While companies like Hero, Bajaj, TVS and Suzuki are working on their respective electric two-wheelers, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has decided to stay away at least until 2020. Speaking to The Economic Times, Minoru Kato, President and CEO, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India confirmed that the Japanese two-wheeler brand has planned no electric vehicle for the Indian market in the near-future.
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Do note that Honda 2Wheelers has introduced the PCX electric scooter for the select international markets, including its home turf, Japan. The Honda PCX was showcased in the concept form at the Auto Expo 2018. Thus, we may see the production scooter in the Indian market in the future. In an interview with the business publication, Kato said:
Our R&D in Japan has been developing many EVs but not India specific, rather global.
Kato also added that Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India would continue to invest in new features, new models, and new technology in the Indian market.
In case you missed the previous updates, the Ministry of Road and Transport has reportedly proposed electrification of all two- and three-wheelers less than 150 cc by 2025 and 2023 respectively. However, the proposed deadline for mass adoption of Electric Vehicles has been termed impractical and unrealistic by manufacturers in the Indian market.
Suzuki Motorcycle India's Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Devashish Handa, confirmed in a recent interview that the company is developing an India-specific electric two-wheeler.
Indian two-wheeler brands like Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors are also readying their electric vehicles while Hero Electric has announced its plans to further expand its reach in the Indian market. Bajaj Auto will introduce its electric scooter under the Urbanite brand. TVS Motors plans to launch its first electric two-wheeler in the current fiscal and it will reveal its solar-powered two-wheeler in 2022.
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In more updates, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India has revealed its new, BS-VI compliant Activa 125 that packs several new features such as fuel-injection system, Idling Stop System, silent start system and a semi-digital instrument console. The company will reveal the full technical specifications at the launch, which will happen by the end of September.
[Source: EconomicTimes.com]
