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      Benda BD250-3B Patented With Boxer Engine – 2026 Debut Likely

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      Benda BD250-3B PatentedAlthough official details are not available, Benda BD250-3B could have power output of more than 30 hp at high revs
      Known for its innovation in motorcycle design and technology, China-based Benda manufactures a wide variety of cruisers and sports bikes. A clutch of design patent images from the Chinese Patent Office reveals that Benda is working on a new roadster bike fitted with a boxer engine. Let’s explore some of the key details of this fascinating motorcycle.
      Benda BD250-3B Patented – Boxer engine, water cooling
      Engine architecture used for Benda BD250-3B appears similar to that of Boxer-engine-equipped BMW bikes produced since 2013. One can notice the water cooling, along with vertical flow of the cylinder occurring from top to bottom. Water cooling with a boxer engine in a 250cc bike seems like an impressive engineering move.
      Benda BD250-3B Patented
      In case of BMW bikes equipped with boxer engines, the output is approximately 100 hp per litre. Considering Benda BD250-3B’s 250cc engine, power output could be in the range of 25 to 30+ hp. Boxer engines are not commonly seen with quarter-litre bikes. In this space, most common are single-cylinder and parallel-twin engines.
      Benda and Keeway (both falling under Chinese QJMotor) are some of the bikemakers who are actively pursuing cruiser formats that legacy brands are known for. These companies have offered Harley-Davidson-inspired V-Twin with belt-drive formula and now, we see Benda working on BMW Motorrad-inspired Boxer engine format.
      Benda BD250-3B Patented
      Both brands are also known for their competitive pricing, which will be far below what the legacy brands operate in. We wish Benda would launch this motorcycle in India the same way V302C (V-Twin engine with belt drive) is launched here via the Keeway brand, operated by QJMotor.
      Distinctive hardware
      In addition to its water-cooled boxer engine, the Benda BD250-3B incorporates several other innovative ideas. For example, the chassis design is quite a spectacle. The main frame uses thick steel tubes that connect the rear of the bike to the steering head. In addition, the engine works to support the structure.
      Benda BD250-3B Patented
      With this setup, Benda has used an aluminium rear swing arm, which is mounted at the rear of the boxer engine. This again is something that’s quite surprising. Even more so with the complex linkage mechanism and low-hanging central spring strut. Another notable aspect is that Benda BD250-3B makes use of hydraulics to alter the power flow by 90 degrees.
      Power is transferred from the longitudinally mounted crankshaft of the boxer engine to the chain sprocket. While one would expect automatic transmission to be offered with Benda BD250-3B, the bike has manual controls. This is evident with the hand clutch lever and a foot shift lever.
      Benda BD250-3B Patented
      Looks dope!
      Benda BD250-3B has an eye-catching, dominating road presence. Some of the key highlights include a round headlamp, telescopic forks (likely) with robust covers, bar-end mirrors, low-set clip-on handlebars, sleek fuel tank design, single-piece seat and underbelly exhaust. The bike has disc brakes at both ends.
      Benda is known for its flair to bring even the most radically designed bikes to production stage. We have already seen examples such as Benda Napoleon Bob and Benda LFC 700 Pro. One can expect the Benda BD250-3B to be launched in 2026 or a bit later. In addition to China, Europe could also get the Benda BD250-3B. The company already has a presence in countries like Germany and Austria. More

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      Bajaj Chetak 3503 Launch Price Rs 1.1 Lakh – Most Affordable In 35 Series

