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      Ather 450X Series1 First Unit Delivered In Delhi – To Dr Pawan Munjal

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      Ather 450X Series1 and its 1st owner. Image – Ather / Tarun MehtaThe Ather 450X electric scooter has been launched across markets and now retail operations in New Delhi commence
      Following the opening of retail operations of Ather Energy in New Delhi, the first unit of Ather 450X Series1 was handed over by Tarun Mehta, co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy to Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman and CEO of Hero MotoCorp. Hero MotoCorp is a leading investor in Bengaluru based Ather Energy, currently holding nearly 35 percent stake.
      Ather 450X is an electric scooter manufactured by Ather Energy that has been well received in the country. The company currently stands at No.4 in the electric two wheeler segment with a market share of 10.30 percent.
      Ather 450X Series1
      Ather Energy offers the 450X and 450 e-scooters both of which are on sale via showrooms. The Ather 450 Plus is priced at Rs.1,40,514 while the Ather 450X is priced at Rs.1,46,926 in Delhi, where retail operations have just been opened.
      This price includes both Central and State Govt subsidies and charges for performance upgrades. The company is also offering buyers the Ather Dot home or portable charger at a discounted price. Insurance, road tax, registration, etc, are extra.
      Ather 450X Series1
      The 450X e-scooter is presented in colour options of Space Grey, Mint Green and White. Series1 is a special edition finished in Black and red accents. It is positioned on an aluminum cast frame with a single piece seat and headlight mounted front apron. It gets a 7.0 inch TFT display with Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity, all LED lighting and rides on 12 inch alloy wheels.
      It gets 4 riding modes of Eco, Ride, Sport and Wrap and comes in with a 3 year warranty on the 450X and battery. It uses a 6 W PMS motor with an IP67-rated 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery that offers 26 Nm peak torque. Acceleration from 0 to 40 km/h is possible in 3.3 seconds in Wrap mode while top speed stands at 80 km/h.
      Ather Energy claims a True Range of 85km/charge in Eco mode, 70km/charge in Ride mode and 60km/charge in Sports mode. There are owners who have managed to achieve a range much higher than that. The battery offers upto 0-80 percent charge in 3 hrs and 35 min and from 0-100 percent in 5 hrs 45 min. Suspension is handled by telescopic forks on the front side and a mono-shock unit on the rear end.
      Ather 450X – 13th OTA Update
      Ather Energy recently rolled out the 13th OTA update (Atherstack Atom) for the 450X. This allows Bluetooth based music and call feature with the user’s smartphone synced to the touchscreen dashboard. This update is via the Ather App and is initially available on Android in the Google Play Store while later it will be released in the Apple App Store for iOS users.
      This is for existing users of the 450X while new deliveries with find this as a built in feature. Through this app, users can answer or reject calls via the dashboard. The dashboard will also show album art, name of song and artist in the display. Following this update, the company is now set to introduce a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for the Ather 450X. More

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      Yamaha R15 V3, FZS FI Prices Increased – April 2021 Price List

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      Image – Roadster viewYamaha is also likely to increase prices of its other offerings at a later stage
      Yamaha is the latest to join the bandwagon of auto manufacturers increasing the prices of their products at the start of a new financial year. The Japanese bikemaker has hiked prices of its two popular motorcycles in India- the naked commuter FZS and the faired sports bike YZF R15 V3, by up to Rs 1,500.
      Prices of these two bikes depend on the colour variant a buyer opts for while purchasing. The prices of the faired sports bike start at Rs 1.52 lakh whereas the Bluetooth-enabled FZS series is pegged at a starting price of Rs 1.08 lakh going up to Rs. 1,11,700 (all prices are ex-showroom).
      Yamaha R15 V3 and FZS FI price April 2021 vs March 2021
      Revised Prices
      This is the 2nd time since Dec 2020 that Yamaha has increased prices of R15 and FZS. The price hike when compared to that in March 2021, is up to 1,500 or 1%. When compared to prices in Dec 2020, the hike in April 2021 is increased by up to Rs 4,200 or 3.34%.
      Apart from the revision in prices, there have been no changes in features or specifications in either of the motorcycles. Yamaha recently introduced a new Metallic Red paint scheme on YZF R15 which is available at the base price of Rs 1.52 (ex-showroom). With this addition, the entry-level sports bike is now available with four colour options, the other three being- Thunder Gray, Racing Blue and Dark Knight.
      Yamaha R15 V3 and FZS FI price April 2021 vs Dec 2020
      YZF R15 Specs
      Coming to its specifications, R15 is powered by a 155cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke which is equipped with Yamaha’s Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) technology, in other words, variable valve timing. In its BS6 avatar, this motor returns an output of 18.37 bhp and a peak torque of 14.1 Nm. This engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
      Speaking of its dynamics, the India-spec YZF R15 features conventional telescopic forks at front, unlike the international model that gets upside-down forks. Other features key and features available are a Side Stand Engine Cut-off Switch and a slipper and assist clutch. R15 competes against the likes of Suzuki Gixxer SF, KTM RC 200 and Bajaj Pulsar RS200.
      FZS FI Specs
      Moving to FSZ, it is available in four colour options namely Matte Red, Matte Black, Dark Matte Blue and Dark Knight. It is also available with a special edition model called Vintage Green Edition.
      The naked streetfighter draws its energy from a 149cc, single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine that generates 12.2 bhp and 13.6 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Suspension setup consists of telescopic forks at front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at rear. More

