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    Hero Passion XPro Spied During TVC Shoot – Is It For India?

    Global offering Passion XPro spotted shooting commercial in IndiaHero Passion XPro on sale in Bangladesh is powered by a 109.15cc engine – Different from India-spec Passion’s 113.2cc engine
    A new Hero motorcycle has been spied in India, while it was out for a TVC shoot. It is a Hero Passion XPro. This motorcycle is on sale in a few global markets like Bangladesh. There, Hero offers two colours, Techno Blue and Sports Red. Base coat is grey and gets Blue or Red decals depending on its colour.
    The one spotted in India is in a Techno Blue shade. Hero offers Passion XPro the exact same front fascia of India-spec Passion XTEC. Even its ‘H’ shaped LED signature is identical too and lends a modern and techy appeal.
    Hero Passion XPro Spied
    Hero has offered extended tank shrouds. Design is sleek and slender, lending it an athletic appeal. At the rear, there is an all-new tail light which has no similarities with the Indian 110cc lineup. Hero’s proprietary XTEC suite with a fully digital instrument console and Bluetooth connectivity are notable elements.
    We can spot similar componentry between Hero’s 110cc lineup in India and recently spotted Hero Passion XPro. Except for its engine. Which is a 109.15cc unit, completely different from India-spec 113.2cc motor. The same 109.15cc engine was on offer on Passion XPro on sale in India, which didn’t make the BS6 P1 transition in 2020.
    Top – Passion XPro, Middle – Passion XPro Bangladesh-spec, Bottom – India-spec Passion Pro
    In the picture, we can see that the India-spec 113.2 cc engine (below) has a larger heat jacket and even looks more substantial and fuller than Passion XPro’s 109.15cc engine (above). The recently spotted Passion XPro in India is equipped with the older 109.15cc engine which didn’t make the BS6 P1 transition and not the BS6 P2-compliant 113.2cc engine.
    Hero Passion XPro spied in India during TVC shoot
    Also, Hero offers older engines in a few markets. For example, Hero still makes a 150cc Hunk and exports it with an identical engine we used to get close to a decade ago. It is likely that Hero MotoCorp is shooting an advert for Passion XPro in India to market it in another country. This is a common practice and many India-spec vehicles get their adverts shot elsewhere too.
    100cc Motorcycles rule the market
    Analysing the Indian budget commuter segment, most action lies in 100cc space. Hero’s own 110cc motorcycles don’t make as much buzz as their 100cc offerings. For example, Passion is exclusively (as of now) a brand for 110cc offerings in Hero’s lineup.
    In March 2023, Passion line sold just 4,640 units, while Splendor range accounted for 2,88,605 units (most of them 100cc) and 56,290 units of 100cc HF lineup. Even the 125cc Glamour line sold 8,512 units. As we recently saw with Passion Plus 100, Hero is actually diversifying its 100cc portfolio. Which is where all the action is currently lying. Even Honda recognised this and has launched Shine 100.
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    Honda Shine 100cc Production Starts – First Batch Dispatched To Dealers

