Two Wheeler Insurance News

News about Two Wheeler Insurance

• TVS Motor’s Apache RR 310 sells around 5,000 units in its first year

  TVS Motor Company, which partnered with BMW Motorrad, to manufacture the Apache RR 310 has witnessed total sales of a little more than 5,000 units in the first year since its launch. The sports bike was launched by the company in December 2017. In comparison, almost 50,000 units of the BMW 310 series has been sold in the past two years.

  TVS Motor had set an internal sales target of 10,000 units for the Apache RR 310 for the first year of its launch. The BMW G 310 GS, BMW G 310 R, and the Apache RR 310 are all powered by the same engine and built on one platform at TVS Motor’s factory, which is located in Tamil Nadu.

  TVS Motor and BMW Motorrad formed a partnership in the year 2013 to jointly develop new products. Although the BMW G 310 R (priced at Rs.2.99 lakh) and BMW G 310 GS (priced at Rs.3.49 lakh) are more expensive than the TVS Apache RR 310 (priced at Rs.2.23 lakh), the latter has witnessed comparatively lesser sales in the country.

  

  8 January 2019

• Indian Bike Manufacturers Offer Attractive Discounts to Buyers this Diwali

  With the festive season having just begun, bike manufacturers across the country have started to offer attractive discounts on various two-wheelers. Hero MotoCorp is offering a cash discount of Rs.3,000 or a 75g silver coin on the purchase of a Hero Maestro Edge scooter. An additional discount of Rs.5,000 is being offered to individuals who pay the ex-showroom amount through Paytm. The bike manufacturer is also offering a discount of Rs.3,000 on the purchase of a Hero Duet or Hero Pleasure. Government employees are being offered an added discount of Rs.1,500.

  Similarly, Yamaha is offering a cashback of Rs.4,000 to individuals who purchase any Yamaha two-wheeler through Paytm. The two-wheeler manufacturer is also offering the Yamaha Ray at a down payment of Rs.5,555 until 29 November 2018. Further, additional accessories like hand grips, a registration plate, chrome bodyguard, etc., are being offered free-of-cost.

  TVS Motor Company is also offering cashbacks on all two-wheeler from the Apache range and the TVS Jupiter if the buyer pays the full ex-showroom amount via Paytm.

  

  7 November 2018

• The first-ever electric motorcycle to be unveiled soon

  Jaguar Land Rover made it public that its venture capital segment, InMotion Ventures, has started a new motorcycle named Vector. It is the world’s first motorcycle to run on electricity with Human Machine Interface (HMI). The bike will be unveiled in the EICMA 2018 and is said to be the most advanced electric motorcycle to be introduced to the two-wheeler market globally. The bike has been made with exotic material and has cutting-edge architecture. Arc’s aim is to make Vector the safest, cleanest, and most fulfilling motorcycle. The bike will be unveiled along with its haptic ride-wear and display helmet. The attendees of the EICMA will have the opportunity to have a virtual reality riding experience. The founder and CEO of Arc, Mark Truman, said in a statement, that the bike along with its riding gear creates a whole new experience for the rider. The MD of InMotions Ventures, Sebastian Peck, believes that the ground-breaking idea behind Vector will help people travel smoothly and cleanly, and will be the beginning of the next generation of motorcycle travel.two-wheeler manufacturing company by the name Arc. The start-up has unveiled the all-new electric motorcycle

  

  7 November 2018

• Fae Bikes to add 70 Okinawa e-bikes to its fleet

  Bengaluru-based bike rental company Fae Bikes has partnered with e-bike manufacturer Okinawa Autotech to provide 70 Okinawa Ridge+ bikes to its customers. The company noted that it will expand its fleet to 5,000 bikes by the end of next year. However, it is not clear as to how many bikes are currently there in the company’s fleet. The service is currently based in two locations in Bengaluru - BTM Layout and Electronic City.

  Okinawa claims that the Ridge+ model offers a mileage of 120 kilometers per charge, and it can reach a top speed of 55 kmph. The bike, which is claimed to have an operational cost of just 20 paise per kilometer, comes with detachable lithium-ion batteries. These bikes available in Fae’s fleet do not have any keys, and they can be unlocked through the app.

  These bikes will be used mainly for office rental. Customers must provide a deposit of Rs.100 while renting this bike. Customers can rent the bike for Rs.80 per day, and they are allowed to keep it for the entire work week till Friday.

  

  31 October 2018

• Ather energy announces new subscription plans

  Ather Energy has announced three new subscription plans- Ather Service, Ather Connect, and Ather Charge for its Ather 340 and Ather 450 scooters. Initially, the scooter manufacturing company had offered Ather One subscription plan which they had to change as the customers felt that the plan offered could be more customer-centric and flexible in nature. Ather also announced that the public charging will be free till December 31.

  However, Ather did mention that the Ather One Plan will remain active and will provide free service to the customers who have availed this offer. The plan will take care of their scooter maintenance and other expenses including public charging, home charging, roadside assistance, period service, etc. Once the plan gets expired, the customer has the option of opting of any of the three new plans announced by the scooter company.

  

  7 November 2018

• Honda to finalise product range similar to that of Royal Enfield

  Honda has always been vocal about its aim to enter Royal Enfield’s segment of motorcycles. Honda, at the moment, does not have any product that is completely similar to that of the motorcycles offered by Royal Enfield. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has the CB1100 that has a 4-cylinder engine unit and a 1970s styling and the Rebel which is a modern-day cruiser. Though Honda wishes to enter the segment that is currently dominated by Royal Enfield, it has not finalised on any product that it will release in the near future. The President and CEO of HMSI, Minoru Kato, said that they have been conducting customer surveys and are developing products but do not have any concrete information to share. Last year, Honda appointed a team that would look for solutions against the product range offered by Royal Enfield.

  

  23 October 2018

• Motorcycles unveiled and launched this week

  The motorcycle industry has witnessed many launches and unveilings this week. In addition to the introduction of brand new motorcycles, there was also the Ducati’s DRE-Track Days that saw participation from many Ducati and non-Ducati owners. Amongst the brand new launches are Hero Destini 125 and Norton Atlas 650. Further, KTM is all set to release the Duke 125, which was only available in European markets, early next year in India. Also, there is a possibility that the recently unveiled Duke 790 will be launched in India too. Apart from this, bike manufacturers are releasing different colour variants of existing motorcyles. UM Motorcycles released the carb variant of Renegade Sport S in gloss black and the Commando in matte black. Kawasaki has introduced two new colour schemes – metallic flat spark and metallic spark black of the 2019 version of its Z650. In other news, Bajaj has launched the 125cc variant of Pulsar LS in Poland. Named the Pulsar NS 125 after a few visual and engine capacity changes, the bike is priced at 7,999 PLR i.e. approximately Rs.1.59 lakh.

  

  23 October 2018

• Bridgestone India to expand into two-wheeler tyres in the future

  Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone is reportedly looking forward to expanding into two-wheeler tyres in India. The company is also looking forward to entering other ventures like electric vehicles in the near future. The company is currently conducting market studies to explore the potential in the two-wheeler tyres segment. Bridgestone has a presence in many countries across the world. In the global market, the company is renowned for its two-wheeler tyres and off-road vehicle tyres. In India, Bridgestone is primarily known for its passenger vehicle tyres. Considering its position in the international market for two-wheeler tyres, the company is currently exploring its possibilities for the same in India. According to the company’s managing director, Parag Satpute, Bridgestone is looking at other sectors in the market. However, the company is yet to take a final call on these ventures. The company currently imports off-road vehicle tyres from Japan and sells in India. It noted that there are no plans currently to manufacture these tyres in India.