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      Bajaj Chetak 3503With the launch of 35 Series of its Chetak electric scooters, Bajaj Auto introduced a larger battery and a new chassis. This 35 Series spawned a duo of electric scooters that played a major role in boosting sales for the brand and making it India’s best-selling electric scooter in the month of March 2025.
      After Chetak 3501 and Chetak 3502, Bajaj Auto has just launched Chetak 3503 electric scooter. The new Chetak 3503 is the most affordable variant in the 35 Series and is priced at Rs 1.1 lakh (Ex-sh), positioned below Chetak 3502 and the flagship Chetak 3501. Outside of 35 Series, Chetak 2903 variant continues to be on sale in India.
      Bajaj Chetak 3503 Launch
      India’s best-selling electric 2W manufacturer in March 2025, Bajaj Auto, has just launched the most affordable variant of its big battery Chetak 35 Series electric scooter. This is a direct dig at Ola S1X+, Ather Rizta S and TVS iQube 3.4 and the likes that promise long-range for affordable prices as they are low on features and equipment.
      Bajaj Chetak 3503
      Chetak 3503 is priced at Rs 1.1 lakh (Ex-sh) and is positioned below the Chetak 3502 priced at Rs 1.22 lakh (Ex-sh) and Chetak 3501 priced at Rs 1.3 lakh (Ex-sh). There are four colour options offered by Bajaj for Chetak 3503. These include Brooklyn Black, Indigo Blue, Matt Grey and Cyber White.
      There is a slight decrease in the features list with Chetak 3503, when compared to Chetak 3502 and Chetak 3501. However, it is not under-equipped in anyway. Notable features with Chetak 3503 include hill hold assist, a colour LCD cluster with Bluetooth and music control, call management, ride modes (Eco & Sports) along with LED headlights and more.
      Features & Specs
      Features removed to achieve this price point include sequential turn indicators, front disc brakes and it gets a slightly slower charging (0-80% in 3h 25m). Because it falls under the 35 Series, it gets the newer chassis that has a 35L under-seat storage and it gets Chetak’s hallmark metal body as well.
      Bajaj Chetak 3503
      Powering the Chetak 3503 is the same 3.5 kWh battery pack as Chetak 3502 and Chetak 3501. Because it is an affordable variant, Bajaj has dulled down performance a little and top-speed of Chetak 3503 is 63 km/h. However, the range has gone up and Bajaj is claiming 155 km of range from a single charge. More

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      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2025 – Classic, Bullet, Meteor, Himalayan, 650 Range

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      Royal Enfield Goan 350Royal Enfield posted strong sales performance in March 2025, reporting a significant 33.32% year-on-year growth. Total domestic sales stood at 88,050 units, up from 66,044 units sold in March 2024.
      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2025 – YoY Comparison
      Leading the charts once again was the Classic 350, with sales of 33,115 units, a solid 29.82% growth compared to 25,508 units in the same month last year. The new-generation Bullet 350 also made a massive impact, recording 21,987 units in March 2025, nearly doubling its sales from last year with a 95.23% growth.
      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2025 – YoY Comparison
      Hunter 350 continued its strong performance with 16,958 units sold, registering an 8% increase over March 2024. Royal Enfield has launched updated Hunter to continue sales momentum. Meanwhile, Meteor 350 sales were relatively flat, with 8,912 units sold, down slightly by 0.57%. The 650 Twins — Interceptor and Continental GT — together clocked 3,328 units, marking an impressive 53.01% year-on-year growth. The Super Meteor 650 saw a massive jump, with 1,067 units sold compared to just 218 units last year, a growth of 389.45%.
      Among adventure motorcycles, the Himalayan posted 1,628 units in sales, registering a 26.53% decline compared to last year. Royal Enfield’s recent entrants: The Guerrilla 450 contributed 831 units in its first month of sales, while the Shotgun 650 added 224 units.
      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2025 – MoM Comparison
      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup March 2025 – YoY Comparison
      Royal Enfield posted a healthy 8.97% month-on-month growth in March 2025, selling a total of 88,050 units, up from 80,799 units sold in February 2025. Classic 350 remained the brand’s best-seller, recording 33,115 units in March, an increase of 8.07% over February. Bullet 350 also saw strong momentum, with sales climbing to 21,987 units, a MoM growth of 14.25%.
      Hunter 350 sales stood at 16,958 units, showing a modest growth of 2.16% compared to February. Meteor 350 sales surged by 23.66%, with 8,912 units sold versus 7,207 units in the previous month.
      650 Twins (Interceptor and Continental GT) together registered 3,328 units, growing by 15.48% month-on-month. Guerrilla 450 also witnessed a sharp rise, clocking 831 units, up by 33.82% compared to February 2025. Meanwhile, Himalayan sales declined by 24.56%, with 1,628 units sold compared to 2,158 units in February. Similarly, the Super Meteor 650 saw a 9.81% decline and the Shotgun 650 posted a 15.15% drop month-on-month. More

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      Odysse Evoqis Lite Faired Electric Bike Launch Price Rs 1.18 Lakh

