The company is introducing a new line of electric two-wheelers tailored specifically for the Indian market, along with several other new offerings.
In recent years, the company has achieved significant success. To illustrate the scale of its achievements, in 2023 alone, it sold a staggering 18.8 million motorcycles, earning it a top spot among motorcycle manufacturers. This impressive success can be attributed to a fundamental cultural difference between the company’s operations and those in the US. In Asia, motorcycles serve as a primary mode of transportation, making them a fundamental necessity rather than a mere luxury or recreational activity like they are viewed in the US.
In many countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, the roads swarm with mountainous amounts of bikes and motorbikes. It’s no wonder, therefore, that Honda sold a staggering 16 million motorcycles in Asia alone, where 18 million were sold in total last year.
With its widespread presence in the region, Honda is well-positioned to bring its pioneering EV technology to the mass market ahead of schedule. In fact, Honda has made plans to make a comprehensive entry of electric vehicles in India.
Honda’s Mobile Power Pack EX: propels the e-mobility revolution forward with cutting-edge innovation.
Honda’s ambitions for India and other Asian countries are enormous. The company plans to launch over 30 electric motorcycle models by 2030, a move that comes within just five years. According to Honda, India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for electric motorcycles, and it is a key market for the company. For better understanding, consider this – Honda has over 6,000 sales and service locations in India and more than 63 million customers, which is roughly double the population of California.
Honda is planning further growth, aiming to bolster its presence in India against other prominent companies already operating there. To achieve this, Honda established a new research and development centre in Bengaluru in 2024, which focuses exclusively on enhancing the company’s electric vehicle capabilities.
The Activa is Honda’s most popular scooter in India, and a fully electric version of the model will soon be introduced into the market.
The QLytic is Honda’s user-friendly electric vehicle intended for daily use.
For India, the Activa e, a variant of the extremely popular Activa scooter, will be a mass market model that leverages the Honda Mobile Power Pack e. It will likely come equipped with a range of cutting-edge features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, regenerative braking, and other advanced technologies, typically found in high-end electric scooters.
In addition, there’s the QC1, an electric two-wheeler featuring a fixed 1.5 kilowatt-hour battery. The QC1 is essentially a more affordable version of the Activa e, aiming to make Honda’s electric products more widely accessible to a broader market.
Honda is partnering with Indian firm OMC Power under the “Make In India” scheme. The goal of this endeavour is to create a circular economy where discarded batteries will be reused and recycled to provide off-grid power for residential units, educational institutions, and other establishments, thereby promoting a long-term vision that goes beyond just transportation solutions.
Honda displays two compelling electric concepts at EICMA 2024.
Honda’s ambitious plans for India are quite evident, but what about other regions? Indeed, the company has substantial expansions in store for Indonesia and Vietnam, with the introduction of the CUV e: and ICON e: models, both offering the flexibility of either fixed or interchangeable batteries. In Europe, Honda is set to launch the CUV e: and the previously mentioned EV Fun and EV Urban Concepts.
It appears that Honda is fully committed to transitioning to electric vehicles and putting forth a strong effort to make this shift a reality. We’d appreciate your input: which new electric motorcycle you think Honda should introduce in the US market.Personally, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of the production version of the EV Fun Concept, as it seems to be the most promising among Honda’s proposed electric motorcycles, living up to its name as a fun and exciting option.
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