expense for a driver whose income depends on daily fares. Retrofitting, which means replacing the engine and fuel system of an existing vehicle with an electric motor and battery, offers a cheaper way to switch. Konwert's model is built around that gap: keep the body and chassis the driver already owns, and change only the powertrain, the part that makes the vehicle move.

The kits are certified by ARAI, the Automotive Research Association of India, according to the company. Certification from a recognised testing agency matters for retrofits, because a converted vehicle still has to meet safety and registration rules before it can carry passengers.

The deal is also a reminder that start-up money is not limited to the metros. Konwert is based in Coimbatore, not a metro, and its backers are angel networks rather than large venture capital funds. Angel investors are individuals who put their own money into early-stage companies, often through organised groups such as The Chennai Angels. A pre-Series A round usually comes after initial seed money and before a company seeks a larger institutional round.

Deepak Reddy, the lead investor from The Chennai Angels, said electrifying transport is central to India's goals for energy independence, according to the announcement. Founder Nickendra Manikandan said the company has entered its scaling phase.

Short-term: The money is meant for sales growth and a wider product range. Drivers in the company's markets may see more conversion options and financing through its lending partners.

Long-term: If retrofits prove reliable and affordable at scale, they could let a large share of existing three-wheelers move to electric power without being scrapped early, which would matter for city air quality and fuel imports. That depends on battery life, resale value and service support holding up, which the company's claims alone cannot show.

Who is affected: Auto-rickshaw owners and drivers, especially in Tamil Nadu; lenders that finance small vehicle owners; service networks; and angel investors and founders in smaller cities building clean-mobility businesses.

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