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      KTM Duke, RC, ADV And Husqvarna Prices Increased By Up To 10k

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      Image – Motor MurahKTM and Husqvarna bikes now costlier following range wide price revision wef April 1, 2021
      With the advent of the new financial year comes the burden of cost distribution. As is the practice, a new price list is the order of the day. KTM and Husqvarna have increased the price tag for all its two-wheelers. At the steep end, the price revision is capped at below 10k. The price hike is attributed to an increase in input costs.
      The auto industry works around multiple developments when it comes to periodic price revisions. Apart from price hikes for the addition of a new feature or cosmetic revision, and other causes, there are standard revisions. This means, someone who purchased a two-wheeler at the start of December, would find the same bike to be costing substantially more on April 1st.
      KTM and Husqvarna Prices April 2021 vs March 2021
      This is because at the start of December, a price hike had been announced. Soon after, at the start of the calendar year, new model year (MY) vehicles began costing more. And now, 3 months later, at the start of the new financial year, price tags are again revised. 
      KTM and Husqvarna price hike
      Some of the KTM and Husqvarna bikes are now costlier by 14-18 grands in less than 6 months time. The cyclic pattern provides constant impetus to not dilly dally when it comes to purchasing a vehicle because the longer one takes to make a decision, the costlier the vehicle proves to be.
      KTM and Husqvarna Prices April 2021 vs Dec 2020
      For KTM, both 125 and 200 units are bestsellers. And the price gap between both units have for now contracted noticeably. Between November 2020 and April 2021, Duke 125 is costlier by Rs 18,214. Retail price is listed at just over Rs 1.6 lakh as compared to Rs 1,42,105 lakh in November 2020.
      KTM and Husqvarna Prices April 2021 vs Nov 2020
      Duke 200 on the other hand has seen price increase in the past 5 months capped at Rs 6,291. Current ex sh price is listed at Rs 1,83,328 as compared to Rs 1,77,037 five months earlier. Price revision for KTM 200 is the lowest over a 5 month period. Every other bike, including the models from Husqvarna are all costlier by more than 10 grands now.
      FY22 price revision announced
      Depending on base price variation, most cost increases range between 4 – 8 percent in November 2020 – April 1, 2021 period. Duke 125 however saw price increase by almost 13 percent in the same period. For the company, the 125cc unit is its entry price point offering.
      And the fiscal has only just begun. It’s safe to say, before the year ends, one can expect a price revision or two basis market conditions, costs, and model revisions, among other things. All prices above are ex-sh. More

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      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 Spied With Alloys – To Be On Offer At Launch

