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      Honda Activa Electric Scooter Launch In Jan 2024 – CEO Confirms

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      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

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      Honda Activa Smart Key Launch Price Rs 80k – Car Like Keyless Features

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      One of the key highlights of Activa Smart is an advanced security system that has been trademarked as ‘H-Smart’Honda Activa Smart Key LaunchIndia’s largest selling scooter, Honda Activa has received generational updates and other features at regular intervals. Special editions have also been launched from time to time.In 2023, Honda has launched Activa Smart variant. Featuring an advanced security system, this new variant of Activa is best suited for folks who face a higher risk of their vehicle being stolen. People who park their vehicle in open parking or on the streets can significantly reduce the risk of theft with Activa Smart variant.Honda Activa Smart Key – Remote FunctionsActiva Smart Key functions are similar to the ones we see in cars these days. With the smart key in range, you can unlock the scooter, start the scooter, access boot space, open the fuel lid – without removing the key from your pocket. It also has an auto-lock function. Once the smart key goes away from the range, Activa Smart will lock itself. Smart Key Activa variant also gets new alloys and a new colour option.Apart from these features, it improves overall security of Activa. Vehicle theft is a global phenomenon and not limited to any specific geography. It’s only the number of thefts that varies from region to region. Honda bikes are popular across the globe, which makes them one of the preferred targets for vehicle thieves. For its premium bikes like CBR650R, CB650R and CRF1100L Africa Twin, Honda already has an advanced security platform named Honda Ignition Security System (HISS). H-Smart is a low-cost version of HISS, specially designed to be used for Honda’s entry-level two-wheelers.Honda Activa Smart Key Variant PriceH-Smart is difficult to crack, as it utilizes a contact-based mechanism to open the lock. This is different from the standard remote keyless system that utilizes radio signals to communicate the commands such as lock and unlock. Although the radio signals are secure, they can still be cracked by advanced scanning devices. As Honda’s H-Smart utilizes a contact-based mechanism to match the code, it is difficult to copy or replicate in real time.H-Smart also makes things easier and hassle-free for users. It is automatically activated, as soon as the key is taken out from the scooter. Of course, the handle lock is still there, which will continue to function as the first level of security.As vehicle thefts are quite rampant, Activa’s H-Smart security platform can emerge as a preferred option among consumers. As it is highly relevant from a practical perspective, other Honda two-wheelers will also get this feature. Even other OEMs could introduce similar features with their respective models. Take a look at the official TVC below.When the smart key is in range, it shows on instrument consoleHonda Activa Smart engine, specsPerformance numbers are largely the same as earlier. Activa Smart is powered by a 109.51 cc motor that generates 7.85 PS of max power and 8.84 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to an automatic transmission. Activa has an underdone frame with telescopic front forks and 3-step adjustable spring loaded hydraulic rear suspension. It has 12-inch front and 10-inch rear wheels, with 130 mm drum brakes at both ends.Dimensionally, there are no changes to Activa Smart variant. It is 1833 mm long, 697 mm wide, 1156 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 1260 mm. There’s only a slight difference in weight, with Activa Smart being 1kg lighter than the standard variant that weighs 280 kg (GVW). More

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      New Honda Activa Smart Variant Details Leak – Homologated Before Launch