    Honda Shine 100cc Production StartsHonda Shine 100cc will rival commuter bikes such as Hero Splendor, Hero HF100, HF Deluxe and Bajaj Platina 100
    Hero Splendor that had positioned itself at No.1 on sales charts in India is set to get a new rival in the form of the Honda Shine 100cc. This new commuter bike has been launched at Rs 64,900 (ex-showroom). This is an introductory price which is set to be increased in due course.
    Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has reported a YoY growth of 6.14 percent in domestic sales in Apr 2023. There was also a 71.28 percent MoM growth in sales. With the new Shine 100cc, Honda can now hope for increased sales in coming months.
    Honda Shine 100cc Production Starts
    Honda has announced the start of production of Shine 100cc. First batch has rolled out the company plant in Narasapura (Karnataka). Dispatch to dealers across India has also started. Deliveries to customers will commence in a few days.
    The new Honda Shine 100 is being offered in 5 colours of Black with Red Stripes, Black with Blue Stripes, Black with Green Stripes, Black with Gold Stripes and Black with Grey Stripes. Where ergonomics are concerned, the new Shine gets a long seat of 677mm, low ride height of 786mm, ground clearance of 168mm and wheelbase of 1,245mm.
    New Honda Shine 100cc – Brochure
    It commands a turning radius of 1.9 meters. On board features also include aluminum grab handles, attractive front cowl, uniquely designed fuel tank, halogen headlamp and distinctive tail lamp. It rides on black finished alloy wheels while other features include side stand with engine inhibitor and Combi-Brake System (CBS) with equalizer. It also sports an analogue instrument cluster with speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge.
    Honda Shine 100 – Engine
    The Honda Shine gets a 99.7 cc, air cooled, single cylinder engine that offers 7.6 hp power and 8.05 Nm torque mated to a 4 speed constant mesh gearbox. Power offered by its arch rival Hero Splendor is marginally higher at 8 hp while torque figure remains the same. Honda confirms that performance and fuel efficiency will be the best in the segment. Though mileage figures are not yet revealed, expected mileage could be in the 60-70 km/l range.
    The 100cc engine gets fuel injection and Solenoid which allows for a smoother start in any type of weather conditions while it also prevents the engine from starting if the side stand is engaged. The engine is OBD – 2 compliant and is capable of running on E20 fuel which is petrol with 20 percent ethanol blend.
    Honda Shine 100 which is based on a new diamond-type frame, gets telescopic forks in the front and dual spring-loaded shock absorbers at the rear. Braking is via drum brakes at the front and rear with combined braking system as standard. Honda is also offering the new Shine 100 with a special 6 year warranty pack of 3 years standard and 3 years optional. Besides rivaling Hero Splendor, the new Honda Shine 100, which is offered in a single variant will also compete with the Hero HF Deluxe and HF 100 and also with the Bajaj Platina 100. More

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    Hero MotoCorp Sales April 2023 – 3.68 L Motorcycles, 27k Scooters

    Hero Super SplendorThe company expects sales in the coming months to increase significantly thanks to new product launches, healthy GDP growth in India as well as more positive consumer sentiments
    Hero MotoCorp has opened the first month of the new financial year having suffered a YoY and MoM decline in sales. The company ended FY 2022-23 on a positive note with sales at 53,28,546 units in the April-March 2023 period which related to an 8 percent growth as against 49,44,150 units sold in FY 2021-22.
    Hero MotoCorp total sales dipped by 5.38 percent to 3,96,107 units in April 2023. This was as against 4,18,622 units sold in April 2022. MoM sales also fell by 23.73 percent from 5,19,342 units sold in March 2023.
    Hero MotoCorp Sales April 2023
    Hero MotoCorp has recorded a de-growth in terms of motorcycle sales in the past month. Sales fell to 3,68,830 units in April 2023, down 6.06 percent YoY from 3,92,627 units sold in April 2022. This was a YoY volume decline of 23,797 units with motorcycles commanding a 93.11 percent share. MoM sales were also in the red by 24.09 percent from 4,85,896 units sold in March 2023 with a 1,17,066 unit volume decline.
    Scooter sales on the other hand grew on a YoY basis by 4.93 percent to 27,277 units in April 2023 up from 25,995 units sold in April 2022. MoM sales however, fell by 18.44 percent from 33,446 units sold in March 2023. The recently launched Xoom 110cc scooter has been doing well in sales. It is available in three variants – LX, VX and ZX and priced from Rs 68,599-76,699 (ex-showroom).
    Hero MotoCorp Sales April 2023
    Total domestic sales (motorcycles + scooters) were down by 3.09 percent YoY to 3,86,184 units in April 2023 from 3,98,490 units sold in April 2022. MoM sales also fell by 23.18 percent over 5,02,730 units sold in March 2023. Exports also suffered YoY and MoM decline by 50.71 percent and  40.27 percent respectively with only 9,923 units shipped in April 2023.
    Hero MotoCorp Sales April 2023
    Hero MotoCorp in April 2023
    During the past month, a custom built Harley-Davidson Road King was presented to a specially-abled employee, Chitra Zutshi. The bike was handed over at a ceremony held at Hero’s Global Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. Chitra piloted the bike on a testing track under the supervision of an expert.
    Hero MotoSports Team Rally also concluded a run at Sonora Rally 2023. The team was represented by Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler in the first event held in North America, finishing at 7th and 10th positions respectively. The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has VIDA as the official electric mobility brand partner of the Lucknow Super Giants.  More

