Honda Bikes

Honda is stepping up focus on expanding its EV portfolio, as part of its goal to become carbon neutral by 2050New Honda Electric Bike – Zoomer EIn the initial phase of its EV roadmap, Honda will be launching at least 10 electric two-wheelers globally by 2025. EV sales target is set at one million units by 2027. By the end of this decade, Honda EV sales will be around 3.5 million units.However, ICE-based models will continue to be the mainstay for Honda in this decade. By 2030, EV sales will contribute just around 15% of Honda’s total sales. Making a complete shift to electric is a ginormous task that needs to be executed in a planned, phased manner.Honda new electric bikes unveiledHonda has showcased some of its new electric bikes, which include Cub e, Dax e and Zoomer e. These are based on their respective petrol-powered counterparts. China is the first market to get these new e-bikes. Honda’s initial EV strategy seems similar to that of other OEMs, wherein existing petrol-powered machines are being fitted with electric powertrains. This approach is being preferred, as it saves development costs and reduces time-to-market.Honda’s electric cubs look super cute, which makes them an appropriate choice for Gen Z. There’s greater acceptance for EVs among the young generation and Honda is ensuring that multiple options are available. Honda’s new e-bikes have a minimalistic design and are built for utility. These are best suited for short sprints across city streets.New Honda Electric Bike – Dax EIn many global markets, Honda’s new entry-level electric bikes may not require a driving licence. That’s because top speed is limited to 15 mph (approx. 24 kmph). Range will apparently be less in comparison to standard electric bikes, but it won’t be a problem with options like fast charging and battery swapping.Moreover, Cub e, Dax e and Zoomer e are all equipped with pedals. Even if the batteries run out for any reason or in case of other malfunction, the bikes can be used as a bicycle. Their lightweight profile ensures that users won’t have to huff and puff to run them on human power. The idea is pretty similar to Kinetic Luna that also had pedals for emergency use.Honda EV plans for IndiaIt is not certain if Honda electric cubs will be launched in India. Instead of experimenting, Honda appears to have taken a safer approach for Indian market. Honda’s first electric two-wheeler for India will be Activa Electric that is planned for launch in January 2024. This has been confirmed by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) MD and CEO Atsushi Ogata.New Honda Electric Bike – Cub EActiva electric scooter will have a top speed of 50 kmph. This is quite less in comparison to current industry average of around 80-100 kmph. Range of Activa electric has not been disclosed, but it should be enough for everyday needs.After Activa electric, which is essentially a retrofit project, Honda will launch its first born-electric bike in India. It will come with all the bells and whistles, as expected from a modern electric scooter. Honda is most likely to offer swappable battery tech to eliminate the hassles of range anxiety. The company will be targeting increased localization, so that their electric scooters could be launched at a competitive price point. More

Based on the same 1086 cc parallel-twin engine as Africa Twin, Honda Hawk 11 churns out around 100 bhp power and 104 Nm torqueNew Honda Hawk 11 Cafe Racer. Image – AutoByHonda motorcycles currently have 4 big bikes in its portfolio as listed on its Big Wing website. CB500X was taken offline, added back and now taken offline again. CBR-1000RR-R Fireblade has been added back too, which was off-site for a very long time. Now, there is CBR650R, Fireblade, Africa Twin and Gold Wing.As far as sales are concerned, Honda sold zero big bikes in India in December 2022. With Kawasaki’s aggressive pricing strategy, Team Green is taking over Team Blue and Team Red. In fact, Suzuki does a lot better in this regard with Hayabusa and Katana.Honda Hawk 11 Cafe RacerHonda has patented a new big bike in India. It is Hawk 11 and is based on the same 1082 cc parallel-twin platform as Africa Twin. Hawk 11 is a neo retro-themed cafe-racer motorcycle. Is Honda launching this motorcycle in India? If so, can this be the one to etch Honda’s name in sales charts more? Let’s take a look.This cool-looking cafe racer motorcycle was first showcased by Honda at the 2022 Osaka Motorcycle Show. This is the spiritual successor of CB1100 Roadster which is now discontinued in Honda’s global portfolio. It is interesting to note that just a few months after its debut, Honda filed a patent for Hawk 11 motorcycle.New Honda Hawk 11 Cafe Racer patented in IndiaThe patent has been filed on 2nd of August 2022, just around 4 months after