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      Honda Two Wheeler India is getting ready to launch a new Activa variant called Activa Smart on 23rd Jan 2023Image for illustration purpose.Honda Activa is the best-selling scooter of India. It is also one of the most stolen scooters. Even though tech has become a lot smarter, professional thieves still find a way to beat the system. From simply breaking the handle lock to hacking advanced code based anti-theft devices, it’s an everyday routine for professional thieves.A 100% safe system may never be possible, so the best hope is to develop anti-theft devices that are harder to crack. Honda appears to be doing just that with its H-Smart anti-theft system. H-Smart featured Honda Activa Smart will be launched on January 23rd. It has been homologated, revealing new details.New Honda Activa Smart VariantHonda had filed an application to trademark ‘H-Smart’ in India in December 2022, which has been approved. As per the trademark description, H-Smart is listed as ‘anti-theft systems for two-wheeled vehicles’. This makes it clear what H-Smart is all about and where it is intended to be used. However, exact details of how it works and costs involved will be revealed at the time of launch.The first Honda vehicle to get this new safety feature will be Activa. Honda Activa Smart variant has been officially homologated with the ministry. Specs are same, what has changed is the gross vehicle weight for the Smart variant has reduced to 279 kgs, instead of 280 kgs for other Activa variant.Honda Activa Smart Variant Homologated Before LaunchH-Smart may be a necessity rather than a marketing gimmick, as vehicle thefts are rampant across the country. Even in international locations, vehicle thefts are widely reported. In a study that analysed vehicle theft data in the national capital region between 2011 and 2020, it was found that Honda Activa was the second most stolen two-wheeler in the city. H-Smart can probably change that by making Activa harder to steal.Most stolen two-wheeler in Delhi-NCR was Hero Splendor, whereas Bajaj Pulsar, Royal Enfield Classic 350 and TVS Apache were 3rd, 4th and 5th in the list, respectively. Most of these bikes are yet to have a dedicated anti-theft system. Honda H-Smart could probably work as a pioneering initiative, something that other OEMs could replicate in near future.Honda H-Smart – How it works?Although technical details have not been revealed, Honda H-Smart could be a low-cost version of Honda Ignition Security System (HISS). The latter is already offered with premium Honda bikes such as CBR650R, CB650R and CRF1100L Africa Twin. HISS utilizes a microchip embedded key and has a code that can only be read by the ECU. The bike will start only if the code matches.Honda H-Smart trademark filed in IndiaAs compared to other similar systems, the coded password utilized by HISS cannot be stolen by an external device or antenna. In conventional code-based systems, thieves often break into the code with the use of advanced scanners. This is not possible with HISS, as it utilizes a contact-based mechanism. Duplicating the key will also not help, as the code inside the microchip needs to match.HISS is easy to use, as it is automatically enabled when the key is removed from the bike. So, no issues about forgetting to turn on a switch or something of that sort. H-Smart could have similar features, which will help protect Honda’s smaller capacity bikes and scooters. More

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      2023 Honda ADV 160cc Scooter Launch Price IDR 39m (Rs 2 Lakh)

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      By offering new colours, Honda ADV 160 is carried forward to MY2023 with minimal to no changes over MY20222023 Honda ADV 160cc ScooterWith growing demand and to cater to a wider audience, variations within scooters are a go to sales strategy. Choices are wide-ranging. We now have three-wheeled scooters, touring scooters with varied engine displacements, daily commute scooters, and sporty scooters as well. Powertrains too differ between regular ICE and EV.Honda ADV 160 is a cross between a sporty scooter and an ADV motorcycle. Honda has cleverly inculcated ADV elements into this scooter to create something unique. It is launched in Indonesia and teased in other ASEAN markets. For MY2023, Honda has made certain changes for ADV 160. Let’s take a look.2023 Honda ADV 160cc ScooterOn keen observation, not a lot has changed over the outgoing model. This is a good thing as Honda ADV 160 was a sorted product in most aspects. Even mechanically, Honda seems to have carried over ADV 160 as is including its performance figures. What is changed over MY2022, is new colour options and graphics, which seem to be inspired by Honda’s ADV motorcycles range.It is the spiritual successor to ADV 150, which was first unveiled at 2019 GIIAS (Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show) held in Jakarta. With ADV 160, Honda is playing the premium card and gets a lot of goodies to back up its price. Design holds on to its own too and radiates a premium appeal.2023 Honda ADV 160cc ScooterWhat we’re looking at is a maxi-styled scooter with ADV elements like block pattern tyres for maximum grip. The front apron is dominated by twin LED headlight design that somewhat resembles that of Africa Twin. There are LED DRLs on top of headlights and above them, we have LED turn indicators. A tall adjustable windscreen completes the front design of 2023 Honda ADV 160cc Scooter.Except for not being a step-through scooter, Honda ADV 160 offers every creature comfort that one would hope for. Rider gets a relaxed riding position that will help in long stretches of roads. A generous seat ensures adequate wiggle room for the rider and offers enough comfort and support. Aiding comfort further are 14” front wheels and 13” rear.Specs & FeaturesThe 157 cc single-cylinder 4V engine still makes 16 bhp of power and 14.7 Nm of torque. Honda Selectable Torque Control (technically traction control system) ensures optimum traction for maximum grip and performance with block pattern tyres in varied terrains.2023 Honda ADV 160cc ScooterHonda ADV 160 gets 240 mm disc up front and 220 mm disc at the rear and gets CBS (Combi Brake System). Suspension components from Showa should add to the scooter’s riding dynamics. There is a fully digital instrument console that gets blue backlighting.Honda has launched this in Indonesia and prices go till IDR 39.25 million (approx Rs. 2.05 lakh). India launch is not yet confirmed. Looks like we have to wait longer while ASEAN markets get to experience this combination of style, performance and convenience. If it does launch in India, it will directly rival Yamaha Aerox 155. More

