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      Honda Working On New Affordable Motorcycle To Rival Hero Splendor

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      Primary volume generators for Honda in motorcycle segment include CB Shine and Unicorn 160Hero Splendor Electric Motorcycle Render By Vinay Raj SomashekarWhile Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) leads in scooters, its ex-partner Hero dominates the commuter motorcycle segment. Hero bikes like Splendor and HF Deluxe are currently the preferred options in commuter segment. Things could change in future, as Honda is planning to launch an affordable commuter bike that will primarily rival Hero Splendor. This has been confirmed by Atsushi Ogata, President of HMSI in a recent interaction with ET Auto.Honda new commuter bikeHonda’s existing commuter motorcycle range has CD110 Dream and Livo. However, none of these are comparable to the high sale volumes generated by Hero Splendor. Ogata has also mentioned that CD110 hasn’t been able to match customer expectations in commuter segment. CD110 Dream is currently the most affordable Honda bike, available at a starting price of around Rs 63k (ex-showroom, Delhi). This works out cheaper than Splendor Plus that starts at around Rs 69k.One option for Honda is to focus on fuel efficiency, which is one of the key factors that has made Splendor so popular. Honda must be well-aware of this, as the Hero-Honda combine had started out the journey with their ‘Fill it, shut it, forget it’ campaign. Launched in 1984, Hero-Honda partnership had lasted for around 26 years. They decided to part ways in 2010 due to growing friction in terms of business objectives.Being a global player and with a much longer history, Honda surely has the technological edge. It has the capabilities to come up with a formidable rival to Hero Splendor. Or it can improve existing CD110 by introducing some new features such as engine start-stop system. Honda could also perform some tweaks to make CD110 just as nimble as Splendor.Honda CB Shine. Image – Ryt To KnowIt will be interesting to see Honda aggressively targeting the entry-level commuter segment. While Suzuki and Yamaha have decided to stay away, Honda will continue to face competition from Bajaj and TVS in addition to Hero MotorCorp.Honda sales analysisAs of now, close to 50% of HMSI sales come from its Activa scooter. Second bestseller is CB Shine, followed by Unicorn 160. In 200cc to 500cc segment, Honda’s offerings are fairly limited. Honda H’ness CB350 has registered consistent numbers every month, but it trails behind rivals by a significant margin.Honda also has limited presence in sport biking segment, which is dominated by Bajaj, KTM, and Yamaha. Honda could target these segments as well in future. Earlier this year in January, the company had expanded its middleweight portfolio to include CB300R. The bike was launched at an introductory price of Rs 2.77 lakh. It was available earlier in BS4 format and was quite popular.The bike has a sporty profile and comes with features such as golden USD forks, all-LED lighting, smartphone connectivity, USB charging port and assist and slipper clutch. CB300R can help Honda strengthen its position in 200cc-500cc motorcycle segment. More

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      in Motor News

      Honda and GM Deepen Ties, Promise 'New Series' of Affordable EVs

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      Honda and GM will co-develop a line of affordable electric compact SUV models.They will share platforms and new battery technologies that could include solid-state batteries.We can expect these models to arrive in the U.S. starting in 2027.We already know that Honda will use GM’s EV platform for two upcoming electric SUVs coming in 2024. But that won’t be the end of the two automakers’ partnership, as they have just announced a massive expansion of their plans. GM and Honda now say they will co-develop a lineup of affordable compact crossovers set to launch in 2027 with new battery technologies. The companies clearly have high sales ambitions for these vehicles, as they cite manufacturing plans that will “enable global production of millions of EVs.”

      These new models will use a common platform and share new battery technologies that the two companies are exploring, such as solid-state batteries and materials such as lithium-metal and silicon. Due to their affordability bent, we can assume that these compact SUVs will wear Chevy and Honda badges at first, but they may expand into GM’s more upscale Buick, Cadillac, and GMC brands as well and could also result in a product for Honda’s Acura luxury division.These new models will be smaller and cheaper than the previously announced 2024 Honda Prologue and its Acura spinoff, which could be called ADX. These vehicles, launching in about two years, are expected to use a version of the Ultium platform that will be similarly sized as the mid-size Cadillac Lyriq electric crossover that has already begun production.

      2024 Chevy Equinox EV
      Chevrolet

      Both GM and Honda say they are working to achieve price parity between EVs and existing gasoline models, and that a key mission of this project is to drive down the cost of electric vehicles so that they can sell in higher volumes. GM, for its part, is currently way ahead of Honda towards achieving this goal; it already offers the Bolt, starting at $32,495, and has announced plans for an Equinox EV coming next year that it claims will start around $30,000. GM also claims it will later launch an EV to slot in below the Equinox EV price-wise. Honda, meanwhile, does not currently sell an EV model in the U.S. at all but has shown EV concepts (pictured at top) for various global markets.

