Honda to launch more gearless scooters in India

Two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today said it will continue to introduce more gearless scooters in the domestic market, as it sees a higher growth in this segment.

"We are the market leader in gearless scooters. With demand for gearless scooters to grow in the domestic market, we are upbeat on this segment. Going forward, HMSI sees 40% business from scooters and 60% from motorcycles," HMSI President and CEO Shinji Aoyama told reporters here.

"Demand for gearless scooters will be more in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. We will continue to manufacture more scooters to meet demand in the domestic market," he said.

The company plans to ramp-up its dealership network to tap the rural market.

"Currently, we have around 1,200 dealerships and we plan to add 100 more by FY12," he said.

Aoyama, who will leave the Indian firm after serving for four years to join the parent Honda Motor Company from April 1, said HMSI aims to be numero uno in India in the next decade.

"We are very happy for the support from the people (in India). We need the same support to be No.1 in the next decade in India," he said, adding, "the recent calamity in Japan has not affected our two-wheeler industry much."

The company aims to sell 21 lakh units in 2011-12, as against 16.5 lakh units in 2010-11. It also aims to export 1 lakh units in 2011 and 1.7 lakh in 2012.

"Our products are more in demand in the domestic market. Currently, we have 2.6 lakh waiting customers and plan to increase the capacity to meet market demand," he said.

HMSI plans to start production of its second facility at Tapukara in Rajasthan in July this year. Its initial annual capacity will be 6 lakh units and later it will be expanded to 12 lakh units per annum.

"We will soon expand the capacity to 12 lakh units per year to meet the demand. We have invested around Rs 1,000 crore in the facility," he said.

The company today introduced its global road-sport motorcycle -- CBR 250R, priced at Rs 1.51 lakh (ex-showroom in Mumbai), which will be available in the market next month.

"CBR 250R will be available by April-end at our 400 exclusive dealerships pan-India. We plan to sell 30,000 units in the first year," Aoyama said.