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      Honda 300cc Adv Motorcycle At 2023 Auto Expo – RE Himalayan Rival

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      When launched in India, Honda XRE300 ADV will take on rivals such as BMW G310 GS, KTM 390 Adventure, Himalayan and Yezdi AdventureHonda 300cc ADV in India – 2023 Auto ExpoIn a welcome development for off-road enthusiasts, Honda XRE300 ADV has been showcased at Auto Expo 2023. Last year in October, the bike was seen testing alongside KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G310GS, as part of its benchmarking exercise.Honda XRE300 ADV launch in India is quite possible, as the entry-level ADV segment has been gaining popularity in the country. Honda has already registered the XRE 300 trademark in India ahead of launch.Honda 300cc Adv MotorcycleA proper dual-sport bike, Honda XRE300 ADV will have better capabilities against the likes of road-biased machines such as KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G310 GS. What immediately gets our attention is the tall stance of the bike. Excluding the front fairing that appears to add some bulk, the rest of the bike has a slender profile.Some of the key highlights of Honda XRE300 ADV include full-LED lighting, raised fender beak, aggressive headlamp cowl, sculpted fuel tank, digital instrument console, underseat exhaust and luggage rack. Riding stance seems fairly comfortable with centrally mounted footpegs and pulled-back handlebar. The handlebar is raised at an appropriate level to ensure optimal control and balance while riding standing-up on the footpegs.Honda 300cc ADV in India – 2023 Auto ExpoHonda XRE300 ADV engine, specsIn overseas markets such as Brazil, Honda XRE300 ADV is equipped with a 291.6cc, single-cylinder air-cooled motor. The engine is a flex-fuel unit that can run on both petrol and ethanol. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. When running on petrol, the engine churns out 25.4 hp of max power at 7,500 rpm and 27.6 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm. On ethanol, the numbers are slightly increased to 25.6 hp and 28 Nm.Some of the equipment is there specifically for off-road tracks. It includes wire-spoke wheels and a dedicated brace for the handlebar. The bike has 21-inch wheel at front and 18-inch wheel at rear, shod with knobby dual-purpose tyres.Off-roading capabilities are supported by telescopic front forks with 245 mm of travel and rear monoshock with 225 mm travel. Another advantageous factor is high ground clearance of 259 mm. The bike has disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS is offered as standard.Honda 300cc ADV in India – 2023 Auto ExpoWhile most features seem good, seat height of 860 mm could create accessibility issues. This is especially true for shorter riders. In an off-road environment, easy access to the ground is necessary to prevent frequent falls and crashes. At 860 mm, Honda XRE300 is even taller than KTM 390 Adventure.However, Honda 300cc Adv Motorcycle does benefit from its relatively lightweight body of just 148 kg. In comparison, rivals KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G310GS weigh 177 kg and 175 kg, respectively. In Brazil, Honda XRE300 ADV is available at a starting price of BRL 25,600 (approx. Rs 4.08 lakh). In India, the bike could be launched at nearabout Rs 3 lakh.Source More

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      New Honda 300cc Scrambler Debuts – Royal Enfield Hunter Rival

