More stories

  • in

    KTM India Sales, Exports Breakup April 2021 – Duke, RC 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

    Image – Motor MurahKTM India domestic sales dipped while exports reported growth in April 2021
    Two-wheeler sales in India during the month of April 2021 were badly affected by second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The second wave swept the nation and lockdowns and plants being shut threw production and sales into complete turmoil. The situation is set to get worse in May 21 with every two wheeler maker reporting lower footfalls as a result of the lockdown.
    KTM India sales figures for April 2021 are now available. While we cannot compare sales with that of April 2020 when sales were nil, we do compare it to sales in March 21, the month in which two wheeler sales had shown some semblance of improvement.
    KTM India Domestic Sales
    KTM India has reported de-growth in terms of domestic sales to the extent of 27.26 percent. Sales which had stood at 6,217 units in March 21 dipped to 4,522 units in April 21. The company’s 200cc range posted the highest sales with 1,410 units sold in April 21, down by 36.66 percent as against 2,226 units sold in March 21.
    KTM’s 200cc range commands a 31.81 percent share and does contribute reasonable numbers each month even as it is one of the costliest 200cc bikes in India, with a starting price of Rs 1.82 lakh.
    KTM India Sales and Exports April 2021
    KTM 125cc range also saw lower MoM sales at 1,172 units sold in April 21 as against 1,719 units sold in March 21. KTM India has been actively testing the updated 125 Duke and 250 Duke, both of which have been noted with new overall designs and revised engines, frames, sub-frames, swing-arms.
    Sales of the KTM 250 and 390 also fell substantially to 1,089 units and 851 units in April 21 respectively. This was against 1,249 units and 1,023 units sold in March 21. KTM 390 is also set to get a major overhaul for 2022 with complete overhaul of its design, hardware and electronic package, and will hit road across India early next year. The old bike has been taken off the shelf to make place for the new bike.
    KTM India Exports
    KTM India noted a 161.90 percent growth in exports in April 21 to 12,477 units, up from 4,764 units exported in March 21, a volume gain of 7,713 units. The KTM 390 was most in demand in global markets with 5,563 units shipped in the past month, up from 2,392 units exported in March 21.
    The KTM 200cc noted the most percentage growth at 458.33 percent to 3,685 units, up from 660 units exported in March 21. Export growth was also noted in the case of the KTM 125 and 250, growing 83.81 percent and 101.99 percent to 2,316 units and 913 units respectively. These lower domestic sales but higher exports took total KTM sales in April 2021 to 16,999 units, up 54.80 percent over 10,981 units sold in March 21. More