  

  22 October 2018

• Honda offers the chance to win a new Honda car on purchasing of a two-wheeler

  Honda Motorcycles and Scooters has announced a new exciting offer keeping in mind the festive season which is already underway. According to the offer, any customer purchasing a new two-wheeler stands a chance to win a new Honda car. All the customers who purchase a new Honda motorcycle or scooter during the festive season are eligible for this contest and stand a chance to win 20,000 prizes including American Tourister bags, Sony headphones, LG LED TVs and Samsung smartphones.

  The offer will be valid from 5 October 2018 to 30 November 2018. The winners will be chosen via a lucky draw.

  Customers who will purchase a new Honda two-wheeler will win assured gifts including the opportunity to become a member of the Honda Joy Club for free. However, the biggest prize on offer is the chance to win a Honda Amaze sedan.

  

  18 October 2018

• Despite best two-wheeler sales, Hero MotoCorp sees a dip in profits

  Indian two-wheeler company Hero MotoCorp saw its profit fall by 3.4% to Rs.976 crore for the quarter which ended in September for the current fiscal year. The company had made a profit of Rs.1,010 crore during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

  The dip in profits comes despite the company making the highest number of sales in the second quarter as it sold more than 2.1 million units of two-wheeler during the period.

  The company’s EBTIDA for this quarter stands at Rs.1,379 crore reflecting a margin of 15.2% which is lesser than the 15.6% margin it recorded in the previous quarter of the current fiscal year. The company saw its total expenses rise from Rs.7,053.63 crore to Rs.7,866.15 crore.

  

  18 October 2018

• Shares of Indian two-wheeler manufacturers rise after IRDAI makes long-term coverage optional

  Shares of Indian two-wheeler manufacturers Hero Motocorp and TVS Motor rose significantly after the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) relaxed its norms for third-party insurance. As per the announcement, owners of two-wheelers can now have the option of one-year coverage when buying compulsory personal accident (CPA) insurance.

  In September 2018, IRDAI announced that all vehicles plying the roads must have mandatory long-term, third-party insurance overs. Following this announcement, cars had a mandatory three-year policy term while two-wheelers had a mandatory five-year policy term. Due to this rule, the average selling price of Indian two-wheelers increased significantly. Hero and TVS are the manufacturers most affected by this revision.

  Since IRDAI has rolled back this policy term revision, the average selling price of these two manufacturers could decrease by as much as Rs.3,500. Following this news, shares of TVS Motors increased 3.5% and Hero Motocorp increased 8.7% yesterday.

  

  11 October 2018

• Personal accident insurance cover can be renewed yearly

  The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) had recently made it compulsory for all car and bike owners to get a personal accident insurance cover for their vehicles. The sum insured of the cover was fixed at Rs.15 lakh and the premium for the same was said to be Rs.750 per year. The IRDAI had also recently passed a regulation making multi-year car insurance and two-wheeler insurance mandatory. This would mean that a new car owner would have to pay the premium towards the car insurance for three years in advance and pay the next premium after the completion of the said period. Bike owners, on the other hand, would have to buy five-year two-wheeler insurance policies and renew their policies after completion of the five-year period. However, the same rule does not apply on the personal accident cover. The IRDAI clarified that the personal accident cover for motor insurance policies can be renewed every year. Though the multi-year insurance regulation is applicable only to new car and bike buyers, the Rs.15 lakh personal accident cover is required to be purchased by all car and two-wheeler owners – new and existing. The clarification provided by the IRDAI regarding the personal accident cover comes as a relief to all those worried about the costs, especially with regard to two-wheelers.

  

  16 October 2018

• Ultraviolette Automotive to launch an electric motorcycle in 2019

  Ultraviolette Automotive Pvt. plans to launch an electric motorcycle equivalent to a 200cc motorcycle, in the latter half of the year 2019. The prototype of the bike was created in June 2016 and is said to be the fastest and most powerful electric two-wheeler. The fourth generation bike has gone through 1,000 km of testing and is reported to outperform motorcycles built on the same lines – in terms of design, experience, and performance. However, the bike will be priced the same as its combustion engine counterparts. Currently, KTM Duke is considered the fastest bike in the country at 138km/h but the new electric motorcycle by Ultraviolette Automotive is expected to have a range above 150 km/h. The CEO of the company, Narayan Subramaniam, said that the intent of building the motorcycle was not to make it the best electric two-wheeler but the best solution for mobility. They want people to understand the performance of electric vehicles and prefer them over combustion engine vehicles. The CTO, Niraj Rajmohan, stated that an assembly unit will be set up near Bengaluru early next year and will have a capacity of 10,000 units. As per reports, the bike will first be sold in Bengaluru and gradually in other metro cities.

  

  16 October 2018

• High prices hit two-wheeler sales

  The hikes in two-wheeler insurance costs have resulted in an increase in the upfront costs of two-wheelers. Due to the weakening of the rupee, bike manufacturers are passing on the high costs to the buyers themselves. IRDAI recently made the multi-year third-party insurance mandatory which means a two-wheeler buyer, at the time of purchase, will have to pay a bigger chunk than he/she may have been prepared to pay. Some people, however, see this as a silver lining as it will eliminate the need to worry about insurance renewal for the next few years at least. This way, they will have optimum coverage and won’t have to get into any hassle of paying fines for not renewing the policy. The insurance regulator has also brought about a new resolution whereby personal accident covers worth Rs.750 each were made mandatory for all vehicle owners. The regulator recently clarified that this need not be a multi-year plan and one can choose a one-year plan too.

  The hikes in cost of two-wheeler insurance plus rise in cost of commodities and fuel have left two-wheeler buyers in a fix. Auto dealers are hence predicting a drop in sales especially because costs of EMIs have also risen and there are not many financing options available. A few dealers, for this reason, offer discounts on the insurance cover, offer freebies, or offer free services too, hoping people will still go in for two-wheeler purchases this festival season.

  

  11 October 2018

• Amended motor insurance guidelines to impact the two-wheeler industry, says ICRA

  The recent changes made to the guidelines governing motor insurance policies has resulted in the cost of acquiring a two-wheeler increasing by 10% to 19%. The changes were made as a result of road conditions becoming increasingly unsafe in the country over the past few years.

  As a result, new two-wheeler insurance policy buyers will now have to purchase the cover for a tenure of 5 years. Further, the personal accident cover which will be offered as part of the two-wheeler insurance policy will provide coverage for Rs.15 lakh.

  While in the past, several OEMs used to offer promotional discounts by giving free motor insurance policies to new vehicle buyers, this practice was put to an end from September 2018. However, off late, several OEMs in the country have introduced innovative offers like covering a part of the cost of the insurance cover.

