Bike sales December 2015: Honda 2 wheelers sell 306,779 units; captures 25% market share

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) registered overall sales of 306,779 units for the month of December 2015, down from 3,48,737 units in December 2014. Out of the current numbers, scooter sales stood at 198,332 units while motorcycle sales stood at 92,380 units. Export sales came to 16.067 units for the same period. The market share claimed by Honda for December 2015 in the domestic market is 25%, while the domestic as well as export market combined market share stood 22%.

Till December 2015 of the current fiscal year, HMSI sold a total of 3,354,831 units. Of these, scooter sales stood at 2,079,833 units while motorcycle sales accounted for 1,125,678 units. Export sales stood at 149,320 units in the current fiscal during April to December, 2015. The market share claimed by Honda in the domestic market is 26% while the Domestic and export market share accounted for 24% of the overall market share.

Honda 2 wheelers brought in a street naked sports bike in the form of the CB Hornet 160R – one of the first mainstream bikes in India to meet BS-IV emission norms. The motorcycle will be available for sale in 2 variants with the price starting from Rs 79,900 (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi).

The company also came out with an exclusive booking app available on the android as well as the iOS platform known as the CB Hornet 160R. Honda advanced the CB Hornet 160R’s availability from the planned 21 cities to 53 cities as the number of downloads crossed 40,000 mark.

Honda also went on to win 3 awards in December 2015 namely the manufacturer of the year 2 wheeler, motorcycle of the year up to 160 cc, and the motorcycle of the Year up to 110 cc all under the NDTV Car & Bike awards 2016.

New Hyosung GT300R and GT650R India launch said to be scheduled in June 2016

Hyosung showcased its new product line up at the 2015 EICMA motorcycle show including the new GT300R and the updated GT650R. While the Korean two-wheeler maker did not reveal any specific details about the India launch time frame, the folks at motoring portal Bike Advice report that the GT duo would be launched by mid 2016. Shirish Kulkarni, chairman of DSK Motowheels confirmed that the GT duo should arrive in Indian showrooms by May-June 2016. He added that the GT300R and GT650R are yet to reach the production ready stage.

The GT300R will replace the GT250R and will be propelled by a 275cc V-twin engine. The twin motor will deliver 28 PS of power at 10,500 rpm and 23.5 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. The motorcycle will also come equipped with a dual channel ABS as standard and an updated design. The updated refreshed GT650R, on the other hand, gets a 647cc  V-twin motor delivering 74.4 PS of power and 54.4 Nm of torque.

There is no word on the pricing front but the new motorcycles, with their added list of features, are expected to carry a slightly premium price tag. As aforementioned, both motorcycles will reach Indian shores by mid 2016. We would bring you all the updates about the new GT300R and GT650R as and when they arrive. Meanwhile, share your views about the new GT duo from Hyosung through the comments section below.

Car Care: Things to Check Before Starting Your Car

The most frustrating thing about owning and driving a car in a city on a daily basis is the fact that eventually, one of the days it will have a breakdown. 

For reasons ranging from a flat tyre to general maintenance ignorance to pathetic road conditions of India. 

So, we have come up with a simple check list that you can perform every time you start the car – or at least before the first start of the day in order to prevent unnecessary delays. 

THE CHECKLIST: 

From Outside: 

– Start by checking whether the tyres are properly inflated – it is always better if you have a pressure gauge, but in any case just check if the pressure is visibly low in any of the tyres. It is also advisable to properly check tyres every fortnight and re-inflate them (including spare tyre) to their recommended pressures. You can also lightly kick a tyre or two – not only to make you feel a little better about the task, but also for the good luck charm! 

– Thoroughly check under your car and in some case even on top, for stray dogs and cats. Why? Well, I don’t think we need an explanation for this one! 

–  If you are one of those souls who frequently park their car in the public parking spaces – which, by the way are almost non-existent these days – then you will know better about the unwanted ads and pamphlets that are forcefully stuck under your wiper blades / mirror housings / door-handles etc. Please check and thrown them away (in the bins people, keep thy city clean!) before getting inside the car. Needless to say it is very irritating to step out for this reason. 

– You might as well want to check if it is your car and this bit is really simple – it will open and more importantly start with your key. No, believe us, we have come across people who end up unlocking someone else’s car and not realising it until they actually get inside!

On the Inside: 

– Check and adjust your seat position and also adjust the rear view mirrors. Get an ergonomically comfortable driving position is of utmost importance. 

– Before you turn-on the engine, check if A/C, headlights and other electronics are shut-off – your car will mostly start trouble free even with these on, but then they will certainly affect your car battery’s life and in most modern cars – it could ruin the vital electrical too. 

– After you turn-on the ignition, wait for all warning lights in the instrument cluster to illuminate before starting the car. Once you start the car all the lights should disappear in a moment except handbrake warning light. (Hope you pull the handbrake, every time you park your car –of course, that is a different checklist – “things to do when you park your car”). In case any light remains on like Oil level indicator or battery, get you car checked from an authorised service centre. 