  • in

    350cc Motorcycle Sales April 2021 – Classic, Bullet, Meteor, Electra, CB350

    Image – Jet WheelsWhile domestic MoM growth is negative, exports have registered impressive numbers
    A total of 47,650 units were sold in the domestic market in April 2021, which is negative MoM growth of -22.14%. Sales during March 2021 were higher at 61,201 units. Excluding Bullet 350, all other motorcycles in the list have negative MoM growth. The on-going challenges due to pandemic and lockdown are primarily responsible for drop in sales.
    On the other hand, exports have registered 57.96% MoM growth in April 2021. A total of 2,720 units were exported in April 2021, as compared to 1,722 units in March 2021. All motorcycles have positive MoM growth.
    350cc motorcycle domestic sales April 2021
    Royal Enfield Classic 350 continues to lead, even though MoM growth is down by -26.50%. A total of 23,298 units were sold in April, as compared to 31,696 units in March. Classic 350 commanded a market share of 48.89% in April 2021.
    At number two is Bullet 350 with sales of 9,908 units in April. MoM growth is at 2.22%, as compared to 9,693 units sold in March. Bullet market share is at 20.79%. Meteor 350 takes the third spot with sales of 7,844 units in April. MoM numbers are down by -25.97%, as compared to 10,596 units sold in March. Market share is at 16.46%.
    350cc Motorcycle Sales and Exports – April 2021
    Next is Electra 350 with sales of 3,631 units. MoM sales growth is negative at -26.11%, as compared to 4,914 units sold in March. Market share is at 7.62%. At number five is Honda CB350 with sales of 2,969 units. MoM growth is down by -30.99%, as compared to 4,302 units sold in March. CB350 market share is at 6.23%.
    350cc motorcycle exports April 2021
    Meteor 350 leads with 1,143 units exported in April 2021. MoM growth is at 28.43%, as compared to 890 units exported in March 2021. Meteor 350 percentage share in exports is at 42.02%. At number two is CB350, which appears to be gaining popularity in overseas markets. MoM export growth is a whopping 460.00%, up from 150 units in March to 840 units in April. Share in exports is at 30.88%.
    Classic 350 is next with exports of 724 units in April. MoM growth is 6.63%, as compared to 679 units exported in March. Share in exports is at 26.62%. At number four is Electra 350 with exports of 13 units. MoM growth is 333.33%, as compared to 3 units exported in March. Share in exports is at 0.48%.
    Challenges for the auto sector are expected to continue for some more time till the pandemic situation comes under control. Lockdown in various cities is creating production hurdles as well as adversely impacting demand. New product launches and deliveries have been impacted as a result. Hopefully, just like last year, the auto sector will be able to make a strong comeback by end of this fiscal. More

  • in

    Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Posts Highest Ever Sales, Beats TVS iQube – April 2021

    Bajaj Chetak Electric ScooterBoth Chetak and iQube will soon be available in multiple cities pan India
    While there are many electric two wheeler brands in the market, Chetak and iQube are the only ones from mainstream manufacturers. Sales numbers are still relatively small, as compared to that of petrol powered two wheelers.
    But that could change soon, as both Bajaj and TVS have planned to expand their presence in more cities in the country. Chetak is currently available in Pune and Bengaluru, whereas iQube has presence in Bengaluru and Delhi.
    Chetak vs. iQube sales April 2021
    Bajaj appears to have resolved the problems related to shortage of imported components for Chetak. It’s evident in April sales that have zoomed a whopping 464.44% MoM. A total of 508 units were sold in April, as compared to 90 units in March. With this, Chetak has taken the lead over iQube. In earlier months, iQube used to be ahead.
    As Chetak’s production was affected due to short supply of components, iQube had taken the lead since December last year. It had maintained the lead till March 2021. In April, iQube sales were 307 units. MoM sales growth is down by -13.52%, as compared to 355 units sold in March.
    Bajaj Chetak vs TVS iQube Sales
    Chetak vs. iQube sales Jan-April 2021
    If we look at the first four months of this year, iQube still has the lead in terms of overall sales. Total sales of iQube in Jan-April period is 1,076 units, as compared to 778 units of Chetak. If Chetak maintains the momentum it has in April, it could be ahead of iQube by year end in overall sales.
    If we compare the two scooters, it’s easy to see that they offer matching features. Both scooters have a classic, elegant design, which would appeal to most people. Both scooters get their power from IP67 rated water and dust resistant lithium-ion batteries. The battery warranty of 50k km / 3 years is also the same for both scooters.
    For folks who are looking for longer range, their first choice could be Chetak. That’s because Chetak offers 95 km in Eco mode, as compared to 75 km of iQube. However, iQube has top speed of 78 kmph as compared to Chetak’s 70 kmph (Approx. based on user reviews).
    It remains to be seen who will emerge a winner in the long term. A lot will depend on how rapidly the expansion plans are executed, reliability of after sales service and availability of charging stations. By end of this fiscal, TVS has plans to launch iQube in 20 new cities. Bajaj has an even more aggressive plan to expand operations to 30 new cities. More

  • in

    Top 10 Two Wheelers April 2021 – Splendor, Activa, Pulsar, Apache, Jupiter

    Image – MRD VlogsTotal top 10 two-wheelers sold in April 2021 report MoM gain over March 2021