  

  10 October 2018

• ICRA report states growth of two-wheeler sector promising this fiscal

  The credit rating agency ICRA says that the domestic two-wheeler sector will grow at the rate of 8% to 10% in FY2018-19. The overall growth of the industry year-on-year is 11.5 per cent with 94,43,286 units being sold so far this year. While the motorcycle segment, having a larger base, saw a 14.67% growth YoY, the scooter segment saw a 6.77% growth YoY. According to the national credit rating agency, the growth of the two-wheeler segment was hindered due to the regulatory changes in West Bengal which mandated driving licenses for all vehicle owners, transporters strike, and the Kerala floods. ICRA believes that the two-wheeler sector will fare well with a large contribution from the motorcycle segment. It hopes that the scooter segment will also improve gradually this fiscal year. While companies like Honda, Suzuki, TVS, and Piaggio have seen growth, Hero and Yamaha have not. But new product launches and the upcoming festival season is bound to push sales significantly. However, a few setbacks for the two-wheeler segment this year are the surging fuel prices, increasing commodity prices, increase in costs for implementing modified safety norms and emission norms, and revision in two-wheeler insurance regulations.

  

  11 October 2018

• Changes to motor insurance guidelines increase cost of acquiring two-wheelers

  The recent changes that were made to motor insurance guidelines have increased the cost of acquiring a two-wheeler. The changes to the insurance guidelines were brought about due to unsafe road conditions that have prevailed in the country for the past few years.

  As a result, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for new two-wheeler buyers to purchase third-party liability insurance covers for a 5-year policy term. Further, the coverage of personal accident covers has been increased to Rs.15 lakh from Rs.1 lakh.

  Thus, according to Ms. Anupama Arora, the VP and sector head of ICRA, the recent changes have increased the on-road price of motor vehicles. The cost of acquiring a 100cc bike has increased by 15% to 19.5%, while the cost of acquiring a 500cc bike has increased from 10% to 13%.

  

  9 October 2018

• Bosch expects its electric two-wheelers solutions to be implemented soon in India

  Bosch India is hopeful that some of its solutions and systems for electric two-wheelers in India will be implemented soon in India.

  The company has started working with various original equipment makers so that it can bring to life the solutions and systems they plan to implement.

  The company, for example, is building a human-machine interface which helps the user in case of an emergency such as the vehicle colliding.

  The company’s engineering hub has more than 18,000 employees, which is the largest outside Europe. India is one of the centres where various types of solutions are developed and delivered to different parts of the world.

  

  8 October 2018

• India-bound bikes unveiled at Intermot 2018

  The Intermot 2018 held recently in Germany saw a number of bikes being unveiled. A few of these bikes could find their way to India, with 5 of the likely contenders being the Triumph Street Twin, the Triumph Street Scrambler, the Ducati Scrambler range, the Suzuki Katana, and the Indian FTR 1200.

  All these are high performance vehicles and are designed for biking enthusiasts. The new Street Twin, which has undergone changes both to its looks and its performance will likely find its way to the country next year. The new model produces 10 bhp more than the existing model. The same 900 cc engine will also be used in the Street Scrambler.

  The Indian FTR 1200 is likely to be launched in India in the first half of the next year, competing with the likes of the BMW R Nine T Scramble, the Triumph Scrambler 1200, and the Ducati Scrambler 1100.

  

  8 October 2018

• Karnataka High Court clarifies how third-party insurance claims work

  The High Court of the state of Karnataka released a common order for three different petitions and made it clear that a person who is riding a two-wheeler that he/she does not own cannot benefit from the two-wheeler’s insurance plan through a third-party claim. The question that caused much debate was whether a person who doesn’t own a two-wheeler can make a third-party insurance claim in a scenario where no other person was injured or vehicle was damaged. The Motor Accident Claims tribunal dismissed the petitions and stated that only owner-riders can make claims and no one else, unless the owner has hired the individual to ride the vehicle. The counsel for the petitioners pointed out that the ‘third-party’ has not be defined and that when a person hires a vehicle/good, he/she becomes the owner of the vehicle/good. However, the court clarified that such individuals do not become owners and they can be considered borrowers of the vehicle only, in which case they will not be eligible to benefit from a third-party insurance settlement. The High Court also made it clear that the laws under the Motor Vehicles Act were made to help victims of rash or negligent riding and not those who are the cause of the accident itself.

  

  4 October 2018

• New regulations likely to increase prices of two-wheelers

  With the new regulations being proposed, two-wheeler manufacturers will have to decide whether they want to pass on the cost pressures to the customers or absorb it themselves to retain demand of the vehicles. Recently, long term two-wheeler insurance policies were mandated, meaning all two-wheeler vehicle owners would now be required to carry not a one-year two-wheeler insurance policy but a five-year insurance policy. This would mean the policyholder would have to pay the entire premium in one shot. At the same time, the cost of several raw materials for two-wheelers such as rubber and metal has been rising. This would require the manufacturers to pass on the cost to the customer, without which they would eventually incur losses. Also, manufacturers have received a mandatory instruction to incorporate anti-locking braking system and combined braking system. Further, new technological advancements would have to be made to be in line with the new emission norms applicable from 1 April 2020. Due to all these new regulations, the overall cost of two-wheelers is said to increase. An increase in prices, however, would affect the demand of the vehicles. While companies such as Bajaj can retain the price, relatively smaller companies such as Hero or TVS would find it challenging to bear the additional expenses.

  

  28 September 2018

• Hero Motocorp sets a world record of highest monthly sales

  Hero Motocorp has created a global benchmark by setting the world record of highest monthly sales. The Passion and Splendor range has been a huge hit among the two-wheeler company’s customers due to which it has sold a record 769,138 units of scooters and motorbikes in a single month.

  This is the fifth instance, and the third instance this fiscal year when a company has sold more than 7 lakh units in a single month. It is also the first time that a two-wheeler company has sold more than 7.5 lakh units in a single month.

  The first 6 months of the current fiscal year, the two-wheeler company has sold more than 4.2 million units. The company is expected to create new benchmarks during the festive season in India.

  The month of September 2018 saw the two-wheeler company start the sale of its Honda Xtreme 200R. Hero Motocorp has also romped in famous Indian cricketer, and the captain of the Indian Cricket team Virat Kohli to become the brand ambassador in order to promote their new model. A multimedia campaign has been launched by the company which shows Kohli promoting Honda Xtreme 200R.

  

  3 October 2018

• Insurers to Provide Rs.15 lakh Compulsory Personal Accident Cover to Motor Insurance Policy Buyers

  As per a recent notification from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the mandatory personal accident cover that is a part of two-wheeler and car insurance policies has been increased to Rs.15 lakh from Rs.1 lakh for two-wheelers and Rs.2 lakh for cars. As a result, the annual premium for these policies will also increase by a sum of Rs.750. The increase in premium will be applicable when purchasing new motor insurance policies and during renewal of the policy's

  The Compulsory Personal Accident (CPA) cover was introduced in 2002, after which motor insurance premiums were revised. The insurance regulator’s new mandate is favoured by insurance companies, given that vehicle owners usually expose themselves to high risk while riding/driving their vehicles. Thus, from now on, all insured drivers/riders will be provided a mandatory CPA cover at a premium rate of Rs.750 for the annual insurance policy. The insurance regulator has said that these rates will be fixed until further notice.

  

  26 September 2018

• Dockless scooter sharing platform Bounce secures $3 million from venture debt firm InnoVen Capital

  Dockless two-wheeler sharing platform Bounce, a unit of Bengaluru-based Wickedride Adventure Services, has raised $3 million from venture debt firm InnoVen Capital. The company is planning to use this fund to expand its presence across the country. Last month, Bounce raised $12.2 million in a round of co-funding by Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners.

