Honda 2Wheelers has now produced 35 million two-wheelers in the country
Honda 2Wheelers India have reached the milestone of producing 35 million vehicles in India since inception. Since 2001, the year Honda started operations in India, the brand has notched up production of over 35 million 2-wheelers. In 2001 Honda 2 wheelers India started operations with the roll-out of their first product, the Activa. Rather fittingly, the 35th million bike also happened to be an Activa – the Active 4G. The Activa has been the brand’s highest selling model for a while now while also being the country’s most-selling two-wheeler with sales of over 2 lakh units every month currently.
It took Honda 11 years to produce the first 10 million units. However, the manufacturer has seen exponential growth since then, producing 25million bikes in the next five and a half years. Honda 2Wheelers India is now adding a new customer every five seconds.
Rolling out the historic 35th million two-wheeler from Honda’s second plant in Tapukara (Rajasthan), Mr. Minoru Kato – President & CEO, Honda 2Wheelers India said, “Thanks to great support from customers in both India and 68 countries across the world, Honda 2Wheelers India is celebrating our 35 millionth two-wheeler landmark today. Taking forward this love and trust, we at Honda are committed to provide quality products and experiences that make customers’ lives more enjoyable.”
Elaborating how Honda has changed the way India rides, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Since the very start in 2001, Honda 2Wheelers India has led with its challenging spirit. Our first model, a scooter (Activa) activated the slowing scooter market with its advanced features and fresh design and is now leading India’s scooterization as No. 1 selling two-wheeler of India. Delighting 35 million customers with 24 products Honda 2wheelers is now reaching closer to them through a network of over 5,700 authorised touch-points. India’s Love for Honda’s 2wheelers is Growing and we are set to meet the future expectations of our customers.”
In 2017-18, Honda produced approximately 14.8 million units of motorcycles worldwide (from April to December 2017). Of this, Honda 2Wheelers India accounted for approximately 31% of the motorcycle production and reinforced its position as the biggest two-wheeler production hub for Honda globally. A massive 95 percent of the Honda two-wheelers produced in India are sold in the country.
In 2004, Honda made its entry into the motorcycle segment with 150cc CB Unicorn and followed this with the launch of 125cc CB Shine (India’s largest selling 125cc motorcycle) in 2006. In its first decade of business (2001-2011), Honda 2Wheelers India gradually scaled up its production and expanded capacity at its solo Manesar plant from 55,000 units in 2001 to 16.5 lac units’ annual production in 2011. The year 2011 was the inflection point as Honda parted ways with Hero. Honda 2Wheelers India expanded to three new plants in less than seven years (2011 – 2017) taking the total annual capacity to 6.4 million two-wheelers from the four plants.