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      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 with Alloys
      The new-gen Classic 350 is expected to go on sale in a couple of weeks – It will feature a new powertrain and brand new underpinnings
      Since the last quarter of 2020, Royal Enfield has put on its aggressive avatar and is on a launch spree. The retro classic bikemaker had earlier announced that it would be launching four new or updated products every year for the next seven years. It started with the new Meteor 350 late last year and earlier the updated Himalayan and 650 Twins earlier this year.
      Going by the frequency of test mules spotted in recent times, we believe that Royal Enfield would next launch the new generation model of Classic 350. While we have earlier covered some details regarding its design and specifications, new information about the upcoming retro-styled motorcycle has leaked online.
      Updated Dynamics
      It has now been confirmed that the new Classic 350 will be underpinned by J1D architecture which made its debut in Meteor 350 last year. The company will be ditching the single downtube frame for a twin downtube spine frame while the engine will be used as a stressed member. This has proven to improve handling and dynamics of the motorcycle.
      The new dual-cradle frame will be suspended on 35 mm telescopic forks at front with a travel of 135mm and twin gas-charged shock absorbers with five-step preload adjustability and 80mm travel at rear.
      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 with Alloys
      Braking setup has been revised in the new-gen Classic 350 with a 300mm single disc brake at front with twin-piston floating calipers and a 270mm disc brake at rear with a single-piston floating caliper. Safety net will be provided by dual-channel ABS.
      As far as rolling components are concerned, the new Classic 350 will be offered with 90/90 R19 wire-spoke wheels at front and 110/90 R18 wheels at rear as standard. Both wheels will be shod by tubeless tyres but buyers will get the option of tubeless tyres if they opt for alloy wheels. The manufacturer will also be offering a 90/90 19-inch alloy wheel at front and a 120/80 18-inch alloy wheel at rear as an option.
      Design
      No major changes will be made to its design since RE Classic’s retro appeal is a major USP for the bikemaker. Although we can expect minor updates such as a rounded pillion seat as standard with a new grab rail mounted onto the frame and a redesigned LED taillight. Other design highlights carried forward from the current model include a circular headlamp with chrome bezels surround, chrome-plated exhaust, broad rear fenders, circular rearview mirrors and a teardrop-shaped fuel tank.
      2021 Royal Enfield Classic 350 with Alloys
      Updated Powertrain, Feature
      The upcoming Classic 350 will also employ a new powertrain which comprises a new 349cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine. This unit is good enough for 20.2 bhp and 27 n of peak torque and will be linked to a new 5-speed gearbox. We have also noticed a new exhaust setup in our previous spy shots. The only major addition, in terms of feature, will be its updated instrument console which will get a Tripper Navigation pod.
      SOURCE More

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      Geloise Hope Electric Scooter For Delivery Fleets – Launch Price Rs 47k

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      Geloise Hope Electric ScooterElectric two wheelers and cargo vehicles a top choice for delivery fleet services
      Two wheelers are a huge volume market in India. And the need for a two wheeler is second to none. As the days pass by, we’re headed to a future wherein more electric vehicles will be made available to us. The hope is that at some point, they’ll be mass market options that dominate the market, and are affordable.
      The approach though nascent, already outlines clear patterns. For one, electric cargo vehicles and electric two-wheelers are largely being designed for fleet use. And while the market for electric two-wheelers for personal commute tries to gain a stronger foothold with each passing month, fleet orders bring in volumes. More and more companies are now committed to carbon footprint reduction causes and electric fleet vehicles appear to be fulfilling that promise.
      Hope Electric scooter from Geloise Mobility – IIT Delhi incubated startup
      Geloise Mobility Hope scooter
      Geliose Mobility has launched the Hope electric scooter. The entity is an Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Delhi incubated startup. While a lot of startups are now fusing business plans based on manufacturing low cost, low-speed electric two-wheelers for fleet use, Geliose Mobility has brought back pedal-assist. Reminiscent of days of yore, when one could pedal a certain part of the route, either to save on petrol costs or because one’s tank ran dry.
      Bringing back the pedal knocks on nostalgia but how much utility it provides is difficult to understand. Considering these units are designed for delivery, it wouldn’t make any sense if one needed to pedal to destination with load.
      Geloise Hope Electric Scooter
      Hope uses a slide and rides feature so the rider can switch different load carrying accessories or rear seat depending based on delivery and load requirement. The scooter costs 47 grands, and is currently only available to B2B customers.
      20 paise for a kilometre
      Geliose Mobility will work with logistics and delivery companies, and meet varied local delivery requirements. For seamless functionality the company is keen on building charging hubs and scooter maintenance points on frequent routes of delivery partners. This will further be accentuated by roadside assistance and roadside battery replacement if the need arises.
      Running cost is listed as 20 paise for a kilometre. Top speed is pegged at 25 km/hr. The low speed unit doesn’t require a driving license or registration. The scooter is offered with a portable charger and portable lithium-ion battery. This can be conveniently charged at home. It can be fully charged in 4 hours.
      Geloise Hope Electric Scooter
      Battery capacity range includes one for 50 kms and another for 75 kms. Design philosophy leans on lean. Keeping in mind utility, Hope’s body structure includes a strong and lightweight frame. Being smallish would help with easy navigation through regular city traffic.
      Being a smart scooter, it benefits from a battery management system, and data monitoring system. With new age scooters being tech based, users will benefit from IoT based systems and data analytics. More