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    Ather Mandating Dot Charger? Portable Charger To Cost Extra?

    Ather Dot Charger
    Ather Dot charger and Portable charger have their own unique benefits, which is why customers need to have the option to choose
    Ather 450X electric scooter can be charged in a home environment or via the Ather Grid charging network. The Grid is accessible for only the top-spec Ather 450X Pro Pack variant. For home charging, the options available are the wall-mounted Dot charger and the easy-to-carry Portable charger.
    However, as per inputs provided by a user, Ather now seems to be mandating the Dot charger with the scooter. Earlier, buyers had the option to choose between Dot charger and Portable charger at the time of making the payment. Now, it appears that Dot charger is part of standard equipment. Anyone who needs the Portable charger will have to pay extra.
    Different needs, different chargers
    Both Dot charger and Portable charger have their unique advantages. Dot charger seems more hassle free, as one does not need to carry the charger with them or worry about forgetting it or misplacing it.
    The Dot charger comes with all the required installation accessories. It can be installed by Ather on request or by any local electrician. Once installed, the Dot charger is like having a fuel pump installed right inside your home.
    Ather Portable Charger
    However, Dot charger won’t be suitable for folks who have varying commuting schedule. This is especially true in case there aren’t enough Ather Grid stations in the city. Also, 450X base-spec owners will anyways won’t have access to the Grid. Another limitation of Dot charger is that it will work with only the owner’s scooter. It will not work with any other Ather scooter. But users have the option to approach Ather customer helpline and request to link the charger with the scooter ID.
    Ather Portable charger seems more convenient, as it works just like a laptop charger. Any 5A socket can work for Ather Portable charger. It can be easily carried anywhere under the seat. Portable charger also makes sense for folks who switch houses and cities quite often. The Portable charger is not linked to any specific scooter ID and can be used to charge any Ather scooter.
    Users may end up with 2 chargers
    If the Dot charger is part of standard equipment, users wanting the Portable charger will end up with two chargers for their Ather scooter. They will also need to pay extra to get the Portable charger. This will result in wastage of resources.
    It remains to be seen how Ather responds to feedback from users. If there’s sizeable pushback, it is possible that Ather may bring back the option to choose between the Dot charger and the Portable charger. Clearly, there’s no technical or safety issue with the Portable charger, as it is available at additional price. Mandating Dot charger may not impact Ather scooter sales, but it seems a bit unsettling for folks who prefer a portable charger. More

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    Yezdi Launched In Nepal – Prices NPR 9.16 Lakh (Rs 5.72 Lakh)