      Honda also says that it is developing electric models on its own platforms, but won’t share where these vehicles will fit in with the GM partnership. If we were to guess, we’d think that Hondas own EVs may take the form of smaller hatchbacks and sedans rather than the SUVs it will build with GM. The company does currently sell the tiny Honda e hatchback abroad but has no plans to bring this vehicle to the U.S. Honda also recently announced that it plans to establish a new EV brand with Sony, so we’re not sure how that fits in with these new plans with GM.Look for more information to come within the next few years as we find out more about GM and Honda’s growing collaboration in terms of production, technology, and where these new EVs will fit into the automakers’ respective lineups.
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      in Bike

      Top 10 150cc To 200cc Motorcycles Feb 2022 – Pulsar, Apache, R15, KTM

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      150-200cc motorcycles registered double digit YoY de-growth at 40.29 percent – Pulsar lead the segmentImage – SouRik MotoworldMotorcycles in the 150-200 cc segment have been registering dismal sales over the past few months. In February 2022, sales dipped 40.29 percent to 85,473 units, down from 1,43,138 units sold in February 2021. This related to a volume de-growth of 57.665 units. MoM sales dipped 4.51 percent from 89,509 units sold in January 2022.Top 10 150cc To 200cc Motorcycles Feb 2022Every motorcycle in the list posted a YoY de-growth, except for Xpulse 200. It was Bajaj Pulsar that led February 2022 sales charts with 22,470 units sold, down 39.59 percent over 37,193 units sold in February 2021.Pulsar commanded a 26.29 percent share in this segment in February 2022 up from 18.60 held in January 2022. Sales in January 2022 stood at 16,646 units relating to a 34.99 percent de-growth over February 2022. In the past month, Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 received a new black and white colour scheme to enhance its sporty appeal.At No. 2 was TVS Apache. YoY sales dipped 48.30 percent to 16,406 units from 31,735 units sold in February 2021 commanding a market share of 19.19 percent. MoM sales also fell significantly, down 36.72 percent over 25,925 units sold in January 2022.Motorcycle Sales 150cc to 200cc segment – Feb 2022 vs Feb 2021 (YoY)Yamaha FZ sales suffered a 24.74 percent YoY de-growth while on a MoM basis sales slipped 14.87 percent. Sales in February 2022 stood at 13,395 units, down from 17,798 units sold in February 2021 while in January 2022 sales had been at 15,734 units. Share percentage dipped from 17.58 percent held in January 2022 to 15.67 percent the following month.Unicorn 160 followed close behind at No. 4 with 12,812 units sold in February 2022 with negative YoY growth at 42.50 percent. Sales however, improved on a MoM basis with 12.89 percent growth reported over January 2022 sales at 11,349 units.Yamaha R15, Hero Xpulse, KTM, GixxerYamaha R15 sales dipped 14.30 percent YoY to 6,405 units from 7,474 units sold in February 2021 while MoM sales were up 4.21 percent from 6,146 units sold in January 2022. Yamaha R15S V3, the fully-faired motorcycle will soon be offered in two new paint schemes of Dark Knight Black and Red. These are slated to go on sale from April 11 onwards and could be priced marginally higher over the Racing Blue colour scheme which comes in with a price tag of Rs 1.58 lakh.Motorcycle Sales 150cc to 200cc segment – Feb 2022 vs Jan 2022 (MoM)Positioned at No. 6 on this list was Hero XPulse 200 with 49.30 percent YoY growth at 4,270 units up from 2,861 units sold in February 2021. MoM growth stood at 36.33 percent over 3,132 units sold in January 2022.Other bikes on this list, that included the Xtreme 160R (3,593 units), KTM 200 (2,318 units) and Gixxer (1,815 units) along with the Avenger 879 units each posted a YoY de-growth. The Hornet 2.0 (422 units) and XBlade (150 units) also saw sales dip on a YoY basis. Yamaha MT15 and Suzuki Intruder posted 0 sales. Yamaha is all set to launch updated MT15 this month. More

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      Two Wheeler Sales Mar 2022 – Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Royal Enfield