– This might sound a little silly, but can be a lot of pain if ignored. Always do remember to check if there is enough fuel in the car to at least reach the nearest fuel station. 

– Now the last thing to do is to ensure that all headlamp and indicator bulbs are working fine; and though we suggest that the usage of horn should be minimal, it is still important to check that it is working – as we still drive on the great Indian roads! 

To conclude, the most important thing to practice and perfect if your observation skills when it comes to your beloved cars. Being observant and being able to put a pin on a thing that is shown a change, will go a long way in making sure that you are not held back by the side a of a road with a broken car.

Creativity At Its Best! These Cool Bikes Of The Future Remind Us of Sci-Fi Movies!

Every motorcycle buff will admit that there is some connection between bikes and sci-fi movies.

Be it the Light Cycle from the movie Tron, or the Bat Pod from Batman, each of those deadly machines completely awed us with their awesome design & features.

How we wished we could strap in and hit the road with one of those macho bikes.

Thanks to technology, the future of motorcycles seems promising, and we might be lucky enough to own a revved up machine.

Listed below are few futuristic bikes that are highly functional & creative, and remind us of those monstrous vehicles that appear in sci-fi films:

1. Small, Fast, & Electric-powered

The Halbo-Future Duo-Wheel BMW is an amazingly small motorcycle offering blazing fast speeds. Designed by the famous Pierre Yohanes, this bike has a stationary front wheel, while the back tail can turn, thus offering the driver a motorboat riding experience. What’s more, the vehicle is electric-powered, and hence a boon for the eco-minded people.

 

2. Jaguar-shaped

The Jaguar M-Cycle doesn’t have the term jaguar only in its name, but its outer design is also in the shape of the Jaguar car manufacturer logo. Measuring a massive 8 feet in length, the body of this speed demon flaunts an ebony lacquered fiberglass over dazzling stainless steel.   

3. Sits upright when parked

Keeping in mind the practical problems of parking in metropolitan cities, designer David Miguel crafted the Scarab Motorcycle that utilizes space in a crowded parking lot. The unique feature of this vehicle is that it can sit completely upright, and as many as 3 Scarabs can accommodate in a standard sized car parking space.  

4. Box-shaped

Truly peculiar and different from all its counterparts, the Nuclear Motorcycle appears like a weird box when parked. However, it’s amazing to see the way it extends its wheels and raises the saddles once it starts rambling on the road.

  

5. Three-wheeled

One may wonder that how does a three-wheeled vehicle qualify to feature on this list? Well, this incredibly clever motorcycle, known as Magic Tricycle, has an interesting form factor. Once it lies on its side, it uses all its 3 wheels exactly like a car. Alternatively, it can also stand upright with the third wheel on top, thus providing the owner an opportunity & feel of driving a motorcycle.

Apart from the above-mentioned bikes, there are a handful of other motorcycles that boast of intimidating designs, bleeding-edge specs, and mind-boggling performances. Time will tell whether we would be able to hop on to one of these spinning beauties. However, if given a chance, which sci-fi movie bike would you like to lay your hands on? Think about it and let us know by posting your views in the comments box below!

Upcoming Car Launches: Here is what’s coming to India this October

The month of October will see some long awaited products being launched in the country. From premium hatchbacks to performance SUVs, we have at least six products heading to the Indian market this month. We compile a list of upcoming car launches in India.

At the front of the list of vehicles to be launched in India is the new BMW X5M and X6M. BMW’s latest-generation performance spec X5M and X6M, which made their first appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014, would make their entry on the Indian soil on October 15. Both models are powered by a new 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine with two TwinScroll turbochargers which delivers 575 hp of power and 750 Nm of torque.

Fiat Abarth Punto

Following the Bavarian SUVs will be Fiat India who will launch the much talked about hot-hatch, the Abarth Punto in India on October 19. With 145 bhp on tap, this Italian stinger, on launched, will be India’s most powerful hatchback.

Maruti Baleno

The all-new Maruti Baleno premium hatchback will share the space with the S-Cross at the Indian car maker’s “premium” Nexa showroom from October 26 onwards. Bookings for the new Baleno have commenced, with the token amount being INR 25,000. Under the hood of the new Baleno hatchback will be a 1.2 litre VVT petrol engine that would deliver 84PS of power and 115 Nm of torque. Accompanying the petrol powered motor will be the tried and tested 1.3-litre diesel engine that would deliver 75PS of power and 190 Nm of torque. Both the motors will come mated to a 5 speed manual transmission.

Maruti Ertiga facelift

The 2015 Suzuki Ertiga, or the Maruti Ertiga facelift that was unveiled in Indonesia in August this year will arrive in India in October. While Maruti has not confirmed the launch date, with the festive season right around the corner, we expect to see the facelift Ertiga in Indian showrooms very soon. Visually, not much has changed, but the face-lift gives the timid looking Ertiga a major confidence boost with a bolder front fascia.