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      Odysse Evoqis LiteWith the electric 2W industry on the rise in India, more OEMs are switching their gaze towards electric motorcycles. Odysse is one of these OEMs and has just launched a more affordable version of its EVOQIS faired electric motorcycle. It is conveniently called Evoqis Lite and now acts as an entry portal into faired electric motorcycle segment in India.
      Odysse Evoqis Lite
      Where pricing is concerned, Odysse Evoqis Lite has been priced at Rs 1.18 lakh. There are as many as five colour options for Evoqis Lite electric motorcycle. These include Cobalt Blue, Fire Red, Lime Green, Magna White and Black?. Odysse is advertising it as India’s most affordable electric sports bike, which seems to be its major draw.
      Where design is concerned, it looks like a Kawasaki Ninja 300 at a glance. Especially in the Lime Green colour. It has dual headlights, a transparent windscreen, fairing-mounted ORVMs, fairing-mounted side turn indicators, clip-on handlebars, a split seat setup with a stepped pillion seat, tail lights in the subframe and more.
      For some reason, Odysse has chosen to apply Autobots logo (from Transformers movie series directed by Micheal Bay) on the front fairing between headlights. Handlebar grips on these clip-on units are rather fat and handlebar tips are red in colour. There is a Speed Master graphic on the lower fairing and the top speed is only 75 km/h.
      Odysse Evoqis Lite
      Speaking of, Odysse doesn’t mention the battery capacity of this motorcycle. It is a 60V battery (amperage not mentioned), powering a rear hub electric motor that can touch a top speed of 75 km/h. Range on a single charge is 90 km, as promised by Odysse.
      The price point of this motorcycle is rather interesting. We say interesting because it is a fully-faired electric motorcycle that gets respectable features, equipment and components. For starters, it gets multiple driving modes, keyless ignition, a motor cut-off switch, an anti-theft lock and a smart battery.
      Even though the top speed is just 75 km/h, Odysse is offering a dual disc brake setup at the front, something which is seen with 650cc class and above in India. There’s a single-disc brake setup at the rear and the wheels look very similar to the ones seen on, well, Kawasaki Ninja 300. Odysse does not mention whether the Rs 1.1 lakh pricing is Ex-sh or effective Ex-sh including subsidies.
      Statement from Odysse
      Commenting on the launch, Mr. Nemin Vora – Founder, Odysse Electric said, “With this launch, we’re making sporty rides more accessible than ever. It’s a perfect blend of performance and affordability, crafted for those who seek thrill without compromise and at the same time not harming the environment.” More

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      2025 BYD Seal India Launch Price Rs 41 Lakh – 5 Star EURO NCAP

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      2025 BYD Seal IndiaBYD India, a subsidiary of global EV leader BYD, has officially announced pricing for the 2025 model year BYD SEAL electric sedan. One of India’s most celebrated luxury EVs, the new BYD SEAL brings several upgrades in performance, comfort, and technology, further strengthening BYD’s presence in the fast-growing Indian EV market.
      Prices for the 2025 BYD SEAL start at Rs 41 lakh (ex-showroom). The full price list is as follows:
      – BYD SEAL Dynamic (RWD) – 61.44 kWh battery – Rs 41,00,000– BYD SEAL Premium (RWD) – 82.56 kWh battery – Rs 45,70,000– BYD SEAL Performance (AWD) – 82.56 kWh battery – Rs 53,15,000
      2025 BYD Seal India
      The BYD SEAL has garnered strong customer interest since its India debut in March 2024. With the 2025 updates, BYD continues to push innovation, offering cutting-edge features that enhance both driving dynamics and cabin experience.
      Key highlights of the 2025 BYD SEAL include the adoption of a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) low-voltage battery (LVB), offering a six-times lighter weight, five-times lower self-discharge, and a lifespan of up to 15 years. Another key highlight is BYD’s pioneering Cell-to-Body (CTB) structure and Intelligent Torque Adaptation Control (iTAC) technology, improving safety, efficiency, and driving dynamics.
      Top notch performance
      Performance enthusiasts will appreciate the BYD SEAL’s capability to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds in the Performance AWD variant. Enhancing comfort further, the 2025 model year brings upgrades such as Frequency Selective Dampers and the debut of BYD’s Disus-C Intelligent Damping System, ensuring superior ride quality across varied conditions.
      Inside, the luxury experience is elevated with a new silver-plated dimming canopy, a power sunshade, and a larger, more efficient air-conditioning system with improved air purification. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity now come standard, adding to the cabin’s tech-savvy feel.
      5 Star EURO NCAP Safety
      BYD SEAL has earned a strong reputation for safety, backed by its 5-star rating from Euro NCAP, one of the most respected vehicle safety assessment programs in the world. The SEAL’s high-strength Cell-to-Body (CTB) structure significantly enhances overall crash protection by integrating the battery pack into the vehicle’s body frame, improving torsional rigidity and impact absorption.
      Equipped with advanced safety features such as multiple airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, the BYD SEAL offers a high level of occupant protection, making it one of the safest electric sedans available in its class. With these updates, BYD India is poised to cater to premium EV buyers looking for performance, technology, and luxury in one package. More

