NEW DELHI: The $93-billion Honda Motor Company (HMC) will launch an array of products through its two subsidiaries —Hero Honda and Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India (HMSI) — to retain its combined 60% market share in the two-wheeler market. This is in response to rivals Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors’ new bikes on the twin-spark plug technology platform.
Honda Motor Company’s Southeast Asia head and the CEO of Honda SIEL Cars India Masahiro Takedagawa told ET on the sidelines of the 10th anniversary of Honda cars in India, “We are not sitting idle. We have our own strategy and will soon come out with a range of new bikes for the Indian market. I cannot disclose the products right now but these will be extensions of our new two-wheeler technology, which will be launched in the Indian market soon.”
Sources said HMC is contemplating to launch two-three new bikes through Hero Honda and HMSI in the festive month of October when sales spurt due to auspicious buying during Dussehra and Diwali. Hero Honda is likely to introduce new bikes between 130 cc and 150 cc.
(a higher engine displacement than Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors’ newly-launched bikes). A Hero Honda spokesperson refused to confirm the launch and said, “The company would not like to comment on future product launches.”
To counter threats by Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors, which aim to upgrade 100-cc customers to their 125-cc bikes, HMSI is likely to launch new bikes in the 100-cc segment based on new technology offerings, higher fuel efficiency and power. “We are planning to further increase out portfolio in the two-wheeler market and both companies (Hero Honda and HMSI) will complement each other in different two-wheeler segments. The new products will cater to different kinds of demands in the market,” Mr Takedagawa said.
HMC is keeping a wait and watch policy on the recent launches of Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors, which are targeted at gaining volumes in the market. Bajaj Auto launched the 125-cc bike 'XCD 125' on its patented DTSi technology on Sunday at Rs 41,000, about Rs 3,000 lower than the cheapest brand of Hero Honda. TVS Motors had also rolled out a new 125-cc bike Flame on the similar twin spark-based (CC-VTi) technology from its Hosur manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, which will be launched commercially in October.
1 comment:
The CBZ-Xtreme is the most technologically advanced bike thanks a lot on Indian roads as of today. Your height or weight shouldn’t be a problem.I suggest you to take a test ride before buying it.
GMC transfer case
Post a Comment