Honda India Boss Hints At Trio Of New Launches

Atsushi Ogata, President, MD and CEO of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India recently announced the company will be launching three new products in the country soon. In the pipeline, Ogata hinted, are a 125cc scooter, a 160cc motorcycle and a 300-350cc motorcycle. Here is what we can expect from the Japanese marque.

Starting with scooters, Honda has been seen touching up its people movers like the Activa 6G with a ‘Special Edition’ tag. So, while another new 125cc scooter could be in the offing, the likelihood could be another one of those cosmetic updated trims on the way.
 
The 160cc bike, we think, will be a premium and sportier take on the Honda Unicorn, something to rival the new Bajaj Pulsar N160 and the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. While you would talk about the X-Blade already being a worthy contender to the Pulsar and the Apache, perhaps something more sportier should be the way to go.

Lastly, the 300-350cc motorcycle could be an ADV or adventure touring bike based on the newly launched Honda CB300F. When we rode the bike, we found the motor to have decent highway capabilities and it could actually work better as a touring motorcycle.

Honda’s launch plans are buyer behavior driven, as despite a severe semiconductor crunch, demand for two-wheelers is gaining momentum with the reopening of schools and offices, Ogata explained. 

We suspect Honda will try to introduce the three new models before the BS6-2 OBD regulations are put in motion from April 1, 2023.