Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) announced its electric vehicle (EV) roadmap, promising the introduction of two new electric scooters in FY 2024. One of them will have a permanent battery, while the other, likely dubbed an electric Activa, will feature swappable batteries.

 

A new manufacturing line devoted to EVs will be built at its Narsapura facility in Karnataka, with an annual production capacity of 1 million vehicles. Simultaneously, HMSI is pressing forward with its internal combustion engine models.

 

Honda Motorcycles India is also preparing to increase its export operations. The firm now sells 18 models to 38 countries and plans to expand to 20 models in 58 countries. The Honda NAVI is still a popular model in international markets and one of the leading models in exports.

 

HMSI will develop a new scooter manufacturing line at its Vithalpur facility in Gujarat to support the export figures. This will increase yearly capacity to 6 lakh units, allowing it to serve both local and international markets. Despite being withdrawn in India, the Honda NAVI remains HMSI's most exported vehicle.

 

As part of its carbon-neutrality efforts. Honda plans to promote electrification of two-wheelers and has produced modern IC engines as well as flex-fuel versions for India.

 

By Diwali 2023, Honda will launch a new crossover vehicle based on its CB350 chassis in its premium motorbike lineup. The new 350 cc motorbike is expected to be a scrambler-styled variant. According to Atsushi Ogata, President, MD, and CEO of HMSI, a new 300 cc crossover or ADV model has been considered, but no permission from Japan has been obtained to construct such vehicle in India.