TVS Motor Company, in a departure from conventional automotive body designs, showcased TVS X, its electric scooters, featuring Karnataka’s rich artistic heritage.
Unveiled at a collectors’ soirée held in Bengaluru, these bikes feature designs including architecture of Hampi from the erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara empire, Channapatna’s traditional toy craft art, and the grandeur of Mysuru’s erstwhile royalty.
These traditionally body crafted TVS X units, curated in collaboration with designer Manoviraj Khosla, would be auctioned through A Hundred Hands, a non-profit trust, and proceeds would go towards supporting the sustainable livelihood of the artisans community in Karnataka while preserving traditional craft practices.
TVS Motor Company officials said the initiative was about positioning mobility within the larger context of design, culture, and craft. It was an attempt to move beyond performance and specifications, to explore how a mobility platform/machine could also offer a canvas for cultural storytelling.
Gaurav Gupta, president, India Two Wheeler Business, TVS Motor Company, said: “We are bringing Indian art and architectural heritage into a contemporary form. We are starting with Karnataka, and this marks the start of a larger journey across India. We’re using TVS X as a canvas to reinterpret India’s art and cultural heritage.”