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      Honda Sales March 2021 At 3.95 Lakh – Activa, Dio, CB Shine, Livo, Grazia

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      Image – Durga HondaHonda Motorcycle and Scooter India reports growth in domestic wholesales and exports in March 2021
      Honda reports sales growth for March 2021 with domestic wholesales of just below 4 lakh units. Sales is reported at 3,95,037 units, up from 2,45,716 units. Growth stood at 60.77 percent at volume gain of 1,49,321 units. Best sellers for domestic market were Activa, CB Shine, Dio, Unicorn, Livo, Grazia and Dream.
      Exports were flat at 16k units. In March 2020, 16983 units were exported. Exports top performers were Navi, Dio, CB Shine, X-Blade, Hornet, Hness CB 350. Cumulative sales is reported at 4,11,037 units, up from 2,61,699 units. Volume gain stood at 1,49,338 units at 57.06 percent growth.
      Honda 2W Sales March 2021
      MoM domestic sales fell from 4,11,578 units at volume loss of 16,541 units at 4.02 percent decline. Cumulative MoM sales fell from 4,42,696 units at volume loss of just over 30k units.
      HMSI FY21 sales
      FY21 posed great difficulties in terms of business functionality in the first couple of months. Thereafter, traditional purchases during the festive season helped boost sales, and this was followed up by a fairly active Q4. However, steady sales in recent months haven’t been enough to help manufacturers come into the green. Resultantly, auto manufacturers find themselves in the red at the end of FY21.
      Honda 2W Sales March 2021 and FY 2021
      Honda two wheelers ended the year at 19.04 percent decline. Cumulative sales fell to 40,73,182 units, down from 50,31,297 units at volume loss of about 9.6 lakh units. Export volumes fell to 2,017,310 units, down from 3,24,725 units at volume loss of 1,17,415 units. Domestic sales fell by 17.86 percent. Wholesales contracted to 38,65,872 units, down from 40,06,572 units at volume loss of 8,40,700 units.
      Honda market presence
      In recent times, the mass market two-wheeler market has shown great strength of character, proving to be a commodity that most would be willing to consider. Living amidst lockdowns and curfews owing to Covid-19 pandemic, folks are increasingly feeling the need for a two-wheeler.
      While demand is at a natural high, Honda’s top seller is the Activa scooter as against Hero’s Splendor. Hero HF Deluxe is another motorcycle on the podium. Honda on the other hand offers CB Shine as its bestselling motorcycle. As and when Honda were to introduce an affordable mass market motorcycle, it’s likely the product could tip the scales largely in their favour. Rural markets form the backbone of such mass market motorcycles.
      HMSI has already begun treading on a new path with the launch of its 350cc offering. The move has given Honda yet another segment to compete in, and thereby add to sales. This premium move allows Honda to be an attractive proposition to a new buyer group, as well as gives current customers a chance to stay within the brand at a future time. Honda has plans to introduce more premium mid-segment bikes made in the country in due course of time.
      Despite difficulties in 2021, Honda has been able to infuse much excitement in the market. The company brought in the Hness CB350, and CB350 RS. Then there was the CB500X, CBR 650R and CB 650R. More

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      Aprilia SXR 125 Production Starts Before Launch – Bookings Open Officially

