Honda To Build Electric Motorcycle Plant In India By 2028

Honda To Build Electric Motorcycle Plant In India By 2028

SUMMARY

A wide variety of electric models will be produced in India by combining modules that are commonised for multiple models, Honda said

Daiki Mihara said that the company plans to capture the largest market share in the Indian ebike segment by expanding after-sales network and introducing new models

This comes nearly two months after the company forayed into the EV segment in November 2024 with the launch of two electric scooters – Activa E and QC1

Japanese auto giant Honda has said that it will operationalise a dedicated electric motorcycle production plant in India in 2028. 

The announcement was made by Japan-based Honda Moto Co. Ltd’s head of motorcycle operations, Daiki Mihara, during a press briefing in Tokyo.

“Honda will begin operating a dedicated electric motorcycle production plant in India in 2028. A wide variety of electric models will be produced by combining modules that are commonised for multiple models,” said Mihara. 

As per an Autocar report, the plant will likely be built in Karnataka and will cater to the domestic market as well as exports to other emerging markets.

Mihara also said that the company has been working with battery manufacturers to establish “specifications suited to the characteristics” of motorcycles and ensure stable procurement. 

The top Honda executive said that the move to manufacture in India is in line with the company’s larger strategy of selling its electric motorcycles in the “price range where the TOC (total ownership cost) for the three years of ownership will be equivalent to that of ICE models”.

Honda also outlined plans to capture the largest market share in the Indian electric motorcycle segment. As part of this, the automaker said that it will strengthen its after-sales services and maintenance network and introduce more electric models (powered by a fixed battery).

This comes nearly two months after the company forayed into the EV segment in November 2024 with the launch of two electric scooters – Activa E and QC1. Subsequently, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) CEO Tsutsumu Otani reportedly said that the auto maker was planning to launch an all-new “Activa Electric” by the end of March 2025. 

Honda is looking to enter the Indian electric motorcycle market, which is already populated by the likes of homegrown startups such as EMotorad, Raptee, Ultraviolette, among others. On the other hand, HMSI’s new escooter offerings also lock horns with the likes of giants such as Ola Electric, Ather Energy and legacy players like Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor. 

That said, the penetration of EVs in the two-wheelers segment still hovers around 6-7%, which offers ample room for new entrants to disrupt the space. On top of this, government sops and production linked incentives (PLIs) have also made India an attractive bet for companies looking for new markets.

As per Inc42, the Indian EV market is projected to become a $110.74 Bn market opportunity by 2029. 

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