Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, the second-largest two-wheeler maker in India, is set to launch 10 new electric two-wheelers in the coming years, targeting the entire spectrum of zero-emission vehicles. The plan, which has been in the works for over two years, will offer multiple powertrains, speed categories and body types with both fixed and swappable battery options. Honda’s electric vehicle (EV) roadmap has been formulated by Atsushi Ogata, president of Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India, with the aim of expanding the addressable market for the Japanese company. The first EV from Honda Motorcycle, likely to be the Activa electric, will hit the roads in March 2024, followed by another model in September 2024. The company plans to produce 1-1.5 lakh units between both models in the first year, with a potential of half a million units cumulatively over three years. Eventually, Honda aims to take the volume close to a million units by introducing more models until 2026-2027. While Honda’s immediate focus is on the domestic market, the company eventually intends to ship EVs to global markets.

Honda’s Electric Scooters and Motorcycles Road Map:

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India is gearing up to introduce 10 electric two-wheelers in the next decade to cater to the entire spectrum of zero-emission vehicles in the future. The plan is to offer multiple powertrains, speed categories, and body types in both fixed and swappable battery alternatives. Honda is one of the few mainstream players yet to enter the EV market in 2024, but it may be the first Japanese two-wheeler brand to enter the rapidly growing EV market.

To kickstart the EV game plan, work on two projects has already started, codenamed GJNA and K4BA. One of them is Activa Electric, which will be based on a fixed battery construct, whereas the other is a moped that will come with a swappable alternative. The first EV from Honda Motorcycle will hit the roads in March 2024, followed by another model in September 2024, and the company hopes to take up the volume close to a million units by 2026-2027.

To support swappable battery alternatives, Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited (HEID) has already established a base in Bengaluru. The swappable solutions are currently offered to the three-wheeler industry, and eventually, in-house Power pack business will aid the expansion of Honda’s EV business. The battery swapping service was started by Honda to support electric auto-rickshaws, and it started with a network of 70 swapping stations in Bengaluru, which is planned to be expanded to other cities.

Honda intends to ship EVs to the global markets eventually. The game plan was formulated under the president of Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India, Atsushi Ogata, who over the last three years has defined a roadmap to expand the addressable market for the Japanese two-wheeler major. Ogata expects the penetration of EVs to be in the range of 15-25 percent by the end of the decade, and Honda has defined its roadmap based on these forecasts.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s plan to introduce 10 electric two-wheelers in the coming years is a bold and ambitious strategy that positions the company as a leader in the rapidly growing EV market. By offering a range of EV models that cater to the diverse needs of customers, Honda is positioning itself as a brand that can offer something for everyone.