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      Every leading two wheeler maker posted a YoY de-growth in March 2022 while MoM domestic sales ended on a more positive noteImage – Neev MotorcyclesThe second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has continued to influence two wheeler sales across India. The work from home policy coupled with a strained economy and rising fuel prices have had a devastating effect on two wheeler sales. Rising input costs which has resulted in automakers to raise prices, has further impacted sales as has been reflected in sales figures of March 2022.Taking the leading two wheeler makers in India, sales in domestic markets in the past month ended on a dismal note. Sales de-growth was posted by Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Royal Enfield and Suzuki to the extent of 21.12 percent. Total two wheeler sales in domestic markets last month stood at 11,38,561 units, down from 14,43,320 units sold in March 2021.Two Wheeler Sales Mar 2022 – Hero LeadsHero MotoCorp topped sales charts with 4,15,764 units sold last month, down 23.62 percent over 5,44,340 units sold in March 2021. This was 1,28,576 unit volume growth even as the company commanded a 36.52 percent share. MoM growth on the other hand stood at 25.43 percent over 3,31,462 units sold in February 2022. Hero MotoCorp has launched the new Destini Xtec and has the new Xpulse 300 under development as well which could boost sales in the months ahead.At No. 2 was Honda Two Wheelers with sales of 3,09,549 units in March 2022. YoY de-growth stood at 21.64 percent as against 3,95,037 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales improved 8.36 percent over 2,85,677 units sold in February 2022. Share percentage dipped from 28.64 percent held in February 2022 to 27.19 percent last month.Two Wheeler Sales March 2022TVS Motors domestic sales in the past month stood at 1,96,956 units, down 2.57 percent over 2,02,155 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales improved 13.72 percent over 1,73,198 units sold in February 2022 with share percentage at 17.36 percent. Domestic sales of Bajaj Auto noted the highest YoY degrowth, dipped 40.97 percent to 1,07,081 units last month. In March 2021, sales stood at 1,81,393. MoM sales improved 10.94 percent from 96,523 units sold in February 2022.RE sales dipped 2.82 percent last month to 58,477 units, down from 60,173 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales grew by 12.16 percent from 52,135 units sold in February 2022. Suzuki two wheeler sales dipped both on a YoY and MoM basis. Sales which had stood at 60,222 units in March 2021 dipped 15.76 percent to 15,734 units in the past month. It was also a 13.43 percent de-growth over 58,603 units sold in February 2022.Two Wheeler Exports March 2022Even as domestic sales remained in the red, two wheeler makers have seen somewhat better results in terms of exports. Bajaj, Hero MotoCorp, Suzuki and RE posted increased exports while TVS and Honda exports continued to dip on a YoY basis. Total exports in the past month stood at 3,15,890 units, down 0.73 percent over 3,18,204 units shipped in March 2021. MoM exports fell 10.16 percent from 3,51,599 units in February 2022.Two Wheeler Exports March 2022Bajaj Auto led the list with 1,49,243 units shipped in March 2022, up 0.34 percent over 1,48,740 units sold in March 2021 while MoM shipments dipped 18.36 percent from 1,82,814 units in February 2022. Hero reported YoY growth of 7.09 percent while Suzuki and Enfield saw YoY exports increase 51.86 percent to 14,761 units and 56.33 percent to 9,200 units respectively. TVS shipments dipped 8.82 percent to 95,962 units while Honda exports fell 26.29 percent YoY to 11,794 units.Two Wheeler Total (Sales + Exports) March 2022Total two wheeler sales last month stood at 14,54,451 units, down 17.43 percent YoY as against 17,61,524 units sold in March 2021. MoM sales however, ended more positively, up 7.80 percent from 13,49,197 units sold in February 2022. On a MoM basis, every two wheeler maker posted more positive results except for Bajaj (-8.24 percent) and Suzuki (-9.29 percent).Two Wheeler Total – Sales + Exports March 2022Hero (4,50,694 units), Honda (3,21,343 units), TVS (2,91,918 units), Bajaj (2,56,324 units) and Suzuki (65,495 units) each posted a YoY de-growth. Sales of Royal Enfield ended with a 2.45 percent YoY growth to 67,677 units, up from 66,058 units sold in March 2021. The new RE Scram 411 was launched last month while the company is working on a new generation Bullet and Electra along with some offerings in the 650 cc segment. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Upcoming Mahindra XUV900 Coupe Electric SUV Sketch Render