    Two-wheeler wholesales in March and April 2021 are impossible to gauge keeping in mind the current business environment. With Covid-19 pandemic infection numbers being reported in lakhs each day in recent weeks, states have declared curated lockdowns. While this ensures essential services are not throttled, two wheeler sales have been affected.
    Keeping in mind the dangers of spreading Covid-19, dealerships are yet again no longer functional in the capacity they were a few months earlier. At the same time, manufacturing routines too have been adjusted with a number of companies pre-posing plant maintenance schedules.
    Considering a complete lockdown in April 2020, no automobile sales were registered a year earlier. For April 2021, Hero Splendor continued its chart topping performance. Wholesales is reported at 1,93,508 units. MoM growth stood at 34.63 percent, up from 1,43,736 units at volume gain at just under 50k units. In the top 10 two-wheeler chart, market share is reported at 28 percent.
    Honda Activa a high volume scooter
    Honda Activa MoM wholesales dipped by 4.43 percent. Numbers fell to 1,09678 units, down from 1,14,757 units at volume loss of just over 5k units. MS is pegged at below 16 percent. Honda’s CB Shine sits third on the to-selling list at 79,416 units. Sales fell by 8.33 percent, down from 86,633 units at volume loss of 7,217 units. MS stood at 11.51 percent.
    Top 10 Two Wheelers April 2021
    Hero’s HF Deluxe saw the steepest decline in the top order at almost 38 percent. MS hovered over 10 percent. Wholesales is reported at 71,294 units, down from 1,14,969 units at volume loss of 43,675 units.
    Bajaj Pulsar sales growth
    Bajaj Pulsar sales grew by about 30 percent. Sales is reported at 66,586 units, up from 51,454 units at volume gain of just over 15k units. Suzuki finds its Access scooter sales maintain a regular average. Wholesales is reported at 53,285 units. MoM volume gain doubled from 26,474 units. Volumes grew by 26,809 units.
    MoM Bajaj Platina sales grew by about two-thirds. Wholesales is reported at 35,467 units, up from 21,764 units at volume gain of 14,203 units. MS is pegged at just over 5 percent. TVS Apache growth is reported at 35.35 percent. Wholesales stood at 29,458 units, up from 21,764 units at volume gain of 7,694 units.

    Top 10 Two Wheelers
    Apr-21
    Mar-21
    %

    Splendor
    1,93,508
    1,43,736
    34.63

    Activa
    1,09,678
    1,14,757
    -4.43

    CB Shine
    79,416
    86,633
    -8.33

    HF Deluxe
    71,294
    1,14,969
    -37.99

    Pulsar
    66,586
    51,454
    29.41

    Access
    53,285
    26,476
    101.26

    Platina
    35,467
    21,264
    66.79

    Apache
    29,458
    21,764
    35.35

    TVS XL
    25,977
    32,808
    -20.82

    Jupiter
    25,570
    21,001
    21.76

    Total
    6,90,239
    6,34,862
    8.72

    TVS XL moped MOM sales dipped by just over 20 percent, down at 26k units. Sales fell from 32,808 units at volume decline of 6,831 units. TVS Jupiter wholesales is reported at 25,570 units. MoM sales grew from 21k units at volume gain of 4,569 units. Total unit sales for the top ten two wheelers stood at 6,90,239 units. MoM gain stood at 55,377 units, up from 6,34,862 units at 8.72 percent growth. More