    Yezdi Launched In NepalThe same 334cc single-cylinder engine with a 4V head and liquid cooling does duties on all Yezdi motorcycles launched in Nepal
    Mahindra-owned Classic Legends have revived the Yezdi brand along with Jawa. Yezdi’s resurgence mainly targets Royal Enfield’s lion’s share in classic and retro motorcycle segment. For Nepal, Classic Legends have partnered with Agni Moto Inc Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Agni Group as authorized distributor.
    Yezdi’s entire portfolio is launched in Nepal. We’re talking about Roadster, Scrambler and Adventure motorcycles. Agni Moto priced NPR 9.16 lakh for Roadster, NPR 9.4 lakh for Scrambler and NPR 9.98 lakh for Adventure.
    Yezdi Motorcycle Range Launched In Nepal
    Today’s currency exchange rates translate into an (ex-sh) price of Rs. 5.74 lakh for Roadster, Rs. 5.89 lakh for Scrambler and Rs. 6.26 lakh for Adventure. In comparison, Yezdi Roadster costs Rs. 2.01 lakh for Roadster, Scrambler costs Rs. 2.08 lakh and Adventure costs Rs. 2.13 lakh (ex-sh) in India. This is a perfect example of perks for domestic manufacturing.
    All Yezdi motorcycles come equipped with the same 334cc single-cylinder engine. All three motorcycles get different tuning. In Nepal, Roadster generates 29.23 bhp and 29 Nm, Scrambler develops 29.1 bhp and 28.2 Nm and Adventure kicks out 30.2 bhp and 29.9 Nm. These performance figures are in the same ballpark as we get in India. Yezdi equips all its motorcycles with a 6-speed gearbox, a 4V head and a liquid-cooling setup.
    Yezdi Motorcycles Launch Price In Nepal
    Even though the engine is liquid-cooled, Yezdi took the extra mile and added fins to its casing. Paying tribute to Yezdis of the yesteryear, which is nice attention to detail. All motorcycles get LED lighting all around, a fully digital instrument cluster, 320mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS. Only Scrambler and Adventure get Bluetooth connectivity.
    Style & Substance
    The neo-retro design theme is present across the portfolio. Elements that amplify this are round headlights, minimal body panels, fins on its engine and more. Yezdi Roadster gets 18” front and 17” rear alloy wheels, Scrambler gets 19” front and 17” rear wire-spoke wheels and Adventure gets 21” front and 17” rear spoke wheels.
    Both Roadster and Scrambler get a smaller 12.5L fuel tank, but Adventure gets a larger 15.5L fuel tank. Rider’s triangle is different across Yezdi’s motorcycle lineup, suiting respective body styles.
    Roadster gets Smoke Grey, Inferno Red, Crimson, Steel Blue, Hunter Green, Sin Silver and Gallant Grey shades. Scrambler gets Fire Orange, Outlaw Olive, Yelling Yellow, Bold Black, Midnight Blue, Rebel Red and Mean Green colours. That said, Yezdi only offers Adventure in Slick Silver and Mambo Black in Nepal. More

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    Charging Customers for Chargers? Ola Electric to Refund Rs 130 Crores

    Ola Electric Scooter Charger. Image – Ride With Ayan
    Ola Electric to refund Rs 130 crore to customers for overcharging on charging accessories/offboard chargers
    Ola Electric has announced that it will refund Rs 130 crore to customers who purchased charging accessories/ offboard chargers for their vehicles. This decision comes after an investigation initiated by the FAME found that the accessories were being sold at an additional price, in violation of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme guidelines.
    Under the FAME scheme guidelines, integral parts such as chargers and proprietary software are not supposed to be sold as accessories above the price of the vehicle. This is to ensure that vehicle prices remain within a limit and to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles. Violations of these guidelines can result in subsidies being withheld from the companies.
    Ola Electric faces consequences for violating FAME guidelines on charging accessory prices
    Ola Electric sold off-board chargers as accessories for its S1Pro scooter at a price ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 19,000, which resulted in an overcharge of Rs 130 crore to customers.
    Ola Electric accepted the findings of the investigation and agreed to refund the overcharged amount to customers. The reimbursement applies to billings generated from FY 2019-20 until March 30, 2023.
    Ola Electric Scooter Charger
    Ola Electric’s refund: a victory for electric scooter customers
    The decision to refund Rs 130 crore to customers who purchased charging accessories for their Ola S1Pro scooter is a significant win for them. Customers who were overcharged will receive their money back, and this move will help to increase the adoption of electric vehicles in the country. It also sets a precedent for other companies who have violated FAME guidelines to follow suit and refund their customers.
    A lesson for companies to follow FAME pricing and accessory guidelines
    Ola Electric’s decision to refund its customers is a step in the right direction towards encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles in India. It also sends a clear message to other companies that violations of FAME guidelines will not be tolerated, and they will be held accountable for their actions. Going forward, it is essential that all companies adhere to the guidelines set by the government to ensure that the transition to electric vehicles is smooth and successful.
    In conclusion, the refund of Rs 130 crore by Ola Electric to its customers who purchased charging accessories for their vehicles is a welcome move. It not only benefits customers but also sends a clear message to other companies that FAME guidelines must be followed. This decision will go a long way in encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles in the country, and it is hoped that other companies will follow suit.
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    KTM 390 Adventure V With Duke 390 Suspension – Launched