  Bounce is a company that primarily provides last-mile commute service in various Indian cities. Most of these cities are characterized by dense population, poor infrastructure, and lack of affordable ways to commute. The company has stated that the average cost of commuting with Bounce is as low as Rs.6 per kilometer.

  Bounce was established by Wickedride Adventure Services, which provides bike rental services in urban cities. Even though the company has launched the dockless scooter sharing platform, it still continues to operate the bike rental services.

  

  27 September 2018

• Honda CB Shine sells over 1 lakh units to become the highest selling 125cc bike

  Honda CB Shine has become the largest 125cc bike in India after it sold a record of 1 lakh units per month.

  Honda has sold a total of 1,08,790 units of CB Shine and is the third instance when the bike manufacturing company has sold over 1 lakh CB Shine bikes in a month.

  The 125cc segment, also known as the executive class is the second largest category after 100cc and 110cc bikes.

  Honda, due to such large selling of its CB Shine saw its market share rise by 6% at 52% from the period between April to August.

  

  28 September 2018

• Honda becomes first two-wheeler manufacturer to have exported 20 lakh units

  Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India has become India’s first bike manufacturing company that has exported 20 lakh units over a span of 17 years. While it took 14 years to sell 10 lakh units in the overseas markets, it took only 3 years to sell the next 10 lakh units. The Activa offered by Honda is one of the most popular two-wheelers that witnesses more sales in a single month when compared to the most favourite two-wheeler of India i.e. Honda Splendor. The Activa model of the company was launched in the year 2001 and the exports of the company started around the same time. The model has been updated over time and is still one of the top favourites in India. Owing to its reliability, smoothness, and sturdiness, it is popular among overseas markets too. The company delivers to 28 different markets across the globe including Europe, Middle East, Asia-Oceania, and Latin America. The manufacturer started with the Activa and currently has 16 different two-wheeler models include automatic scooters as well as motorcycles. Since the foreign markets demanded a more stylish two-wheeler, the Dio model has the best sales in terms of imports in other countries and India contributes to the highest exports for the same model. The new micro bike named NAVI is also slowly making its way into the international markets.

  

  26 September 2018

• Insurers to Provide Rs.15 lakh Compulsory Personal Accident Cover to Motor Insurance Policy Buyers

  As per a recent notification from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the mandatory personal accident cover that is a part of two-wheeler and car insurance policies has been increased to Rs.15 lakh from Rs.1 lakh for two-wheelers and Rs.2 lakh for cars. As a result, the annual premium for these policies will also increase by a sum of Rs.750. The increase in premium will be applicable when purchasing new motor insurance policies and during renewal of the policy.s

  The Compulsory Personal Accident (CPA) cover was introduced in 2002, after which motor insurance premiums were revised. The insurance regulator’s new mandate is favoured by insurance companies, given that vehicle owners usually expose themselves to high risk while riding/driving their vehicles. Thus, from now on, all insured drivers/riders will be provided a mandatory CPA cover at a premium rate of Rs.750 for the annual insurance policy. The insurance regulator has said that these rates will be fixed until further notice.

  

  25 September 2018

• Insurers to offer Rs.15 lakh cover for vehicle insurance owners

  The insurance regulator of the country issued a circular on September 20 urging all insurance companies to increase the minimum sum insured amount of the compulsory personal accident cover to Rs.15 lakh for a premium of Rs.750 payable every year. The circular was issued after the Madras High Court, in October 2017, directed all insurers to increase the sum insured of vehicle insurance policies in order to aid family members of policyholders in case they meet with an accident. Previously, the minimum sum insured amount for two-wheeler personal accident policies was Rs.1 lakh and for car insurance policies was Rs.2 lakh. The premiums payable for the policies were Rs.50 and Rs.100 respectively. Insurance companies, along with the basic policy, used to offer add-ons that would enhance the sum insured at the cost of an additional premium. The IRDAI had recently asked insurers to make another modification in the vehicle insurance policies offered. The regulator mandated long-term policies for vehicle owners. Hence, insurers will now offer 3-year two-wheeler insurance plans and 5-year car insurance plans. While this regulation is applicable only to vehicles purchased after September 1, the change in the minimum sum insured amount of personal accident covers will be made for all policies – existing and new.

  

  24 September 2018

• Odd-Even Rule to be implemented yet again in Delhi

  In what might cause quite a confusion yet again in Delhi but a measure to reduce pollution in the city, the Supreme Court of India has issued a directive for the Odd-Even rule to be implemented in the city yet again. According to the Supreme Court, the Odd-Even rule will reduce the pollution levels in the city and will be implemented in the winter months. That said, the rule will be applicable for cars, SUV, private cars as well as commercial vehicles, but two-wheelers and public transport will be exempted from the rule. Based on a statistic, the Odd-Even rule which was previously implemented took almost 5 lakh vehicles off the roads in the city, with the city having around 100 lakh vehicles clogging the roads every day. Considering that the winter months will see farmers burn crops leading to smog in the city, the Supreme Court decided the Odd-Even rule to be put in place to reduce the pollution in the city. However, with the Government of Delhi being supportive of the rule not being applicable to two-wheelers, the opposition party which claims that there are 68 lakh two-wheelers in Delhi say that excluding two-wheelers will make the rule pointless.

  

  18 September 2018

• Cost of owning a two-wheeler to soon go up by 6%

  With the new regulation by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to increase the term of third-party liability motor insurance policies, the cost of two-wheelers is most likely to rise by 6%. The Supreme Court on July 20 made a new ruling by which three-year third-party insurance for new car owners and five-year third-party insurance for new bike owners are mandated. In line with the said ruling, the IRDAI instructed all general insurance companies to incorporate the new rule and revise the third-party insurance plans offered by them. The new regulation was to be implemented from September 1 and is expected to increase the cost of two-wheelers by 6%. The Senior Vice-President of sales and marketing of Honda Motrcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Yadvinder S. Guleria, spoke about the increase in the price of two-wheelers in India in the near future. He also stated that ABS and CBS for two-wheelers will be made compulsory from 1 April 2019. He is of the opinion that the change in the insurance regulation added with the mandate regarding the braking systems will affect the overall pricing of two-wheelers.

  

  12 September 2018

• Bengaluru-based Ather Energy commences delivery of first batch of electric scooters

  After being in existence of a total of 5 years, Ather Energy, a Bengaluru-based startup, has started the delivery of its first batch of electric scooters from the company’s assembly plant in Whitefield to select customers in Bengaluru. Although the company launched the Ather 340 prior to the Ather 450, it received nearly 96% of the pre-orders for the Ather 450, which prompted them to first launch the Ather 450.

  The company is expecting to sell between 6,000 and 8,000 of its electric scooters in Bengaluru alone by June 2019, which was much higher than the 5,000 electric two-wheelers that the company had initially planned to sell during the first 1 year after deliveries commenced.

  Ather is also looking to launch its first experience outlet in Chennai by the second quarter of 2019 and is also planning to expand to Pune, National Capital Region (NCR), and Hyderabad by 2019-2020.

