Mahindra Logistics Drives into Luxury Mobility, CCI Seeks Additional Details, and SuperYou’s SuperYou Pro

Mahindra Logistics has entered India’s premium ride-hailing market with Alyte, a tech-enabled B2C service offering chauffeur-driven, high-comfort vehicles for urban consumers. It’s a move that signals not only Mahindra’s diversification into consumer-facing mobility but also the growing belief that India’s premium urban commute is finally a market worth chasing.

For context, India’s overall ride-hailing market was pegged at over $13 billion (2024), growing at ~10% CAGR. Premium ride-hailing services, charging ₹800-₹1,500 for a typical city ride, remains a small but lucrative niche estimated at $400-$500 million today and expanding faster than the mass market. The target audience: corporate executives, NRIs, diplomats, HNI households, and urban professionals who are willing to pay more for consistency, privacy, and comfort.

Alyte isn’t alone. Shoffr, Ohm Luxe, and a handful of boutique EV-based operators are circling the same space. These brands are betting on three big shifts:

• An affluent urban segment that’s tired of inconsistent service quality on mass platforms.

• Rising corporate travel budgets for premium employee transport.

• The EV wave making luxury fleets cleaner, quieter, and cheaper to run long-term.

History shows why this matters. When Uber entered India in 2013, it arrived with sleek black sedans, suited drivers, and the aura of Silicon Valley sophistication. But price-sensitive demand forced it to go mass-market, introducing low cost UberX, UberGo, and auto-rickshaw services. Ola mirrored the strategy and launched similar cabs. Rapido went even leaner with bike taxis. This race to the bottom kept prices low but eroded premium service consistency.

The premium segment saw a few experiments - most notably BluSmart, an EV fleet promising zero cancellations and fixed pricing. But BluSmart shut down after allegations of financial misconduct triggered a funding freeze, a stark reminder of how fragile capital-heavy models can be in this space.

Today’s players like Alyte, Shoffr, and Ohm Luxe believe they can succeed where BluSmart failed by focusing on asset-light or hybrid fleet models, stronger corporate tie-ups, and strict operational discipline. Ohm Luxe, for instance, is building a high-end EV fleet targeting both airport transfers and long-distance luxury travel. Shoffr plays heavily on personalized chauffeur experiences, positioning itself as a lifestyle service rather than a mere commute option. Their strategy is based on rentals, not single-ride trips. The services include pre-booked airport transfers, hourly rentals for city use, and outstation travel.

Alyte’s advantage is Mahindra Logistics’ existing B2B transport muscle - decades of fleet management, compliance expertise, and large corporate relationships - now extended to individual users.

The key difference from VC-backed giants like Ola, Uber, and Rapido is business model discipline. Instead of burning cash for mass adoption, these premium services aim for high-margin, repeat customers. The unit economics are better: fewer but higher-value trips, predictable corporate contracts, and premium pricing that can sustain without subsidies.

The challenge? Staying premium while scaling. India’s market has a history of forcing even aspirational brands to dilute quality to chase volume. Alyte and its peers must resist that pull, building trust through consistent service standards, tech-enabled personalization, and loyalty-driven retention.

If they get it right, this could be the first time India sustains a premium ride-hailing ecosystem without the compromises that derailed earlier attempts. For Mahindra Logistics, Alyte is more than a new revenue stream - it’s a bet that India’s urban mobility story now has room for a profitable, high-end chapter.

Let’s go through what else is happening in Indian startup world - Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Kuch Toh Gadbad Hai Daya”: CCI Seeks Additional Details In Antitrust Review Of Zepto, Blinkit & Instamart

India’s antitrust watchdog isn’t rushing to deliver a verdict on your 10-minute grocery apps just yet.

The CCI has asked for more evidence from a petitioner accusing Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart of unfair market play, covering everything from pricing tricks to operational muscle-flexing.

Read more here

“Yuddh Ki Taiyyari”: Tesla To Speed Up Superchargers, Targets September For India Deliveries

Tesla is fast-tracking its Supercharger network in Gurugram, Noida, Saket, Mumbai, and Bengaluru ahead of its planned September India debut.

Where the imported Model Y, priced at ₹59.89 lakh due to steep tariffs, will compete with luxury EVs from Mercedes, BMW, and Audi, as the country’s EV market gains momentum and rivals like VinFast commit billions to local expansion.

Read more here

“My Name Is Ranveer Ching”: Ranveer Singh-backed SuperYou launches clean-label protein powders

Ranveer Singh’s SuperYou is flexing into the protein game with its new clean-label SuperYou Pro, powered by bio-fermented yeast protein tech.

After shaking up snacks with protein wafers and multigrain chips, the brand now promises 24–27g of complete protein, all nine essential amino acids, and zero allergens per scoop.

Read more here

“Mere Desh Ki Dharti”: Shunya Agritech signs MoU with ICAR-IIMR to conduct joint research on green fodder

Shunya Agritech is teaming up with ICAR - Indian Institute of Maize Research to grow the future of livestock feed.

The duo will research hydroponic-based maize green fodder that’s nutrient-rich, climate-resilient, and aimed at giving dairy yields a healthy bump.

Read more here

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2. Mumbai-based e-pharmacy Truemeds has closed its $85 Mn Series C round led by Accel and Peak XV Partners, with participation from WestBridge Capital and Info Edge Ventures, and will use the funds to expand in non-metro markets and strengthen its tech teams.
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3. RBI-registered NBFC FincFriends has raised ₹41.5 Cr in debt from existing investors, including IBL Finance and Moneywise Financial Services, to expand its lending footprint in smaller cities and towns. The raise follows its ₹98.5 Cr debt funding in the previous fiscal quarter.
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4. Eyestem Research has raised $10 Mn in an oversubscribed round to advance its Phase 2 clinical trial in India for Eyecyte-RPE™, its investigational retinal pigment epithelial cell therapy, and to prepare an IND filing with the US FDA.
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5. Graas has raised $9 Mn in a round led by Tin Men Capital, with participation from Incred Wealth, Orzon, Integra Partners, and Yuj Ventures, to scale its agentic AI stack, Agent Foundry, in India. Founded in 2022, the startup offers AI-driven B2B ecommerce solutions.
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