    KTM 390 Adventure V Variant Launch SoonAfter launching the X variant, KTM has now launched V variant of the 390 Adventure – It gets the same engine
    With a high ground clearance, ADVs offer a lot of versatility. They can trundle along on a beaten path and even full-on off-roading sessions shouldn’t be an issue. But, high ground clearance is often directly proportional to a tall seat height.
    This becomes unappealing for shorter riders, who resort to tip-toeing. Riding such bikes is not recommended, especially on loose surfaces and soft ground, as it could be dangerous. KTM 390 Adventure is getting a solution for this. KTM has launched a new low seat-height variant denoted by ‘V’ that will address this shortcoming.
    Low Seat-Height ‘V’ Variant – New KTM 390 Adventure V
    The launch of 390 ADV X has been a solid effort from KTM to attract a wider range of audience. It made the motorcycle affordable by almost Rs 60k. With the 390 ADV V variant, KTM aims make the bike accessible to shorter riders
    In the image we can see a 5′ 9″ guy tip-toeing on a regular 390 Adventure and flat-footing on a 390 Adventure V. In the new 390 ADV V variant, KTM is offering both front and rear suspensions from 390 Duke to achieve a lower seat height and a new low-profile seat as well. This means, the suspension travel will be 142mm front and 150 mm rear with V variant as opposed to 177 mm and 170 mm on standard variant.
    KTM 390 Adventure V Variant
    Thanks to this, seat height of KTM 390 ADV has been reduced from 855 mm to 830 mm. KTM 390 Adventure V is priced at Rs 3.38 lakh, which is same as the standard KTM 390 ADV. Apart from the suspension setup, there is no other change. All other features, tech remain same.
    As of now, KTM offers two Adventure motorcycles based on 390 and 250 series platforms. Both of them share their design, body panels, and seating position. KTM 390 Adventure and 250 Adventure get 190mm of ground clearance, which leads to a rather high seat height of 855 mm. Similar changes to KTM 390 Adventure V are likely to trickle down to 250 Adventure in the future.
    Numbers On Papers Vs Real Experiences
    KTM’s high seat height might be because these platforms were not designed from scratch to be ADVs. If we take the Royal Enfield Himalayan for example, it has a much higher 220 mm ground clearance and despite that, boasts a seat height of just 800 mm. This is one of the main driving factors for Himalayan.
    Seat height on paper doesn’t completely translate to flat-foot ability in real life. Royal Enfield Himalayan’s 800mm seat height is not any friendlier over Hero Xpulse’s 825mm of seat height. This is because Himalayan has a much wider seat base. Now legs have to go sideways and then down to flat-foot, instead of just down. Narrow seat will ensure that a lower seat height number on paper translates into real-life convenience. Apart from seat ht, design of the seat also plays an important role in how comfortable the motorcycle will be.
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    TVS Motor Sales April 2023 – Grows YoY, Declines MoM