  The company, which is backed by Hero MotoCorp Ltd. and Tiger Global Management, raised seed funding from Mr. Sachin Bansal and Mr. Binny Bansal, the co-founders of Flipkart, in the year 2014.

  

  12 September 2018

• RTOs report 10-fold rise in number vehicles bought and registered before new insurance rules kick in

  The Supreme Court recently issued a directive that all new vehicles have to purchase a long-term third-party insurance policy and this is applicable for bikes as well as cars. Now, cars have to be insured for 3 years and bikes for a minimum of 5 years. The directive was issued by the top court in the country to ensure the increase in the penetration of motor insurance of the country and make sure that more people have a valid motor insurance. According to a report, more than 60% of the vehicles on the roads of India do not have a valid motor insurance policy and the long-term third party insurance policy is amended by the Government to decrease the number of insured vehicles and make sure that policyholders have to go through the hassle of renewing their motor insurance policy every year. That said, since the directive of the  Supreme Court was made public, RTOs across the country have received a 10-fold rise in the number of vehicles purchased and registered. According to a transport official, he said, RTOs registered nearly 2,000 two-wheelers and 200 four-wheelers at the month end. The rush was obviously to save money before the new insurance rules came into play, he told Times of India. Vehicle manufacturers confirmed the rise in sales attributing to the new law as they said that due to the new long-term third party insurance policy vehicles will cost more by Rs.6,000 to Rs.20,000 and citizens are rushing to avoid the hike in vehicle prices.

  

  7 September 2018

• Cost of owning a two-wheeler to soon go up by 6%

  With the new regulation by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to increase the term of third-party liability motor insurance policies, the cost of two-wheelers is most likely to rise by 6%. The Supreme Court on July 20 made a new ruling by which three-year third-party insurance for new car owners and five-year third-party insurance for new bike owners are mandated. In line with the said ruling, the IRDAI instructed all general insurance companies to incorporate the new rule and revise the third-party insurance plans offered by them. The new regulation was to be implemented from September 1 and is expected to increase the cost of two-wheelers by 6%. The Senior Vice-President of sales and marketing of Honda Motrcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Yadvinder S. Guleria, spoke about the increase in the price of two-wheelers in India in the near future. He also stated that ABS and CBS for two-wheelers will be made compulsory from 1 April 2019. He is of the opinion that the change in the insurance regulation added with the mandate regarding the braking systems will affect the overall pricing of two-wheelers.

  

  7 September 2018

• Major launches of motorcycles in the last week of August

  Among the many motorcycle launches in India, in the past week, are the Royal Enfield Classic 350 priced at Rs.1.62 lakh and the three variants of Ducati Scrambler priced from Rs.10.91 lakh to Rs.11.42 lakh. The Classic 350 is the first ABS-equipped bike by Royal Enfield and is available in colours inspired by the Indian Army. The three variants of Ducati Scrambler being launched are Standard, Sport, and Special. Further, the bookings for Suzuki V-Storm 650 has been opened and the asking price of the bike varies from Rs.7 lakh to Rs.8 lakh. The booking amount for the motorcycle is Rs.50,000. It has been made known that the launch of Royal Enfield’s twins - Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 has been pushed to 2019. In other news, the Supreme Court has made a new ruling that requires new motorcycle owners to mandatorily purchase a 3-year two-wheeler insurance policy.

  

  4 September 2018

• Mandatory 3-year term for Motor vehicle insurance comes into effect from September 1st

  India’s insurance regulator IRDAI has made it mandatory for vehicle owners to subscribe to longer policy terms for cars and two wheelers from September 1 onwards. As per this rule, new car owners must purchase vehicle insurance for at least three years while new two-wheeler owners to have purchase vehicle insurance for at least five years.

  Insurance premiums are likely to vary from one insurer to another, and they may also differ based on models. The longer tenure for motor vehicle insurance came into effect after a Supreme Court ruling regarding the same. This ruling was made due to lower penetration of vehicle insurance even though it is mandatory for all vehicles plying the road.

  When vehicles age, owners tend to skip the insurance renewal in a bid to save money on the additional spending. With the longer term now in effect, it is expected that the overall penetration of vehicle insurance will improve in the future.

  

  30 August 2018

• Global tyre market sees huge growth till 2023

  While two-wheeler manufacturers are growing exponentially over the last few hours, and even electric bikes hitting the market with full force, the tyre industry also sees exponential growth in the next few years till 2023. By then, electric two-wheelers will be in full swing but tyre manufacturers believe that it will not hurt their market. According to the report, the main players in the  two-wheeler tyre market are, Ceat, MRF, TVS Srichakra, Bridgestone Corp, Compagnie G, Michelin SCA, Cooper Tire and Rubber, Hankook Tire, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Superking Manufacturers (TYRE), Yokohama Rubber.

  

  30 August 2018

• Royal Enfield Classic Pegasus 350 rumoured for launch on 28th August

  Motorcycle major Royal Enfield is reportedly launching its new model Classic Pegasus 350 on 28th August. According to a report on Overdrive, the company has already sent out invites for the launch. A few images of the motorcycle were also launched in the website Team BHP. This rumoured model is expected to be military-themed honouring the armed forces of this country.

  It is not yet confirmed whether the Royal Enfield Classic Pegasus 350 will be a limited-edition model similar to the Pegasus 500 launched last month. In July, the company launched only 250 units of limited edition Classic Pegasus 500, which was booked within 178 seconds of launch.

  The leaked images of the vehicle indicate that there will be some changes in the external colour scheme of the vehicle based on the military theme. Apart from that, this vehicle is expected to feature more or less the same parts of the Classic 350.

  

  27 August 2018

• Launches and discounts offered on motorcycles in the past week

  The motorcycle industry saw many launches and discounts in the past week for specific models of various bike manufacturers. Some of the newly launched bikes are TVS Radeon, 2019 Kawasaki Ninja H2, and Pulsar NS160. Among the many offers provided, Harley Davidson offers a 100% buyback option to upgrade to one of the new 2018 Softail lineup models. The Kawasaki Z250 and Z650 models offer free accessories but those who do not want the accessories can choose to get a Rs.9,000 cashback. The Suzuki GSX-R1000R witnessed an approximate Rs.2 lakh drop. A few of the upcoming bikes are Ducati Scrambler 1100, Royal Enfield Classic ABS, BMW R 1250 GS, 2019 Honda CBR1000RR, and Harley Davidson FXDR 114. Amidst the launches and offers, Yamaha discontinued the Yamaha R15 v 2.0 that did not witness high sales due to the more powerful R15 v 30 and restored R15 S.

  

  27 August 2018

• Two-wheeler sales dip in Bengal post new license-must rule

  The state government of West Bengal passed a new rule which states that individuals are required to submit their licenses to the Regional Transport Authority and get their identities verified when purchasing a two-wheeler. Due to the implementation of this new rule which makes it a slightly cumbersome process, the overall sales of two-wheelers in the state have witnessed a major dip. The Federation of Automobile Dealers’ Association (FADA) made it known that after the new rule was issued on June 28, the two-wheeler sales dipped by 65%-70% in the state. The new rule was brought into effect because of the rise in the number of minors riding two-wheelers and the increase in the number of road accidents wherein individuals involved had no driving licenses. This rule has been implemented only for two-wheelers because, in the case of four-wheelers, there is a possibility that another person, apart from the owner, will drive the vehicle. The new rule is a way to encourage safe riding on roads.