  • in

    2022 Yamaha R7 Makes Global Debut – Official Specs Revealed

    2022 Yamaha R7
    The new Yamaha R7 shares its heart and most of its underpinning with its naked sibling MT-07
    Yamaha has officially unveiled its upcoming middleweight supersport tourer R7 which will be replacing the R6 from the Japanese bikemaker’s international lineup. The company shared a teaser of the faired motorcycle on its YouTube channel giving a sneak peek of the upcoming machine.
    A set of leaked images further clarified details about the superbike. Now, the manufacturer has officially revealed the motorcycle in its production form along with its specs and other details. Serving as a replacement to the outgoing R6, the latter was discontinued last year after it failed to comply with stricter Euro-5 emission standards.
    2022 Yamaha R7
    Updated Styling
    Starting with its design, Yamaha has retained the aggressive styling of R6 in the new R7 while adding a few subtle variations in order to distinguish itself from its predecessor. It gets a fully revised front end with a single-pod headlight instead of twin-pod LED units in R6. The LED headlight is positioned inside an air intake ram which also gives the front end of the bike a twin-beam design. The headlamp is also flanked by twin LED DRLs giving the motorcycle a menacing face.
    The front windscreen is taller than its predecessor providing better protection from windblast. The side fairings have also been completely revised that feature massive scoops redirecting hot air away from the rider’s legs.
    [embedded content]
    The muscular fuel tank features a signature grille pattern complemented by taut lines which enhance its aerodynamic qualities. The tail section is sharp and upright as a usual Yamaha R-series but looks more audacious than the previous iteration.
    The faired supersport motorcycle will be offered in two colour schemes- Raven Black and Team Yamaha Blue. Body-coloured alloy rims on the latter add an extra bit of sporty appeal to the bike. Other notable highlights include a clip-on handlebar, rear-set footpegs, split seat setup and underbelly exhaust with short muffler.
    Mechanical Specs
    The new R7 shares most of its mechanical bits with the MT-07 naked streetfighter. Hence, it will be powered by a 689cc parallel-twin engine which pumps out 72.4 bhp at 8,750rpm and 67 Nm of torque at 6,500rpm. This motor is mated to a six-speed gearbox.

    Yamaha R7 Specs
    Details

    Engine type
    2-cylinder, Liquid-cooled, EURO5, 4-stroke, 4-valves, DOHC

    Displacement
    689cc

    Bore x stroke
    80.0 x 68.6 mm

    Compression ratio
    11,5:1

    Maximum power
    54,0 kW (73,4 PS) @ 8.750 rpm

    Limited power version
    35,0 kW (47,6 PS) @ 7.750 rpm

    Maximum torque
    67,0 Nm (6.8 kg-m) @ 6.500 rpm

    Lubrication system
    Wet sump

    Clutch type
    Wet, Multiple Disc

    Ignition system
    TCI

    Starter system
    Electric

    Transmission system
    Constant Mesh, 6-speed

    Final transmission
    Chain

    Fuel system
    Fuel Injection

    Frame
    Diamond

    Caster angle
    23°40′

    Trail
    90 mm

    Front suspension system
    Telescopic fork

    Rear suspension system
    Swingarm, (link suspension)

    Front travel
    130 mm

    Rear travel
    130 mm

    Front brake
    Hydraulic dual disc brake, Ø298 mm

    Rear brake
    Hydraulic single disc brake, Ø245 mm

    Front tyre
    120/70ZR17M/C (58W) Tubeless

    Rear tyre
    180/55ZR17M/C (73W) Tubeless

    Overall length
    2.070 mm

    Overall width
    705 mm

    Overall height
    1.160 mm

    Seat height
    835 mm

    Wheel base
    1.395 mm

    Minimum ground clearance
    135 mm

    Wet weight (including full oil and fuel tank)
    188 kg

    Fuel tank capacity
    13,0 l

    Oil tank capacity
    3,0 l

    The supersport bike employs the same frame as its naked sibling albeit with some minor modifications. However, the major change has been provided in the suspension setup which comprises upside-down forks at front instead of conventional telescopic forks.
    The rear is constant with the same mono-shock unit. Braking hardware consists of dual discs at front and a single disc at rear which are assisted by a dual-channel ABS. The bike is expected to go on sale in Europe in a few weeks time. Upon its launch, the new R7 will rival the likes of Aprilia RS660 and Kawasaki Ninja 650. More