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      Honda CL300 will be fun to ride on the streets and also seems ready for some mild off-roadsNew Honda 300cc Scrambler – CL300After showcasing CL500 scrambler at 2022 EICMA, Honda has now unveiled its smaller sibling CL300. For now, CL300 is a China exclusive motorcycle, where it has made its global debut. New Honda 300cc scrambler will be launched in China first, later this year. It will be manufactured by Sundiro Honda.In the near future, CL300 could also be introduced in other international markets, including India. When launched in India, it could take on the likes of Royal Enfield Hunter 350, Yezdi Scrambler, etc. Honda has already trademarked CL300 in other countries such as Thailand, New Zealand and Australia. European markets could also get this bike at a later date.Honda CL300 stylingHonda CL300 has a bare bones design, with round headlamps and rear-view mirrors. Other key highlights include all-LED setup, fork gaiters, a circular fully digital instrument pod, sculpted fuel tank with grip pads and flat seat in quilted pattern. Most distinguishable feature is the high-mounted exhaust with perforated heat shield cover in metallic finish.Riding stance is fairly comfortable with centrally placed footpegs and pulled-back handlebar. The bike’s design supports riding standing-up, which comes handy in no-road environments. Even shorter riders shouldn’t have any issues with this bike, as it has a low seat height of 790 mm. Tackling mild off-roads would be fun with ample ground clearance of 165 mm. Another advantageous factor is a lightweight 172 kg body, which is around 19 kg less than Honda Rebel 300.New Honda 300cc Scrambler – CL300CL300 is being offered in two variants, a Standard and a Premium version. The latter gets some additional goodies, which will appeal to folks who want their rides to carry a lot more flair and attitude. Honda CL300 Premium variant gets features such as compact body-coloured windscreen, raised front beak, body-coloured knuckle guards, side mounted tracker number plate and tan leather seat.Colour options for Honda CL300 include black, white and light grey. In case of the Standard variant, differentiation is pretty basic with the respective shade applied only on the fuel tank. Rest of the bike has a largely blacked-out profile. Visible metallic finish is seen on the headlamp casing, front suspension and exhaust heat shield.Honda CL300 engine, specsHonda CL300 borrows the 286cc, single cylinder motor from Rebel 300. This unit is also in use with Honda CB300R. However, on-board CL300, power output is at 25.7 hp. That’s 5 hp less, as compared to CB300R. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox.New Honda 300cc Scrambler – CL300CL300’s main chassis is the same as Rebel, but it gets a different rear subframe that is taller. This change was necessitated to accommodate CL300’s flat single-piece seat. Suspension duties onboard Honda CL300 are performed by telescopic forks at front and a monoshock unit at rear.The bike has single disc brakes at both ends, integrated with dual-channel ABS. As compared to Rebel that has 16-inch wheels, Honda CL300 has 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels. These are shod with dual-purpose tyres, with a fatter unit at rear for enhanced traction. More

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      Honda Activa Hybrid Launch On 23rd Jan ? New Launch Teaser Out