  

  23 August 2018

• Hero MotoCorp reportedly enters the used two-wheeler market with the launch of Hero Sure

  Hero MotoCorp has reportedly entered the used two-wheeler market by introducing a new brand - Hero Sure. According to a report published in Business Standard, a spokesperson from the company commented that Hero Sure helps customers get the best price for their used vehicles through a transparent evaluation process.

  As a part of the pilot testing phases, Hero Sure has already started operations in select dealerships across the country. It is estimated that nearly 5,000 vehicles are currently exchanged every month in Hero Sure facilities. Following its full scale launch, this number is expected to go up significantly considering the fact that Hero MotoCorp sells more than 7 lakh units per month.

  The company originally introduced Hero Sure in the nineties. However, the program was scrapped due to some taxation issues faced by the company. With the introduction of GST, the company has decided to relaunch Hero Sure and enter the used two-wheeler market in India.

  

  22 August 2018

• Hero MotoCorp makes an entry into the used two-wheeler business

  Leading two-wheeler company Hero MotoCorp has made an entry into the used two-wheeler business where a customer can exchange his/her used scooter or bike for a new Hero MotoCorp two-wheeler vehicle. The two-wheeler company had earlier made an exit from this business segment due to taxation issue, but has made a comeback after the introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) by the Government of India made them have a look in this type of business.

  Hero MotoCorp under its brand name ‘Hero Sure’ has rolled out the used-vehicle facility in about a hundred of its showrooms in India. Hero Sure which previously existed in the 90s today exchanges more than 5,000 vehicles on a monthly basis in its facilities and help its customers get the best value of his/her vehicle through a transparent valuation.

  The company plans to expand the used vehicle facility to other parts of the country after it received a very positive response from its customers. The company boasts of having more than 6,500 touchpoints in India for sales and services purposes. The two-wheeler company expects to grow the number of facilities in India from the few hundreds in India.

  Hero MotoCorp currently serves more than 10 million active customers and aims to popularise the Hero Sure brand with their help. The company also believes that it will also them to tap into the replacement market and properly facilitate the process of exchange of two-wheeler vehicle through a transparent process.

  The states in India where the two-wheeler company has doled out its used-vehicle exchange facility are Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

  

  17 August 2018

• Two-Wheeler OEMs Witness Robust Sales in July 2018

  Two-wheeler OEMs in the country including Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Company, Suzuki Motorcycle India, and Royal Enfield reported total sales of 16,16,735 units in July 2018.

  Hero MotoCorp, which is the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the country, sold a total of 6,79,862 units in July. This was a 9.08% YoY growth in sales for the company, given that it had sold a total of 6,23,269 units during the same period in the previous fiscal.

  Similarly, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India reported total sales of 5,08,415 units in July 2018. The company sold a total of 3,45,550 scooters and about 1,62,865 motorcycles during this period. TVS Motor Company, which witnessed a 12.76% YoY growth in its sales, sold a total of 2,47,382 units domestically in July 2018.

  Bajaj Auto, which sold 2,01,433 units in July 2018, witnessed a 22.14% YoY growth in its sales. Royal Enfield sold a total of 67,001 units in July 2018, in comparison to 63,157 units sold in the corresponding period during the previous fiscal. Suzuki Motorcycle India sold a total of 53,321 vehicles in July 2018, thus witnessing a 57% YoY growth in its sales. Thus, a number of two-wheeler manufacturers reported robust growth in their sales in July 2018.

  

  14 August 2018

• TVS Radeon to be launched on August 23

  TVS is likely to launch the Radeon commuter bike on August 23 as it looks to improve its sales in the entry-level segment.

  The 2012 Auto Expo saw the motorbike giants showcase the TVS Radeon 125 cc concept. However, the current design is expected to be different from the one revealed by TVS and will come with connectivity features and digital instrument cluster from Ntorq 125 scooter.

  The customer will have the option of downloading an app connected to the motorbike, and which will help with satellite navigation, etc. The upcoming bike will have 109.7 cc single-cylinder engine which produces 9.5 bhp of power at 7,500 rpm and 9.4 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm.

  The engine is expected to provide excellent mileage as it expected to be mated to a 4-speed gearbox and will also have drum brakes with the option of standard and disc brakes. The bike will also offer the customer the option of installing a combi-braking system for better braking experience.

  The upcoming model will be priced aggressively as it looks to compete with its rivals such as Hero Splendor, Bajaj Discover, Honda Dream Yuga, etc. The other models of TVS such as TVS Sport, TVS Victor, TVS Star City Plus have failed to increase sales in recent times and hence the motorbike company has a lot of expectations from its upcoming model.

  

  16 August 2018

• Benelli to enter the smaller bike segment in India by the end of next year

  Italy-based premium bike manufacturer Benelli is planning to enter India’s smaller bike segment after 2019. Benelli stopped selling bikes in India after its partnership with DSK Motowheels fell through in May. However, the company is all set to sell bikes in India once again starting from October after having entered into a partnership with Mahavir Group.

  Initially, Benelli will focus only on bikes in the 300cc to 600cc segment and is planning on launching about 12 models in this category. In addition to this, the company will also enter the 135cc to 200cc segment from October of 2019.

  Benelli’s new partner Mahavir Group is currently in the process of setting up a new assembly unit in Hyderabad to meet the demands of Benelli bikes. Benelli has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Telangana government to set up a manufacturing plant in Hyderabad.

  

  13 August 2018

• Royal Enfield twins to be launched in India soon

  Royal Enfield, in the 2017 EICMA Motor Show, had introduced two of its creations – Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, both 650 cc twins. They were expected to be released in the first quarter of 2018. After many months of waiting, the launch dates of the two incredible bikes have been announced. The bikes will be launched between September 22 and September 26 in California. The launch in India will be during Diwali, sometime around the month of November. The 648 CC twin bikes can generate 47.7 PS of power with 7,100 rpm. The peak torque that can be produced by either of the bikes is 52 Nm at 5,250 rpm. These are the first bikes to have 6-speed gearboxes. However, the difference between the two bikes is in the design of the models. The Interceptor draws inspiration from the original vehicle whereas the GT has a cafe-racer model. The bikes are to be priced between Rs.3 lakh and Rs.3.5 lakh.

  

  8 August 2018

• Bullock carts and two-wheelers turns India around

  While most of us are under the impression that most people use cars or public transport to get around every day, according to a source, that’s just not the case. Based on the  National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16, a majority of the population either use their bikes, or bullock carts to get around. According to the study, more than 33% of the people of India  own either a bike or a bullock cart. However, according to the study, the biggest proportion are people from the rurals while places like Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Chattisgarh and so on, lead the count when it comes to two-wheelers.

  

  9 August 2018

• Honda becomes first two-wheeler brand to sell over 5 lakh vehicles in South India

  Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. recently announced in a statement that it has become the first two-wheeler brand to sell over 5 lakh vehicles in South India between April and June 2018. With this, Honda has strengthened its position as a market leader in South India, which covers the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

  In the same statement, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, the Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, said that the company had recently expanded the production capacity of its Narasapura plant in Karnataka, thus making the two-wheeler plant the largest such unit in the world.

