Key highlights
- Honda reveals future plans for India
- Company is considering more off-road bikes for India
- Enduro and Motocross categories are under evaluation
In a recent conversation with Autocar India, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India CEO and President Tsutsumu Otani revealed that the company is planning to introduce more off-road bikes in India soon. The brand recently launched the new XR300L and XR300L Rally bikes, which have garnered a strong response from off-road customers.
Otani revealed that there are various off-road categories, including Enduro and Motocross. The company is evaluating these categories specifically for India.
In the global market, Honda sells its CRF off-road dirt bikes, which are essentially dual-sport models. The brand has a long range of off-road models, starting from 50cc and ranging up to 450cc.
However, Honda is late to the party, as Kawasaki and Suzuki also sell off-road-specific models like the KLX and the RMZ, respectively. But considering the potential in India, the brand is confident that its Enduro and Motocross models will sell well.
While Otani did not reveal the exact models that the company is considering, we believe that the CRF range will expand in the near future. The exact engine capacity of the upcoming models is unknown, but Honda could likely introduce a 450cc off-road bike to compete against the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the KTM 390 Adventure range.
The 250-450cc off-road and dual-sport motorcycle categories have witnessed a rapid expansion in recent years. New customers are following the trend, and most buyers want to hop on a tall, off-road-spec saddle.
HMSI is likely eyeing this specific segment due to its rapid growth and the growth curve that is yet to be achieved in the coming years, before this segment of bikes achieves saturation.
More details regarding which models will come to India, and their specs or prices will be likely revealed in the coming months.
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