    Image – Bharat TVSTVS Motor production and sales of premium two-wheelers have been severely affected due to AIS156 changeover and shortage of semiconductors
    Sales of TVS Motor Limited increased by 3.70 percent YoY while MoM sales dipped 3.45 percent in April 2023. The TVS iQube has been seeing outstanding demand and sales of this electric scooter has reached an important sales milestone to 1 lakh units.
    Total sales (domestic + exports – 2W and 3W) in the past month stood at 3,06,224 units, up 3.70 percent YoY over 2,95,308 units sold in April 2022. This was a volume growth of 10,916 units. It was however, a 3.45 percent MoM decline in sales (total 2+3W) from 3,17,152 units sold in March 2023 relating to a volume decline of 10,928 units.
    TVS 2W Sales April 2023
    Taking into account motorcycle sales, it was a YoY growth of 9.59 percent to 1,52,365 units in April 2023, up from 1,39,027 units sold in April 2022. Motorcycles command a 51.69 percent share. MoM sales also saw positive results with a 7.87 percent growth over 1,41,250 units sold in March 2023 when share percentage stood at 45.93. Scooter sales also increased YoY to 1,07,496 units, up 5.17 percent from 1,02,209 units sold in April 2022. However, MoM sales dipped 16.55 percent from 1,28,817 units sold in March 2023.
    Electric Scooter sales also received a 338.52 percent YoY boost. The iQube electric scooter in this segment registered sales of 6,227 units, up from just 1,420 units sold in April 2022. Noting this increased demand, the company will be boosting production of this electric scooter from May 2023. MoM sales however, dipped 59.47 percent from 15,364 units sold in March 2023 relating to a 9,137 unit volume decline.
    TVS Motor Sales April 2023
    YoY and MoM dip in sales was seen in the case of TVS XL100 moped. Sales fell to 34,925 units in April 2023, down 9.95 percent from 38,786 units sold in April 2022. It was also lower by 6.85 percent when compared to 37,492 units sold in March 2023.
    TVS Motor Sales April 2023
    Total 2W domestic sales increased by 29.02 percent YoY but fell by 3.25 percent MoM to 2,32,956 units in April 2023. There had been 1,80,553 units sold in April 2022 but in March 2023 total 2W domestic sales had been at 2,40,780 units. On the other hand, 2W exports took a fall both in terms of YoY and MoM shipments.
    Exports fell by 37.85 percent YoY to 61,830 units from 99,489 units shipped in April 2022. On a MoM basis, it was a 7.41 percent de-growth over 66,779 units shipped in March 2023. This took total 2W sales to 2,94,786 units in April 2023, up 5.27 percent over 2,80,022 units sold in April 2022 but down 4.15 percent over 3,07,559 units sold in March 2023.
    TVS Motor Sales April 2023
    TVS 3W Sales and Exports April 2023
    Three wheeler domestic sales improved by 19.07 percent YoY to 1,605 units from 1,348 units sold in April 2022 with a 14.03 percent share on this list. It was also a 20.22 percent MoM growth from 1,335 units sold in March 2022 when share had stood at 13.92 percent. 3W export figures fell on a YoY basis by 29.45 percent to 9,833 units in April 2023 from 13,938 units sold in April 2022. This led to a 4,105 unit volume de-growth. MoM exports however grew by 19.07 percent from 8,258 units shipped in March 2023. TVS Motor 3W exports command a 85.97 percent share.
    Total 3W sales were brought down by lower exports last month to 11,438 units, a dip of 25.17 percent from 15,286 units sold in April 2022 while MoM sales improved by 19.23 percent as compared to 9,593 units sold in March 2023. Domestic 2+3W sales improved by 28.95 percent to 2,34,561 units on a YoY basis but fell by 3.12 percent MoM over 2,42,115 units sold in March 2023. Exports of 2+3Ws were lower both on YoY and MoM basis to 71,663 units in April 2023. More