  

  7 August 2018

• Harley-Davidson confirms small-capacity motorcycle for India

  Harley-Davidson, a premium bike manufacturer, is looking to expand its international footprint and increase its customer base in developing countries like India. The brand recently confirmed that it will be producing a lower-capacity bike in the 250cc – 500cc range. Harley-Davidson will, thus, be investing around $825 million, which amounts to more than Rs.5,600 crore, till the year 2022 and beyond.  

  Harley-Davidson’s upcoming small-capacity motorcycle is expected to rival Royal Enfield’s Classic 350 and Classic 500. Industry sources are, however, expecting the Harley-Davidson’s bike to cost more than Royal Enfield’s entry-level motorcycles.

  

  8 August 2018

• Harley Davidson, Royal Enfield announce launch dates of their latest models

  In what should be an exciting week for bike enthusiasts, Harley Davidson, Royal Enfield, Kawasaki and more made exciting announcements. For those looking for the latest models of the aforementioned bike manufacturers, Harley Davidson has announced that their ADV model will hit the streets of India in 2019. The V-twin powered engines will be boosted by either a 975xx and 1250cc liquid cooled engine and will be called either the 975 Streetfighter  or the 1250 Custom. In addition, to suit the Indian market, Harley is conceptualizing small bikes between 250cc and 500cc. Possibly having the biggest fan base in the world, Royal Enfield is all set to roll out their most powerful bike yet. For a price tag little less than Rs.4 lakh, Royal Enfield will launch the 650 Interceptor. The first twin engine of the manufacturer, the bike is bound to make some waves in the Indian market. Next on the list of exciting announcements is India’s very own Bajaj. Moving into the future if  motorcycles, Bajaj announced that they will be rolling out the first models of the electric series in 2020. This too will be quite a stir in the Indian market.

  

  6 August 2018

• Royal Enfield reports 7% growth in monthly sales volume

  Motorcycle major Royal Enfield has reported a year-over-year volume growth of 7% in July 2018. This is the first time in the last 50 months the company is reporting a single digit volume growth. In terms of number of vehicles sold, the company reported total sales of 69,063 units in the month of July. This is significantly below CNBC-TV18’s estimate of 75,000 units.

  This also marks the first time in this calendar month that Royal Enfield’s sales dipped below 70,000 units. Of the total sales reported, the company sold 63,713 units in the 350cc segment in July 2018 compared to 60,544 units sold in the same period a year ago.

  Coming to vehicles with engine capacity higher than 350cc, the number of vehicles sold in the month of July 2018 stood at 5,350 units compared to 3,915 units in the same period of last year.

  

  2 August 2018

• Top two-wheelers that you should consider buying that are around the Rs.2 lakh range

  If you’re a Royal Enfield enthusiasts and wish to set aside approximately Rs.2 lakh for your dream bike, just to broaden your horizon, you should consider contemplating the the two-wheeler bikes mentioned in the following. If your budget is around Rs.2 lakh, apart from the Royal Enfield, you could consider opting for the Bajaj Dominar 400. The most powerful bike Bajaj has rolled out till date, the Dominor comes with additional accessories that will suit a perfect long ride to the hills, and the power of the bike is going to get you there in no time. Next in line is the Yamaha FZ25, suited for daily commute as well as long rides, this street naked motorcycle is cost friendly and will give you the pleasure that most two-wheelers will fail to.

  When it comes to TVS, cheap parts, brilliant performance and durability are just the highlights of their makes. Bike enthusiasts can look forward to the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Possibly one of the best makes in the market right now are form the KTM series, and the 250 model has been an influencer of their reputation in the country. Lastly, if you’re into riding through rough terrain, there’s no competition with the Royal Enfield Himalayan.

  

  1 August 2018

• Third party insurance mandatory for new vehicles from September 1

  While it is already mandatory for vehicles plying on the roads of India to have a Motor Insurance policy as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Government of India has decided to make a separate third party insurance policy mandatory for all new registered vehicles following September 1, 2018. As of now, vehicle owners can either purchase a third party insurance policy or a comprehensive insurance policy when registering their vehicle. However, now, for those with a comprehensive motor insurance policy, though it is inclusive of the third party liability, vehicles owners will have to purchase a separate third party insurance policy. The move that has been decided by the Government of India is in view that according to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, more than 60% of the vehicles in India are uninsured despite the serious consequences they could face for not having their vehicle insured. According to  K G Krishnamoorthy Rao, director of Future Generali India Insurance Company, the challenge for the insurance industry to implement the order from September 1, 2018 is the readiness of the product and pricing to be approved by the regulator and time required for making changes in the IT systems of the companies.

  

  30 July 2018

• Limited edition Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus sold out within 3 minutes

  The Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus, a limited-edition offering from the two-wheeler major, sold out in record time as soon as it went on sale on July 25th. This limited-edition bike was restricted to just 250 units for the Indian market, and booking for all these bikes were done within 3 minutes of sale opening.

  The bike is priced Rs.2.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the Indian market, and it is deemed to be the most expensive offering from Royal Enfield yet. A total of 1,000 units were manufactured for the global market. Of which, 250 were allocated to the Indian market. The bike went on sale on July 25th at 4 PM. All online bookings were over within 178 seconds of opening.

  The Pegasus was modeled after the Royal Enfield WD/RE 125, which was used by British paratroopers during the Second World War. The bike features a 499 cc single-cylinder engine that has fuel-injection technology. The engine delivers an output of 27.2 bhp and 41.3 Nm torque. Some of the aesthetic elements from the original motorcycle of the World War II era was retained in this vehicle.

  

  26 July 2018

• Bajaj Auto’s new electric two-wheeler likely to be launched by 2020

  Industry sources have reported that Bajaj Auto India is working on developing a new battery-powered electric two-wheeler. The vehicle is expected to be launched by the year 2020. Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, the managing director of Bajaj Auto, recently said that the company is working on electric two-wheelers, in addition to working on electric three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

  Bajaj Auto’s new electric two-wheeler, once launched, will be offered as part of the Bajaj Urbanite brand. The company has not yet confirmed if the new electric two-wheeler will be a motorcycle or a scooter. The company also announced that the new electric three-wheeler that is being worked on will be launched with the company’s electric version of the Qute.

  

  27 July 2018

• Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus Edition sold out in under 3 minutes

  The Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus Edition, which was on sale recently on the company’s website, was sold out in 178 seconds. Out of the 1,000 units that were made, 250 units were solely allocated to residents of India. All 250 units were offered to customers on a first-come first-serve basis. The price of this military-inspired motorcycle was fixed at Rs.2.39 lakh (on-road, Chennai).

  The Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus Editions shares a number of similarities with the Classic 500. Thus, the motorcycle is fitted with a 499cc, single cylinder engine that is mated to a five-speed gearbox. The Pegasus Edition has a unique serial number that is stencilled on the motorcycle’s fuel tank. Further, the motorcycle also has canvas panniers and a Pegasus logo.  

  The Pegasus Edition was launched in two colours – Service Brown and Olive Drag Green. Of these two colours, only the Service Brown colour option was made available in India.

  

  27 July 2018

• HP4 RACE: New track-only motorcycle launched by BMW for Rs.85 lakh

  Luxury carmaker BMW has launched a new track-only motorcycle in the Indian market for a price of Rs.85 lakh. The HP4 RACE is a non-road legal bike that features a state-of-the-art design and a powerful engine to go with its carbon fibre frame. Weighing in at 171 kg, this bike is comparatively lighter than many other racing bikes in India.