  • in

    Voge ER10 Electric Motorcycle Debuts With Range Of 100 Kms

    Voge ER10 Electric MotorcycleVoge E-Bike ER10 motorcycle has been priced at Euro 6,590 equivalent to INR 5.86 lakh
    Every other day we come across some new electric vehicle brand introducing a new product. Some of these brands are not even heard of in our part of the world and are unlikely to make it to our shores anytime soon. Voge is one such brand that provides electric mobility solutions for the two-wheeler segment.
    For the uninitiated, Voge is a subsidiary brand of Chinese automotive company Loncin Motorcycle. Strictly speaking, Voge is not an all-new brand and has already been present in European markets with electric two-wheelers such as Voge 500DS and 650DS launched recently across the continent.
    Voge ER10 Electric Motorcycle
    More Details
    The company also introduced an entry-level ADV named Voge 300DS in the French market. Now, the Chinese brand has launched an electric motorcycle called E-bike ER10 in Italian markets which will serve as one of its flagship products in its current lineup.
    ER10 will be pitted against the 125cc conventionally IC-powered motorcycles in the competitive Italian market which means riding it would require only an A1-B license. This allows 16-year old riders to own this bike.
    Voge ER10 Electric Motorcycle
    Design & Features
    As far as looks are concerned, ER10 is one sharp-looking naked motorcycle adopting a minimalistic design. The bike gets all-black panels with a thin yellow stripe bordering the front bikini fairing adding a hint of sportiness.
    Other styling highlights include a rear tyre hugger, raked up tail section with a single-piece seat, tall handlebars and a muscular faux fuel tank that acts as a storage compartment and accommodates a single open-face helmet.
    The saddle is reasonably accessible at 800mm, however, what adds to the riding convenience is a lightweight chassis tipping the weighing scales at just 115 kilos. In terms of features, ER10 gets all LED lighting, a USB charging socket, an LCD instrument console, two riding modes, keyless ignition and a remaining battery indicator. The oval-shaped headlight is another quirky bit of styling element lending the motorcycle exclusivity.
    Voge ER10 Electric Motorcycle
    Specifications
    Coming to its specifications, ER10 features a 60V/6 kW electric motor at its heart which derives energy from a 60V/70Ah lithium-ion battery pack. This powertrain returns an output of 19 bhp at 3,500rpm and 42 Nm of peak torque at 4,660rpm. The electric motorcycle can reach a top speed of 100 kmph and offer a maximum range of 100 kms on a single charge.
    Speaking of its dynamics, suspension duties are handled by a pair of telescopic forks at front and single shock absorber with adjustable preload linkage at rear. Disc brakes on both ends carry out anchorage duties which are governed by Dual-channel ABS. The bike rides on 17-inch black alloy wheels shod by 110/70 section at front and a 140/60 section at rear. Currently, there are very low chances of this bike making it to Indian market. More