Chevrolet Trailblazer

Chevrolet officially unveiled the Trailblazer SUV and Spin MPV in India in July 2015. As reported before, the Chevrolet SUV will be launched in October 2015, while the Spin MPV will hit Indian shores in 2017. The Chevrolet Trailblazer will be powered by an all-new 2.8-litre Duramax turbo-diesel, in-line 4 cylinder engine that develops 200 hp of power and 500 Nm of torque. An earlier report suggested that initially, Chevrolet will be launching the Trailblazer with only a 2WD variant paired to an automatic transmission.

Mercedes GLE

The Mercedes GLE will also make way into the Indian soil in October 2015. According to Mercedes-Benz’s new nomenclature, the current ML Class, in its next iteration will turn into the GLE Class, to better reflect its positioning in the E-Class range of cars. Mercedes-Benz will introduce the V6 equipped GLE 350d variant that will deliver 255 bhp from its 3.0 litre power plant. Also on offer will be the GLE 250d variant that will be powered by a 2.1 litre diesel engine putting up 203 bhp of power. The GLE will also be blessed with a AMG Sport model.

We would be covering all the launch events so stay tuned for all the latest updates. Do share your views about these upcoming launched through the comments section below.

Creta sets the sales charts on fire

At one level, you cannot help but agree with the Senior Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) of Hyundai Motors India given the resounding reception the SUV has received in the market since its launch in July.

With Creta sales comfortably averaging over 7,500 units each month, Srivasatva has reasons to be pleased with this showing. More importantly, Hyundai would also feel quite triumphant since the vehicle has shown the way in a segment where it was hardly present.

Not only has the Creta zoomed ahead in the SUV rankings game, it has ended up putting pressure on rival products from Mahindra & Mahindra, Renault, Ford and, more recently, Maruti Suzuki. The Bolero is perhaps slightly ahead at this point, but it is not directly comparable to the segment the Creta operates in.

“This is a strong statement from Hyundai in a segment where we were not present. This is even more significant since a brand has succeeded in a poor market,” adds Srivastava.

Today, 20 per cent of Cretas sold are automatics, while petrol accounts for 25 per cent of sales, and this, in a market where diesel dominates the SUV space with a 90 per cent share. According to Srivastava, there is also a growing queue of women looking to buy the product. “Women have expressed tremendous interest in the Creta as it is a stylish SUV that offers ease of driving, with an automatic option and modern day gizmos. The Creta is connected to the modern world,” he declares.

There was, of course, a lot of hard work put into making the SUV a reality. It was a marathon exercise which involved Hyundai’s R&D teams from South Korea and India working in tandem to understand what the SUV customer really wanted. The company was only too aware that this was a challenger brand which would have to take on established leaders like the Scorpio, Duster and EcoSport.

‘Understand needs of buyers’

“Understanding the aspirations and needs of the buyer has really worked for the Creta. In particular, we were aware of the growing evolution of the customer and his priorities,” 

This also explains how previous launches like the Grand i10 and Elite i20 had hit the sweet spot in the market. Research on the making of the Creta suggested that the existing lineup of SUVs in India was essentially what one would term “rough with bare necessities”.

Hyundai believed the need of the hour was an offering with a taller stance and dominating presence which was also capable of handling rough roads. As a result, the rough feature had to be replaced by something strong, bold and beautiful. Bare necessities had to give way to something with a luxury feel, and a premium technology experience. “In a competitive scenario, it was important to focus on the customer’s wants, especially when almost everyone is clued into smartphones and applications. Creta needed to make driving modern,” 

Confident of success

These are still early days for the SUV but Hyundai is confident that it has hit the bull’s-eye with this offering. To that extent, it has the potential to be a disruptive product that can change the dynamics in the auto arena, right from rival SUVs as well as premium sedans. This is also a market where SUVs have been seeing rapid growth and are gradually eating into the conventional car space.

In this backdrop, the sky is the limit for the Creta; though  reiterates that there will be no room for complacency as the team will continue stepping on the gas in its selling efforts. This was the case with the i10 and i20 as well, which are doing over 11,000 units per month each and, with the Creta, have boosted Hyundai’s monthly numbers to well over 40,000 units.

Again, thanks to the Creta’s good showing thus far, the Korean carmaker has revised upwards its original business plan of doing 4.65 lakh units in the Indian market this calendar.

The overall projections, including its international business, are a little over 6.3 lakh units. Exports of the Creta will also have to take a backseat for the moment as the waiting list in the domestic market is already over three months. By the end of the day, it has been a remarkable year for Hyundai and it will be interesting to see how it sustains the momentum in the coming years.

Changing profiles

The company has been around in India for nearly two decades now and had made its intent known even then as the first serious rival to Maruti Suzuki. It launched the Santro to take on the latter’s compact car monopoly and hit pay dirt almost immediately.

Maruti, has not been an easy pushover and is comfortably ahead with monthly sales averaging one lakh plus units. Despite this, Hyundai would have reason to feel optimistic with the heady response to the Creta coupled with the fact that the market is transitioning to SUVs.

The company has been quick to recognise that the profile of the Indian buyer has been changing thanks to technology and higher disposable income levels. The focus on styling and design has paid off and Hyundai will hope to build on this growth.