Honda launches refreshed models of Activa i, Aviator

So far during 2015-16 fiscal, Honda is highest market share and volume gainer in Indian two-wheeler industry with a 26% share

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto giant Honda, launched two refreshed models of Activa i and Aviator scooters in the domestic market on Wednesday. With this, HMSI has completed eight new two-wheeler model launches in the first six months of 2015.

“The new launches will extend our market share in the automatic scooter segment in India to 60 per cent,” Keita Muramatsu, president and chief executive officer of HMSI, told mediapersons.

So far during the 2015-16 fiscal, Honda is the highest market share and volume gainer in the Indian two-wheeler industry with a 26 per cent share, while its market share reached 59 per cent in the automatic scooter segment.

“We have set a sales target of 4.67 million two-wheeler units for this year, as against 4.45 million units last year on the back of stability in the industry and increasing demand,” Muramatsu said, adding that scooters contributed 60 per cent to HMSI’s total sales volumes.

Stating that India is a focus market for Honda and it is significant that Honda's two-wheeler operations here is the second-largest contributor to its global sales, he said, given its continued investment and growth, India would become the number one two-wheeler market for Honda globally within the next two to three years.

According to Muramatsu, HMSI's fourth manufacturing plant at Ahmedabad with a capacity of 1.2 million units a year, is expected to be commissioned by early 2016. Post the expansion, HMSI's total two-wheeler manufacturing capacity in India will go up to 5.8 million units a year, he said, adding that the company would invest to build a new production line at its existing third plant in Karnataka before the end of 2016.