  • in

    Hero Harley 500cc Motorcycles Launch Planned – To Rival Royal Enfield

    Upcoming 300cc cruiser from Harley DavidsonHarley connection can provide Hero the right thrust to enter the middleweight segment
    When Hero-Harley partnership for announced last year, there were quite a few questions and ambiguities about its scope and objectives. Things are starting to get clearer now, as Hero MotoCorp is said to be planning twin model bikes for middleweight segment. This arrangement would be something similar to BMW-TVS venture that’s led to the production of bikes like Apache RR 310 and BMW G 310 R.
    As part of Hero-Harley partnership, Hero is currently managing distribution, sales and service for Harley Davidson. As per the agreement, Hero will be developing mid-capacity bikes for Harley as well.
    Rebadged versions of these will be developed under the Hero brand also. These are expected to be positioned as relatively affordable options, as compared to Harley bikes of same capacity. The twin models are expected to share much of their hardware such as engine, chassis, etc.
    Challenger to Royal Enfield
    Globally, the middleweight motorcycle segment comprises products with engine capacity of 500cc to 900cc. In the Indian market, the preferences are skewed heavily in favour of 350cc-400cc motorcycles.
    Harley Davidson 300cc Roadster. Image – Cycle World.
    This segment is dominated by Royal Enfield, which commands around 90% market share. This is where Hero will be positioning its middleweight motorcycles. According to the company’s CFO, Niranjan Gupta, the development of these motorcycles is already underway. However, there’s no exact timeline about when these bikes will be unveiled.
    With Harley’s support, Hero could get a good start in the middleweight motorcycle segment. It can also seek encouragement from the fact that Honda CB350 has been registering consistent sales month after month. New products in this space may not influence hard-core Royal Enfield fans. However, folks with a neutral outlook can definitely think about trying something new.
    Portfolio expansion
    For years, Hero has remained the undisputed leader of commuter motorcycles. However, its dream of creating a bestseller in premium motorcycle segment is yet to be achieved. A number of attempts were made in the past such as 225cc Karizma ZMR. This had to be withdrawn in 2019 due to lack of desired sales numbers.
    Hero’s current portfolio maxes out at 200cc with products like Xpulse 200, Xpulse 200T and Xtreme 200S. These have been generating decent sales numbers, but there’s need to expand portfolio. The profit margin is much higher with premium motorcycles. For example, the profit margin on Pulsar is around double that of Hero’s bestseller Splendor.
    It will be interesting to see how the market responds to middleweight Hero motorcycles. As of now, the brand is synonymous with affordable commuter motorcycles. Breaking into the cult-like following of Royal Enfield has been a challenge for all manufacturers. It will continue to be so for Hero as well.
    Source More

  • in

    Gogoro Viva Electric Scooter Patent Filed – To Be Launched Under Hero ?

    Gogoro Electric ScooterBesides Gogoro, Hero MotoCorp is also looking to develop its own range of electric two-wheelers starting with an electrified version of Maestro Edge
    As mentioned in our previous report, Hero MotoCorp has been planning to launch its own dedicated lineup of EVs and recently announced a major partnership with Taiwanese EV brand Gogoro. Apparently, the Indian bikemaker will seek the expertise of Gogoro in battery swapping technology and could also launch a couple of its rebadged models in India.
    In the latest development, it has come to light that Gogoro has filed patents for its Viva electric scooter in India. These trademarks are in the form of both its design as well as its name. This e-scooter could be launched and marketed in India under Hero MotoCorp’s dealerships under the Indian company’s dedicated brand of electric two-wheelers.
    Gogoro Electric Scooter
    The trademark application dates back a few months, hence it can be concluded that plans of launching an EV have been on Hero’s mind for a long time now. Due to a family pact with Hero Electric, Hero MotoCorp would have to launch its electric two-wheelers under a separate brand name so as not to create confusion. The new brand name will be revealed ahead of its first electric two-wheeler launch.
    Powertrain Specs
    Coming back to Gogoro Viva, it looks like a cute little scooter that weighs a meagre 80 kilos including the battery pack and motor. It is offered in two variants- basic and keyless and is powered by a motor that produces 3kW (4 bhp) of power and 115 Nm of peak torque.
    Gogoro Electric Scooter
    When driven at a consistent speed of 30kmph it can deliver a range of 85km on a single charge. The India-spec model is expected to be offered with the same specifications while its launch is slated to take place sometime in 2022.
    Features on offers
    Notable features on offer include a quirky design, Synchronized Braking System (SBS), smart sensors, all-LED lighting, iQ System Smart Keycard, USB charging port, fixed step bar and a digital instrument console with an LCD negative display with backlight. The top-spec trim gets additional smartphone connectivity and a keyless go feature. It gets a 21.6-litre under-seat storage capacity.
    Other Mechanical details
    Hardware configurations of the electric scooter comprise telescopic forks at front and dual rear shocks at rear. The scooter rides on 10-inch alloy wheels which are shod by 90/90-section rubber at front and 100/90-section tyre at the rear.
    Stopping duties are carried out by 180mm disc brakes at both front and rear ends. In terms of dimensions, Viva measures 1,680mm in length, 630mm in width and 1,050mm in height while it offers a wheelbase of 1,164mm. The saddle is pegged at a very accessible height of 740mm. More