global premiere. This might be a hint that a launch is imminent and Honda has reserved its interests for India. Or Honda just casually patented it in India to maybe launch it someday if market demands exist. We would wager on the latter as Honda has quite a few patents in India that never materialised.The looks are to die for as it pays tribute to cafe racers of yesteryear while donning modern design language. There is a circular LED headlight at the front enclosed in a bikini fairing. Round ORVMs extend beyond the width of its clip-on handlebars. There is a stubby sub-frame and a slightly exposed frame from within bodywork. Componentry includes front USD forks, dual disc setup at front, alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, and more. Exhaust is rather chunky and angles upwards at a similar angle as its subframe.Specs & FeaturesIt is based on the same 1082 cc parallel-twin engine kicking out around 100 bhp of power at 7500 RPM and 104 Nm of torque at 6250 RPM. It gets liquid cooling, a 6-speed gearbox and other equipment expected at this price point. Honda Hawk 11 is the third bike based on this platform after Africa Twin and NT1100. The latter is also reserved for India, which never materialised.New Honda Hawk 11 Cafe RacerIn JDM, Honda Hawk 11 costs 13,97,000 Yen which roughly translates to Rs. 8.94 lakh. If Honda premium tax in India and other Indian duties are considered, we can expect pricing over Rs. 12 lakh. There is another ‘blast from the past’ motorcycle like Honda Hawk 11 currently enjoying a niche at this price point. It is a Suzuki Katana. Both Katana and Hawk 11 are neo-retro motorcycles with bikini fairing. If Honda wants to pit a handsome opponent to rival Katana, Hawk 11 is the fitting choice. Launch is not confirmed by HMSI yet. More

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India: January 2023 Domestic sales and exports decline – Total sales of 296,363 unitsNew Honda ActivaOverview of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s January 2023 sales numbers: In January 2023, YoY sales of Honda 2W declined by 16.33 percent (-57,846 units). Sales fell from 3,54,209 units to 2,96,363 units. Of this, domestic market sales decreased by 11.76% (-37,053 units), and exports decreased by 53.30 percent (-20,793 units). YoY domestic sales fell to 2,78,143 units from 3,15,196 units. Exports were down to 18,220 units from 39k units. 93.85 percent of total sales came from the domestic market, and 6.15 percent from exports.In December 2022, domestic sales accounted for 89.18 percent of sales, and exports for 10.82 percent. Percentage of sales from the domestic market increased YoY from 89.18 percent to 93.85 percent. Percentage of sales from exports decreased in January 2023 from 10.82 percent to 6.15 percent. Ordinarily this would indicate a shift towards a stronger domestic market, but volumes have taken a hit.Honda Two Wheeler Sales Jan 2023Comparing January 2023 to December 2022, MoM Honda 2W sales increased by 18.46 percent (46,192 units). Domestic market MoM sales increased by 19.30 percent (44,992 units). Exports increased by 7.05 percent(1,200 units). Domestic sales were up from 2,33,151 units, and exports were up from 17k units. Domestic market accounted for 93.20 percent of the total sales and exports accounted for 6.80 percent in December 2022.Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said, “Much ahead of the government’s deadline, HMSI recently launched its first OBD2 model, New Activa with Smart Key. Continuing to lead this transition, HMSI will be soon upgrading its other products to meet the latest norms. Further, the budget presented today shed light on the enhanced focus on vehicle scrapping, green mobility and Net-Zero carbon emission goals which outlines the future of mobility in the country, giving a roadmap to boost the Indian auto sector. We are optimistic that such initiatives will usher in growth for the industry.”Honda 2W Sales Jan 2023OBD2 systems for two-wheelersThe Indian government has long set its target of OBD2 systems on 2Ws and 3Ws. However, this installation deadline was delayed from the target date of BSVI transition to April 1, 2020. Now with phase II of BSVI implementation, new two wheelers must feature a OBD2 system from April 1, 2023. 2W OBD2 systems help monitor performance, emissions, and identify any issues. This leads to improved vehicle efficiency, reduced emissions, early detection of problems, reduced maintenance costs, and improved road safety. OBD2 implementation aims to promote a sustainable and efficient transportation system in India.Honda Activa with Smart Key and OBD2Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India recently introduced a new model of its Activa scooter, the New Activa with Smart Key. The Smart Key helps the rider find the vehicle, unlock and start it from a safe distance. It has an On-Board Diagnostics 2 (OBD2) system that can communicate with onboard computers and report any faults.The upgrades provide convenience and improved functionality. HMSI has announced its intent to upgrade its products to meet the latest emissions norms in India, which includes the introduction of On-Board Diagnostics (OBD2) technology. This shows Honda’s commitment to creating environmentally friendly and efficient vehicles in India.Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India recently introduced a new model of its Activa scooter, the New Activa with Smart Key. The Smart Key helps the rider find the vehicle, unlock and start it from a safe distance. It has an On-Board Diagnostics 2 (OBD2) system that can communicate with onboard computers and report any faults. The rider can start the scooter simply by carrying the key fob, eliminating the need for a traditional key ignition, providing convenience and improved functionality. More

Arriving late on the scene shouldn’t be a problem for a brand like Activa that is widely preferred for its reliability and peppy performanceImage for illustration purposeHonda recently launched Activa H-Smart variant that comes with a new advanced handsfree system with car-like keyless features. At the event, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) MD and CEO Atsushi Ogata also revealed the company’s EV roadmap.As was being anticipated, Honda’s first EV for India will be the electric version of its bestselling Activa scooter. According to Ogata, Activa Electric will debut at the same time next year, that is Jan 2024. It will be interesting to see if Activa Electric can achieve the same level of popularity as that of its ICE-based counterpart.Activa Electric battery, top speedWhile most new launches in electric two-wheeler space are aiming to beat their closest competitors in terms of range, top speed, performance specs, etc., Activa Electric appears to be following an entirely different approach. Activa Electric will be focusing more on reliability. It will have a top speed of 50 kmph, which is much below the prevailing industry average of around 80-100 kmph.Activa Electric will be essentially a transplant job. It appears that Honda is planning to play it safe, so as to avoid any negative developments. EV tech is new and considerable time has to be spent on testing to ensure everything works out in a smooth, safe manner. Activa Electric will have a fixed battery setup, which will reduce the risk of incidents like fire caused by mishandling.Honda Activa Electric will be similar in design to current Activa petrol scooter.Visually, Activa Electric will be largely the same as current ICE-based Activa. Hardware such as suspension and braking setup could also be shared to keep costs down. Activa Electric range is likely to be modest, especially in comparison to the likes of Hero Vida V1 Pro that has a certified range of 165 km.Honda electric scooter with swappable batteryAfter Activa electric, Honda has plans to launch another electric scooter in India. This will be based on an entirely new born-electric platform. It will be a mainstream EV product and have capabilities similar to that of existing bestselling electric scooters in the market. As compared to Activa Electric, Honda’s second electric scooter in India will have a swappable battery system.Honda has set a target to open battery-swapping stations across most of its consumer touchpoints in the country before launching its second EV. With more than 6000 battery swapping stations, Honda’s second EV will not be impacted by issues like range anxiety. Ownership cost can also be reduced if Honda could provide subscription-based plans that do not include the cost of battery.While Honda’s progress in EV space may seem slow, there are valid reasons for the delay. Ogata said that they could have easily taken their EVs from China and introduced them in India. However, that’s not the case.Honda is focusing on developing India-specific products and achieving a high level of localization. Even parts like battery packs and e-motor, which are usually imported, are expected to be sourced locally. Much of Honda’s investments in FY 2023-’24 will be allocated towards setting up EV manufacturing facilities and related infrastructure. Honda has already setup a subsidiary in India which will manufacture battery packs.Even though Honda will be entering the EV space soon, Ogata says that conventional ICE-based scooters will continue to dominate. In the foreseeable future, much of Honda’s sales will be from its ICE-based two-wheelers. Its first EV Activa Electric will target users with limited running. For more frequent use and longer distances, ICE Activa will continue to be the preferred choice. More