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      2021 Aprilia SXR 125Earlier last month, Aprilia SXR 125 along with SXR 160 went on sale in Nepal
      After a lukewarm response to Aprilia SXR 160, parent company Piaggio has announced that bookings for its lesser powerful sibling have commenced. The Italian manufacturer has claimed that production for the upcoming SXR 125 has begun at the brand’s Baramati facility near Pune in Maharashtra.
      Interested buyers could book an SXR 125 via Aprilia’s official India website or through any nearby Aprilia dealership at a token amount of Rs 5,000. Exact prices are expected to be announced at the time of its official launch. The more powerful SXR 160 made its debut in India in late December last year.
      2021 Aprilia SXR 125
      Expected Design
      In terms of styling, it is expected to carry forward the same Maxi-style design as its larger sibling. The front apron of the scooter will don split LED headlamps that are inspired by RS660. The integrated LED DRLs make the scooter more attractive. Another notable highlight is a tinted fly-screen in order to prevent the rider from wind blasts.
      The visor will be large enough although visibility shouldn’t be compromised by its positioning. Designed in Italy for India, like SXR 160, it is expected to portray small details like the tri-colour insignia of the Italian national flag on the side apron of the scooter.
      2021 Aprilia SXR 125
      Unlike other contemporary Maxi-style scooters, SXR 125 is likely to feature a flat footboard. At rear, it flaunts a pair of wraparound LED taillights with integrated rear turn indicators. The body panel will wear signature Aprilia graphics that enhance the Maxi scooter’s look.
      2021 Aprilia SXR 125
      Features
      Talking about its features, it is likely to be equipped with a similar 210 cm sq. fully digital instrument console that would read out critical information from the speedometer, odometer, ABS status, trip meter, fuel efficiency, etc. It will also be provided with Bluetooth mobile connectivity and a USB charging port along with a longer, bigger and comfortable saddle. It will be offered in four colour options namely Matt Black, Glossy White, Matt Blue and Glossy Red.
      Mechanical Specs
      Coming to its specifications, SXR 125 will be powered by the same 124cc, three-valve, air-cooled mill that performs duties on SR 125 and other Vespa 125cc models. This engine is capable of churning out 9.4 bhp and 8.2 Nm of peak torque.
      2021 Aprilia SXR 125
      As far as cycle parts are concerned, it is likely to feature telescopic forks at front and a preload-adjustable mono-shock at rear. A disk brake at front and drum brake at rear with CBS is likely to carry out anchor duties. We can expect a price of around Rs 95,000 – Rs 1.00 lakh (ex-showroom) More

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      Suzuki Sales March 2021 – Gixxer, Access, Burgman, Intruder

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      Image for referenceSuzuki Motorcycle India reports cumulative sales of about 70k units in March 2021
      Suzuki Motorcycle India reports 69,942 units in wholesales in March 2021. Of this, domestic market sales accounted for 60,222 units, and exports for 9,720 units in March 2021. YoY growth stood at 72.11 percent, up from total sales of 40,636 units at volume gain of 29,306 units.
      Domestic sales stood at 33,930 units at 77.48 percent growth at volume gain of 26,292 units. Performers in the domestic market were Access and Burgman scooters as well as Gixxer and Intruder motorcycles. Exports grew at 44.94 percent, up from 6,706 units at volume gain of about 3k units.
      Suzuki Sales March 2021
      Cumulatively, SMIPL sold 589,997 units from April 2020 – March 2021 (FY2021). Volumes declined by a fourth. Sales decline stood at 25.35 percent, down from 7,90,397 units reported sold through FY20.
      Last year this time, the company had reported sales growth of 5.7 percent over FY19 when cumulative sales stood at 7,47,506 units. It’s fair to say the growth momentum Suzuki was counting on has faced a setback owing to evolved market conditions.
      Suzuki Sales March 2021
      Two wheeler industry
      With Covid-19 pandemic related lockdown dictating business needs, most manufacturers have only just begun seeing increased activity in recent months. The slowdown at the start of the fiscal has been difficult to overcome though some recovery has been possible in the last two quarters.
      In February 2021, Suzuki sold 59,530 units. MoM volume gain stood at 692 units at 1.16 percent growth. Momentum in 2021 is already setting precedence, and bodes well for the year to come. With added focus on need for vehicles for personal commute, and low base sales for two straight quarters in the last fiscal, manufacturers are going to be able to push forward in the next 6 months.
      Financial year FY2021-22 expectations
      Koichiro Hirao, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd. said, “This financial year was challenging for the whole auto industry due to the COVID-19 situation. Having said that we also adapted to the new paradigm shift to fulfil the latent customer expectations. Today we have become more customer–centric.
      In fact, we launched a convenient Doorstep sale and after-sales service platform called Suzuki at your Doorstep. Enabling customers to buy, test-ride and opt for after–sales services with a click of a button. Today Suzuki at your Doorstep has become an important sales avenue for the company.”
      “This year Suzuki Motorcycle India also rolled out its 5 millionth production unit from its manufacturing facility at Kherki Dhaula, Gurugram. The quarter-liter sensation – Suzuki GIXXER SF 250 became the 5 millionth celebratory unit. We are grateful to all of our customers who supported us in achieving this memorable milestone. Additionally, we are hoping to achieve greater heights in the new financial year FY2021-22.” More