Leading two-wheeler manufacturer Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India is set to launch its first electric model in the country on November 27. With its stronghold in the internal combustion engine (ICE) scooter segment through models like Activa and Dio, it is expected that Honda’s first electric model will also be a scooter.
On March 29, 2023, Honda hosted an event at its factory in Manesar, where the company revealed plans to introduce two new electric vehicles. One model is expected to feature a fixed battery, while the other will come with a removable battery. Since then, it has been anticipated that Honda's electric version of the Activa scooter may be launched with a fixed battery in India.
The electric vehicle (EV) segment in India is still in its early stages. As per data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), in the festive month of October, only 139,159 electric two-wheelers were sold, accounting for just 6.74% of the total two-wheeler sales of 2,065,095 units.
The CUV e electric scooter, which follows the launch of the EM 1e last year, is Honda’s second electric model in its lineup. It features two removable battery packs, meaning the batteries can be easily swapped and replaced. According to the company, this scooter offers a range of over 70 km on a full charge. The concept of this scooter was also showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.
In October, Honda sold 554,249 units of internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers, capturing a market share of 26.84%, as per FADA data. Currently, in the electric two-wheeler market in India, models from companies like Ola Electric, TVS Motor Company, Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy, and Hero MotoCorp are leading the market. While Ola leads with its S1 range, TVS offers the iQube and X models, Bajaj sells the Chetak, Ather has the Rizta and 450 models, and Hero is present with its Vida V1 range.