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      There is a very high possibility that Honda 2W showcasing smart hybrid tech branded as H-Smart on January 23rdImage for illustration purpose.Honda 2W is currently the No 1 scooter manufacturer of India. Sales easily hover around 1.5 lakh units per month and peak at up to 2.5 lakh units per month during festive seasons. Honda markets Activa brand unlike anything else. We recently saw a glimpse of it in a billboard war between a few delivery apps.Honda 2W just dropped a new teaser on social media. According to this, Honda is planning to introduce a new tech on January 23rd, 2023. With words like H-Smart stealing the spotlight in the teaser, there is a lot to look forward to.Honda Activa Smart Hybrid Scooter?For years, Honda 2W used to come slapped with HET stickers on their scooters and motorcycles. It is abbreviated to Honda Eco Technology. This sticker used to be on almost every 2W that came out of the Honda factory in the BS4 era. Now, it is eSP. Honda says that eSP is a globally acclaimed technology to reduce friction and improve combustion.This eSP sticker is slapped on almost every Honda 2W post-BS6 transition. Based on Honda’s new teaser on social media, it seems like there is a new tech that the company is working on. This teaser clearly indicates a curated harmony between man and machine. In this case, a machine is not a literal machine. Instead, it is AI.New Honda Smart Hybrid Launch TeaserWe can also see a new term on top. It is H-Smart. The name indicates that Honda is developing a new kind of hybrid system that is aimed at improving efficiency and lowering the carbon footprint and running costs for owners. On the surface, it can be speculated that Honda is developing a new smart-hybrid system that has a separate battery and is recharged with regenerative tech like found on an EV.The hand of a machine and AI words indicate that Honda is using self-learning AI algorithms to observe and record user riding patterns and deploy best possible methods to recharge batteries via regeneration. Stop/start feature can also be a part of upcoming H-Smart tech. Considering Activa is their best-selling scooter, it could be the launch of Honda Activa Hybrid on 23rd Jan 2023.What To Expect?Something similar is found on Yamaha Fascino and Ray ZR. Yamaha claims 60 km/l fuel efficiency on these and few users swear by it as well. All Honda motorcycles with this new tech will get H-Smart branding on them to signify it.There is a possibility of Honda showcasing a high-voltage strong hybrid architecture as well. With around 0.5 kWh of battery and a starter motor/generator, Honda can offer around 10 to 15 km of pure electric range at around 40 km/h speed. For longer commutes, ICE is always at the user’s disposal. This would be a halo tech that won’t probably make it to budget vehicles.Whatever it is, is likely to be offered with budget commuters and scooter lineups to increase fuel efficiency figures. There would be a price hike accompanied with this new tech as well. Before introducing EVs, Honda seems to be keen on bringing hybrid tech to their 2W lineup. More

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      Honda Joins Zomato, Blinkit Viral Ad – Scooter Mangoge, Activa Denge

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      Honda Activa is the highest selling scooter in India – And that too by a huge marginHonda Activa is no 1 selling scooter of IndiaBillboard wars are common sightings in most parts of the world. We have seen Ford and Chevy by General Motors often indulge in billboard wars. Other notable billboard wars are from Coca-Cola and Pepsi and so on. In India, outside a mall, there was a billboard war between delivery apps Zomato and Blinkit.A dialogue from a Bollywood movie was used as a template here. You must be wondering why we are writing about delivery app billboard tussles, right? That is because HMSI (Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India) swooped right in and used this theme to market its Activa lineup for good measure.Scooter Mangoge, Activa DengeZomato’s billboard read ‘kheer mangoge, kheer denge’, while Blinkit’s billboard read ‘doodh mangoge, doodh denge’. Netflix too joined, saying ‘Wednesday mangoge, Friday denge’. Honda saw a marketing opportunity here and got a billboard installed which read “Scooter mangoge, Activa denge”. This is a nod to how popular Activa has become in today’s date.Not just today’s date, Activa has been dominating the scooter market for years now. With sales easily hovering around 1.5 lakh units and peaking at around 2.5 lakh units during festive season, Activa is notoriously known to have decimated its rivals in terms of sales. In 2022, Honda sold a whopping 20,12,515 units of Activa.Honda joins viral ad of Zomato, BlinkitWhen opposed to 6,68,829 and 4,39,500 units of Jupiter and Access, Activa sales are far ahead. If top 10 scooters are concerned, Activa’s sales will be greater than the first 7 or 8 highest-selling scooter sales combined. If you take a look at the table below, it is evident that Activa sales are almost more than triple as opposed to the immediate next highest-selling scooter.Honda scooter sales in Jan – Nov 2022Very few scooters in the Indian market have achieved such legendary status. Some of the others include Chetak by Bajaj, a word synonymous with scooters in its glory days. Chetak is now resurrected in an EV form by Bajaj Auto.Activa is Scooter, Scooter is ActivaThe Activa name is so popular that even Honda chose to use just one of its brands to market their scooter supremacy. Other scooters in Honda’s arsenal include Dio and Grazia. There used to be Navi and Cliq in Honda India’s scooter portfolio, which have been axed for good reasons.With an upcoming electric scooter in the pipeline, it is highly likely that Honda will try to associate with Activa brand in some way to establish familiarity in its maiden EV venture. This upcoming EV by Honda is set to see the light of day by the end of this year. More