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      Among the upcoming Born Electric SUVs from Mahindra, the XUV900 Coupe SUV is expected to be the flagship model in the lineupMahindra XUV900 Electric – Render SketchMahindra has been touted to make a grand re-entry into the electric mobility space with multiple new offerings. The carmaker recently teased three upcoming electric SUVs which are slated to make their maiden appearance in July this year, most probably as pre-production concepts.A lot of speculations have been made in regards to electric vehicle (EV) technologies, especially the platforms to be utilised by the upcoming battery-powered cars. More significant of those are the Born EV platforms which will underpin brand new electric cars and not battery-powered derivatives of IC engine models.Mahindra ‘Born Electric’ SUVsDubbed as the ‘Born Electric Vision’, all three electric SUVs teased have reportedly been designed and conceptualised by Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE). It is the automaker’s global design centre based in the United Kingdom and headed by Pratap Bose. The three electric models revealed in the teaser video comprises a compact SUV, a mid-size SUV and a Coupe SUV.All three electric SUVs will be underpinned by a new bespoke EV platform. Out of the three, the Coupe SUV body style has been in discussion earlier. It should be noted that Mahindra filed a trademark for XUV900 last year which is expected to be the brand’s upcoming flagship offering. Considering recent developments, in all likelihood, the upcoming Coupe electric SUV could don the XUV900 trademark. Automotive design artist, SRK Designs has shared a render sketch of XUV900 coupe electric SUV.[embedded content][embedded content]XUV900 Coupe Electric SUVDesign of XUV900 is expected to borrow inspiration from the XUV Aero Concept which made its maiden public appearance at the 2016 edition of Auto Expo. Exterior highlights of the XUV900 Coupe include body panels like front fenders, hood and front doors that could be borrowed from the XUV Aero Concept. Internally condemned as W620, this upcoming Coupe SUV could also draw styling cues from XUV700 since it is based on the brand’s latest design philosophy.A few months back, Mahindra greenlit the development of the production-spec model of XUV900 which is slated to make its debut in 2024. In September last year, reports surfaced online which revealed that a working prototype of a fully electric XUV700 is ready. This prototype EV will be powered by a 54kWh battery pack sending power to one or more electric motors.This battery pack could also be offered in the XUV900 Coupe electric SUV. However, details at the moment are far too scarce to make an accurate assumption. More details are expected to come our way once the concept prototypes are unveiled by Mahindra in July this year.Other Mahindra Electric SUVsOther two models in the upcoming ‘Born Electric Vision’ are expected to be XUV400 and XUV700 Electric. The former is expected to be a fully-electric version of XUV300 otherwise commonly referred to as the eXUV300. A concept prototype of the same has already been showcased at the last edition of AutoExpo in 2020. Recently, a heavily camouflaged mule of the compact electric SUV was spotted testing on roads. More

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      2022 Nissan Leaf Electric Car Spied Testing In Delhi NCR

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      There has been no official word from Nissan on launch of the Leaf electric in India yetNissan Leaf Electric SpiedWith growing impetus for electric vehicles (EVs) in India, many automakers are vying to make a mark in the sustainable mobility space. Nissan is one such brand that has been contemplating bringing an EV to India for a very long time. However, the company hasn’t been able to put its plans up and running.Recently, a fully undisguised prototype of Nissan Leaf was spotted testing on streets of Delhi NCR. Latest spy image of this test mule is credited to automotive enthusiast Swarup Mishra in which the fully-electric hatchback is seen wearing a green registration plate.Nissan Leaf spied in IndiaThe test mule is seen wrapped in a red paint scheme with only its rear end visible. That said, it isn’t the first time that the electric hatchback has been spied testing in India. Back in 2019, Leaf was spied on Indian roads on multiple occasions which had sparked rumours of its launch in the country.Earlier in November last year, Nissan CEO, Makoto Uchida, in an interaction with a leading newspaper confirmed that the company is looking to launch an EV in India. However, he declined to comment on specific details of this upcoming product or an expected launch timeline. We believe that the upcoming EV from Nissan is most likely to be Leaf since it has already been put to test on Indian roads in a number of instances.Nissan Leaf Electric SpiedNissan Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars in the world. By Feb 2022, global sales of Nissan Leaf crossed the 5.22 lakh mark. It has been on sale since 2010 in over fifty overseas markets of Europe, Asia and Latin America and even received a generation upgrade in 2017.In India, Nissan could bring the electric hatchback as a fully imported model via CBU route from Japan, at least initially till the brand is able to create a sizable consumer base. If and when launched, it could be priced around the Rs 40 lakh mark and will serve as an affordable alternative to MINI Cooper Electric and the upcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge.Expected Features & Powertrain SpecsBeing a CBU product, Leaf is expected to be very well loaded. It is expected to include features like ProPilot single-lane autonomous driving along with a semi-autonomous driving system and e-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving. It is also likely to be equipped with an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which will offer a range of safety features like lane departure warning, blind-spot warning and emergency braking system to name a few.Powering Leaf will be an EM57 electric motor that derives its energy from a 40 kWh Li-ion battery pack. This powertrain returns an output of 146 bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque. It claims an estimated range of 240km on a single charge as per NEDC. Nissan offers two types of AC chargers with Leaf- a 3kW unit and a 6kW unit. The former takes 16 hours for the battery to rejuvenate while the latter makes it in 8 hours. More