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      Amazon Backed Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Truck Unveiled Before Launch

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      Slate Electric SUV, Pickup TruckDo you think cars have gotten more expensive in the recent past than they used to be? This is a universal question and not just limited to the Indian market. Slate Auto is on a mission to address this question with its maiden vehicle, an electric pickup truck, that can be modded extensively for a unique persona. Backed by billionaire and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Slate is poised to redefine mobility. Let’s take a closer look.
      Amazon Backed Electric SUV – Slate EV
      Slate Auto is an electric mobility startup based out of USA. The company’s core ethos is to offer affordable mobility solutions to buyers in a world where vehicle prices are skyrocketing. In that regard, Slate’s maiden vehicle, an electric pickup truck, is expected to start from USD 25,000 (approx Rs 21.33 lakh), which is lower than any EV sold in USA. Let alone versatile pickup trucks.
      Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Truck
      With affordability as its key strength, Slate Auto aims to build its brand to appeal to young buyers. The company has commenced bookings for this electric pickup truck with a USD 50 (approx Rs 4,300) deposit, which is refundable. Deliveries are slated to happen in last quarter of 2026. It packs a silhouette of a boxy 2-door single cab pickup truck that can be converted into a 2-door SUV.
      It measures 4,445 mm in length, 1,803 mm in width and 1,752 mm in height. Kerb weight is around 1,632 kg depending upon the accessories, it has a 650 kg payload capacity and a towing capacity of 454 kg. This makes it smaller than the smallest conventional pickup truck that is offered in USA like Ford Maverick and even the Hyundai Santa Fe.
      Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Truck
      The base ‘Blank Slate’ offered at USD 25,000 comes equipped with a 52.7 kWh battery pack, supplied by Korean brand SK-On, promising 150 miles (241 km). A larger 84.3 kWh battery promises 240 miles (386 km). Both versions will be powered by a sole 150 kW motor (201 bhp) and drive the rear wheels only. No 4WD. Black Slate comes with 11kW onboard AC charger and is compatible with 120 kW DC chargers too.
      Equipment on offer
      Because Slate Auto is establishing itself as a budget-conscious offering, there will be a sole trim level and a single colour. The company has saved up to USD 500 million (Rs 4,266 Cr) just by eliminating variants and streamlining production process with a scale of up to 1,50,000 vehicles per annum.
      Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Truck
      People who want more can opt for bundled kits and individual accessories to “pimp their ride” offering both DIY or dealer options. Buyers can convert Blank Slate into a 2-door fastback SUV or a 2-door 5-seat SUV with kits that get built-in airbags into their roll cage and other paraphernalia.
      [embedded content]
      It gets manual windows, 17-inch steel wheels, mandatory auto emergency braking and reversing camera, a driver’s digital instrument cluster, 200L frunk (front trunk) and up to 1,047L of storage at the back. There’s no touchscreen or other fancy gizmos along with many convenience features that Slate aims to offer as accessories, filling in the blanks.
      Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Truck More

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      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Launched – Major Updates For Top Variant

