Dinesh Arjun successfully manages two ventures, Broaching India (automotive manufacturing) and Dino Motorcycles (automotive retail). Prior to this, he worked with automotive giants as a supplier and dealer. He also gained experience working with the design feedback and manufacturing teams at Tesla.
Arjun is enthusiastic about his role at Raptee, highlighting the excitement of changing the fundamentals of electric two-wheeler technology. “Going high voltage on a two-wheeler has never been done before and that opens up a series of challenges in design, development, manufacturing and customer experience. The thrill and satisfaction of being able to do that indigenously in India are just amazing,” he emphasises.
Arjun believes that the four-wheeler EV industry has already matured and the transition has begun. “The standards, charging infrastructure, and most importantly, the products are ready and make practical sense to be used today. However, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers are still lagging behind. Consumers need clarity on how the product and infrastructure will evolve over a five- to eight-year period to make a purchase decision. This is not yet clear in the EV and e2W spaces,” he says.
Known for his hands-off management style, Arjun values empowering his team at Raptee, particularly those handling technical decisions. His focus is on ensuring that decisions related to components, especially the battery, are made by experts. “For example, what works best for the battery, the battery lead understands and it is important for him/her to have the freedom to make those decisions.” He asserts that his role is to guide how these components impact the rider experience.
As an engineer, Arjun is always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of things around him. Building EVs is just the start of a larger vision for accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. “As an immediate goal, we hope to deliver a tech-backed product that provides a superior rider experience compared to petrol vehicles and leads the EV transition in two-wheelers,” he remarks.
His academic background includes a master’s in industrial engineering from Purdue University, Indiana, and an undergraduate degree in production engineering from Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai. In his spare time, Arjun loves to work on making the workspace better and more efficient for everyone. “Looking at better furniture, making the pantry more fun and ensuring everyone is comfortable at work,” he adds.