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      in Motor News

      Hertz Orders 65,000 Polestar EVs to Add to Rental Fleet

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      Hertz intends to add 65,000 Polestar electric vehicles to its global rental fleet within the next five years.The Polestar 2 will be the first model available, starting first in Europe and later expanding to Australia and North America.Hertz previously said it wants to make EVs 20 percent of its fleet.Teslas won’t be the only EVs available to rent through Hertz, as the company now says it plans to order 65,000 electric vehicles from Polestar within the next five years. The Polestar 2 hatchback will be the first model added to the fleet, starting this spring in Europe and reaching North America near the end of 2022. This is in addition to the order for 100,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles that Hertz says it has already begun adding to its U.S. rental fleet in select cities.

      This order will likely make up a significant portion of Polestar’s production over the next few years, as the company only sold 29,000 vehicles globally in 2021 and intends to hit a target of 290,000 vehicles produced in 2025. Hertz has not yet released details on the cost or availability of the rentals, but, like with the Tesla Model 3, we expect the vehicles to be priced similarly to other premium or luxury rental rates and available only in certain locations at first. Hertz also says the Polestar vehicles will eventually be available for ride-share drivers.Hertz has previously said it is investing in electric-vehicle charging infrastructure across its global facilities, as it is aiming to install both Level 2 and DC fast-charging stations. There will also be an EV-specific booking function on the company’s smartphone app. Hertz will be paying sticker price for the Tesla Model 3 vehicles it ordered in a $4.2 billion deal, but it’s unclear if it worked out a different financial package with Polestar.
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      2022 Hero Optima CX Electric Scooter Brochure Leaks – Launch Soon

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      Currently, Hero Optima HX is offered at a price of Rs 55,850 for the single battery variant and Rs 65,640 (both prices ex-showroom) for the dual-battery variant2022 Hero Optima CX and CX ER Electric Scooter. Source – elevahanHero Electric will soon be upgrading the Optima CX series for 2022. Brochure of the same has leaked only. It will be offered in two variants – CX and CX ER (Extended Range). Hero Electric official website has listed existing CX at a price of Rs 62,190 ex-Delhi.The two variants of Optima CX are expected to sit on top of the existing Optima HX range of e-scooters. The primary difference between CX and CX ER is the battery pack on offer, the former offers a single battery unit whereas the latter comes with a dual battery pack.2022 Hero Optima CX- Updates over Optima HXThe new Optima CX will be visually identical to its predecessor Optima HX but is expected to differ in terms of specifications. Optima CX is expected to be 25 percent more powerful than the previous model.Further, efficiency of the electric motor will be 10 percent more than before and that will also result in a higher top speed. Thanks to a larger battery pack range will also be greater.2022 Hero Optima CX and CX ER Electric ScooterPowertrain SpecsGetting into specific details, the Optima series features a larger 52.2Volt, 30ah Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery pack. The base CX variant gets a single unit which offers a range of 82 km while CX ER is offered with dual batteries that offer a cumulative range of 140km on a single charge.2022 Hero Optima CX and CX ER Electric ScooterThe battery pack(s) feeds energy to a 550W electric motor that returns a peak output of 1.2kW (1.6 bhp) with a maximum top speed of 45kmph. For reference, top speed on Optima HX is limited to 42 kmph. Braking has also been made stronger by 30 percent to compensate for improved performance.Charging time for both variants will stay around 4-5 hours since CX ER will be provided with a stronger dual charger setup. There is no other difference between the two variants as both offer a similar set of features.2022 Hero Optima CX and CX ER Electric ScooterFeatures & Expected PriceThe Optima CX range will offer features like cruise control, walk assist, reverse mode, a digital instrument cluster, USB charging port, LED headlamps and an anti-theft alarm with a remote key. In terms of dimensions, the e-scooter rides on 12-inch wheels shod with 90/90 section tubeless tyres from Continental. It gets a ground clearance of 140mm.While Optima CX weighs 82 kilos, due to an additional battery pack Optima CX ER weighs slightly higher at 93kg. As far as prices are concerned, the Optima CX range could be priced slightly higher than the Optima HX series, likely between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 (both prices ex-showroom). Both variants of Optima CX will be available in three colour options- blue, grey and white. More