Honda to launch many bikes, will launch cheaper motorcycle than CD 110 for rural areas

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) aims to expand its bike portfolio in the country. The company is trying to connect new consumers in both urban and rural areas. Atsushi Ogata, the newly appointed Chairman, CEO and Managing Director (MD) of HMSI, said in an interview that the company aims to bring entry-level affordable products to rural areas. Along with this, the company is also trying to strengthen its presence in the mid-segment range above 150 CC, including the superbike portfolio, to attract different types of consumers.

The company is currently in the leading position in the scooter category on the basis of models like the Activa and Duo. Now the company is looking to strengthen its presence in rural areas by bringing the motorcycle to a level below its current most affordable motorcycle CD 110.

Profitability reduced due to new emission norms

Ogata said, “With the new emission norms coming in, profitability has come down. This is not only for Honda motorcycles but for the entire industry. Therefore, we are focusing on improving profitability model-by-model and changing the portfolio of models. ”He said that this review of the portfolio will not affect the existing products, but will see new products.

Lack of entry-level bikes in the portfolio

The company is currently lacking entry-level bikes and due to this, it is getting beaten by the competitors. Ogata said, “Unfortunately, we do not have a strong product for rural areas, so of course we need a model for such consumers.” Asked whether to introduce such models How much time will it take, he said that it will take some time but it is not going to take five to ten years.

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New launching for high-income people too

Ogata also said that the company will further strengthen its mid-segment motorcycle range above 150cc. There are also high-income groups in India and Honda has the technology to introduce new products in this category as well. Honda has unicorns and other bikes in its portfolio in the segment above 150cc but they are not enough. Ogata said that soon we will launch some attractive models so that new customers can be created in urban areas.

Regarding premium bikes, he said that now the focus will be on localization and India centric products. We do not currently have localized premium bikes. Parts come from another country. Also, Africa Twin, CBR these bikes are not India oriented models. So we have to bring exclusively localized, original products for the Indian market. Studies are going on on these.