Honda Next Gen: In 2014

The break up of Hero Honda is a past now, and Honda has come a long way on its own since then. Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India is the undoubted crowned prince on the Indian roads now, or at least the scooter market in India. The top three models from Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), Aviator, Activa, Dio, together enjoy a market share of 45% of scooter segment in India, even though the market has changed a lot since the launch of these scooters, lot more competition has come in. But this is not all that HMSI wants. The company sees a long way to go. Watching the market and realizing the feasibility and need of the upgraded versions of some of the earlier scoots, the Japanese two wheeler giant will soon be coming up with new and latest versions of Dio, Activa, and Aviator. This should be expected by the year 2014. Or could it be the end of 2014? As per the reports, a complete new platform would be given to the scooters, which will eventually lead to improved and better riding dynamics, not just marginal, but dramatically, making the ride all the more comfortable and easier. The thought, we would say, shows the way HMSI wants to improve and develop, carefully understanding the needs of Indian scooter riding segment.

Soon these very scooters from HMSI will be seen giving more power, more efficiency, and more mileage. Other than these few changes, expected are a few more, which would ensure that the HMSI scooters own the market the way they own the leadership now. With Honda’s plans, we expect the company’s rivals, Yamaha, Hero and TVS too would soon come up with something similar kind of changes, to keep the smothering competition intact, even though this is a move by Honda to keep it apart and above all the competition in scooter segment in India. Yamaha already has announced Ray, another automatic two wheeler in the scooter segment, which would give a run to all the automatic scooters currently running in the country.

On the same platform as Honda Aviator, a new scooter will be brought up by the two wheeler manufacturer, which has got code named as K24A. Speculations are that this scooter will be seen on roads by 2013, fighting along with Piaggio Vespa, Suzuki Access, Mahindra Rodeo. As of the current scenario, Honda losses the market when it comes to the brand loyals needing to choose a 125cc scooter, a segment which has been totally dropped by Honda, thus, the loyals are left with no other option than to opt for Honda’s rivals. So, the move towards 125cc scooter currently means hitting the bull’s eye for Honda. Honda Eterno, a 150cc scooter, is worth a mention here. Eterno has been phased out now, probably because of it being a geared scooter, whereas the current Indian scooter market shouts for gearless scooters.