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      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350While price of the base variant remains unchanged at Rs 1.50 lakh, the higher variants of 2025 Hunter 350 will now cost ~ Rs 6.5K more
      Royal Enfield has launched the 2025 Hunter 350 with multiple new updates for the higher variants. Key highlights include sportier colourways, enhanced riding comfort and multiple new additions to the equipment list. Let’s explore all the latest upgrades introduced with 2025 Hunter 350.
      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 – What’s new?
      Based on market feedback, the stiff rear suspension setup of 2025 Hunter 350 has been upgraded for a plusher feel. It now uses progressive springs instead of linear springs. Many Hunter 350 users had pointed out the bike’s stiff rear suspension. This has now been fixed with the 2025 model. Users can expect greater comfort across rough patches and bumpy roads. However, progressive springs also mean that some of the handling precision may be diluted.
      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350
      Overall ride comfort has been further improved with the use of higher density foam cushioning for the seat. The shape and dimensions of the seat remain unchanged. At the front, 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 gets updated LED headlight. It has enhanced illumination, making night rides a lot safer.
      Tech upgrades include the addition of Royal Enfield’s Tripper Navigation System. Users can pair their smartphone with the Tripper system via Bluetooth to access turn-by-turn navigation. It works via Google Maps and ensures distraction-free riding. The digi-analogue instrument cluster has been carried forward without any changes. For the convenience of users, 2025 Hunter 350 has been equipped with a Type-C USB fast charging port.
      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350
      New colourways, pricing
      With the 2025 Hunter 350, a major colour refresh can be seen. Some new colours have been added, while a few older ones — likely due to limited demand — have been axed. New colourways include Tokyo Black, London Red and Rio White. The ones that have been discontinued include Dapper Green, Dapper White, Rebel Black and Rebel Red. Colourways carried over include Rebel Blue, Dapper Grey and Factory Black.
      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350
      Price of the base variant, Factory Black, remains unchanged at Rs 1.50 lakh. The Rio White and Dapper Grey are available at Rs 1,76,750. Top variants – Rebel Blue, London Red and Tokyo Black, are priced at Rs 1,81,750. That means a price hike of approximately Rs 6,500 for the higher variants. It seems reasonable, as these variants have received multiple new updates.
      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350
      No performance boost
      Excluding the upgraded rear suspension, there are no other mechanical changes to the 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350. Powering the bike is a 349cc, single cylinder, air-oil cooled engine that generates 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed constant mesh gearbox and comes with an assist & slipper clutch.
      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350
      Hunter 350 utilizes a twin downtube spine frame with 41 mm telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers with 6-step adjustable preload. With a low seat height of 790 mm, the bike is suitable for agile manoeuvring across city streets. Hunter 350 has 17-inch alloys, wrapped in 110/70 front and 140/70 rear tubeless tyres. Braking setup comprises 300 mm disc and 270 mm disc at front and rear, respectively. Dual-channel ABS is offered as standard. 2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will continue to rival the likes of Honda CB350 RS and Jawa 42. More

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      Top 10 2W Sales FY25 – Splendor, Activa, Pulsar, Jupiter, Access

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      Honda ActivaIndian 2W market is hailed as the largest in the world, witnessing more sales of motorcycles and scooters than any other nation. Operating in this segment is a matter of intense competition as the contenders are many and continually improving to boost sales. Analysing FY25 sales, we can see 1,34,28,817 units sold with a 9.02% YoY growth over 1,23,17,757 units sold in FY24 with a volume gain of 11,11,060 units.
      Top 10 2W Sales FY25
      Like clockwork, Hero Splendor secured the top spot as the country’s best-selling 2W vehicle in FY25. Splendor sold a total of 33,98,449 units in FY25 and accounted for 26.05% of the sales within these ten entries. When compared to the 32,93,324 units sold in FY24, Splendor saw 6.23% YoY growth with 2,05,125 units in volume gain YoY.
      In 2nd place, we have Honda’s formidable Activa scooter which has become India’s de facto scooter. Activa sold 25,20,520 units with a clear YoY growth of 11.8% as opposed to 22,54,537 units with a volume gain of 2,65,983 units YoY. Activa contributed 18.77% of the total sales within this list.
      Also from Honda, we have the Shine commuter motorcycle range, which is the stark rival of Splendor. Shine sold 18,91,399 units in FY25, making it the 3rd highest-selling 2W vehicle with 27.54% YoY growth when compared to 14,82,957 units sold in FY24. This resulted in a volume gain of 4,08,442 units YoY and Shine accounted for 14.08% market share within this list.
      Top 10 2W Sales FY25
      The first contender on this list to register a YoY drop in sales was Bajaj Pulsar in 4th place with 13,25,816 units sold and secured a 9.87% market share of this list. This was not sufficient to outperform Pulsar’s FY24 sales which stood at 14,10,974 units. This resulted in a 6.04% YoY decline in sales and 85,158 units lost in volume YoY.
      XL100 is India’s 8th best-selling 2W
      In 5th place, we have TVS Jupiter with 11,07,285 units sold in FY25, up from 8,44,863 units in FY24. This results in a 31.06% YoY growth, which is the highest in this list. HF Deluxe was in 6th place in FY25 as it sold 9,71,119 units. However, it was not smooth sailing for HF Deluxe and it registered a 6.10% YoY decline, losing 63,059 units.
      Suzuki Access took 7th place as it sold 7,27,458 units. The company launched 2025 Access some time ago and packs a much better appeal than before. Access registered 14.64% YoY growth, gaining 92,895 units in volume. In 8th place, we have TVS XL100 which sold 5,01,813 units, up from 4,81,803 units in FY24 with a 4.15% YoY growth.
      In 9th and 10th place, we have TVS Apache with 4,46,218 units and Platina with 4,38,740 units respectively. Where Apache registered 18.02% YoY growth over 3,78,072 units in FY24 with 68,146 units volume growth, Platina sales fell by 12.69% when compared to 5,02,486 units from FY24 losing 63,746 units in volume. More