  The engine of this bike delivers an output of 215 horsepower at 13,900 rpm and 120 Nm at 10,000 rpm. The bike comes with a six-speed transmission and would require a full rebuild every 5,000 km.

  Some of the other key features of the bike include dynamic traction control, engine braking regulation, launch control, ignition cut, wheelie control, etc. Being a bike built for the race track, this vehicle comes with the Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slick SC2. At present, production of the bike will be limited to only 750 units worldwide.

  

  25 July 2018

• HMRL to introduce Metro e-bikes for passengers

  Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) is set to introduce Metro e-bikes for its passengers to improve the last minute connectivity on 15 August.

  The passengers will have to download the Metro Bike app and get their identification proof and driving licence verified in order to avail the service. The passengers will have to pay only Rs.4 per km and are allowed to drive the bike home and keep it with them overnight. They can then use the same bike to drive back to the metro station. Metro Bikes is currently operational at Secunderabad, Begumpet, Miyapur, Nagole, Parade Grounds, and Rasoolpura metro stations.

  NVS Reddy, the managing director of Metro Bikes speaking at the inaugural event of  Amarpreet Metro interchange said that the idea behind the introduction of metro bikes was to keep the environment safe and secure. The passengers will have to pay only for the distance covered by them. Reddy also said that the Metro Bike has already touched its target of serving 85,000 passengers on a daily basis for a small stretch of 30 km and is expecting to serve 5 lakh people per day and 15 lakh people per day in two years.

  

  25 July 2018

• New two-wheelers to have the mandatory three-year-third party cover - Supreme Court

  Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. recently announced in a statement that it has become the first two-wheeler brand to sell over 5 lakh vehicles in South India between April and June 2018. With this, Honda has strengthened its position as a market leader in South India, which covers the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

  In the same statement, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, the Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, said that the company had recently expanded the production capacity of its Narasapura plant in Karnataka, thus making the two-wheeler plant the largest such unit in the world.

  

  24 July 2018

• New two-wheelers to have the mandatory three-year-third party cover - Supreme Court

  According to a new order passed by the Supreme Court of India, all the cars and two-wheelers purchased from 1 September and after should have the mandatory three years and five years third-party cover.

  The apex court of India said that no new vehicle will be sold until the owners have the third-party and five-year insurance cover.

  Currently, vehicle owners in India are supposed to buy a one-year third party cover which can be renewed on a yearly basis.

  The owners will have the option of renewing their comprehensive cover yearly since the order passed by the supreme court is only for the third party covers.

  The industry is likely to come out with new three years and five years comprehensive policies keeping in mind the convenience of their customers.

  

  23 July 2018

• BMW to launch G310 R and G310 GS adventure motorcyles in India

  Luxury carmaker BMW is all set to launch two new models of motorcycles in the Indian market on July 18, 2018. The new BMW G310 R and BMW G310 GS will be launched in India in different variants. BMW Motorrad has already commenced bookings for both these vehicles.

  These two entry-level adventure motorcycles will compete with the likes of Royal Enfield Himalayan and Kawasaki Versys-X 300 in the Indian market. A BMW G310 GS model in Pearl White Metallic shade has already been spotted in a Chennai dealership. It is expected that this model will also be launched in Racing Red and Cosmic Black colours similar to the models in the international market.

  It is expected that G310 GS will be priced around Rs.3.5 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. The vehicle will feature a 313cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that delivers an output of 34PS at 9500 rpm. The bike comes with a 6-speed transmission that helps achieve a top speed of 143 kmph.

  

  19 July 2018

• G310R and G310S launched by BMW Motorrad at Rs.2.99 lakh and Rs.3.49 lakh

  BMW Motorrad recently launched two new superbikes – G310R and G310S – at the price of Rs.2.99 lakh and Rs.3.49 lakh, respectively. The two two-wheelers are the most affordable superbikes launched by the company yet. The bikes are powered by a 313cc water-cooled single cylinder 4 stroke engine. The bikes, which have a top speed of 143 kmph, can accelerate from 0 to 50 kph in just 2.3 seconds.

  The superbikes will be produced at the Hosur factory of TVS Motor Ltd. TVS and BMW have been partnered since the year 2013 to develop and launch a range of sub 500cc motorbikes for international and Indian markets.

  The launch of these superbikes from BMW Motorrad succeeds the launch of the Apache 310R last year. Apache 310, which is quite similar to the newly launched superbikes, is offered by TVS under its brand name for a sum of Rs.2.05 lakh.

  

  17 July 2018

• Zurich students design electric motorcycle that delivers 400 Km range

  A new electric bike that has a range of 400 Km was designed by students in Zurich, Germany. A team of students comprising 13 mechanical engineers, 1 electrical engineer, and 2 industrial designers collaborated together to create the all new Ethec electric motorcycle. The team designed this motorcycle with a forward-biased visual mass after taking design cues from the human body.

  This vehicle comes with a lightweight tubular frame that rides on trapezoidal girder forks to ensure geometry optimisation and stability. The vehicle also features a hub motor on each of its wheel to provide continuous output power of 22 kW and a peak power of 50 kW.

  Range has always been a problem for electric vehicles. While Tesla overcame this limitation with its electric cars, Ethec has pushed electric vehicles closer to its petrol equivalents. Designers of Ethec electric motorcycle solved the issue by installing a huge battery that consists of 1260 lithium ion cells arranged in an arrayed fashion. With an output energy of 15 kWh, this battery provides a range of 400 Km. The battery also features cooling oil to ensure adequate lifespan.

  

  13 July 2018

• Tronx Motors launches new electric bike called Tronx One

  Tronx Motors, which was previously known as Volta Motors, recently announced the launch its new crossover electric bike called the Tronx One. As an introductory offer for customers, a limited number of units of this two-wheeler will be launched at the price of Rs.49,999 in two colours – Pacific Blue and Magma Red. The shipping of the e-bike will start from July 16 for customers who have already pre-booked their vehicles.

  The Tronx One will feature a mid-step through frame and a smart display that makes use of the troX TM platform to connect to the user’s smartphone, among other things. The e-bike is powered by a detachable and lightweight 36V 13.6Ah Lithium 500W battery.

  The e-bike will be made available in Goa, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

  

  12 July 2018

• Hero MotoCorp extends leader over Honda in Q1

  In terms of number of units sold, Hero MotoCorp has extended its lead over former partner and rival Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) in the first quarter (April to June) of the current fiscal year. However, the overall share of market leader Hero declined marginally to 37.67% from 38.5% in the same quarter of last year.

  The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) released its sales data for the first quarter of this year. According to this data, Hero MotoCorp has sold over 20.6 lakh units of bikes and scooters compared to Honda’s total sales of over 16.9 lakh units of bikes and scooters for this period.

  In the first quarter of the previous year, Hero has sold about 18.11 lakh units as against Honda’s 14.78 lakh units. In terms of sales gap, Hero has sold about 3.70 lakh more vehicles than Honda this year. This gap stood at 3.33 lakh units in the previous year. These sales figures indicate that Hero has extended its lead by selling more units this year.

  

  12 July 2018

• Indian auto industry posts Q1 sales of 69.62 lakh units

  The Indian automobile industry has posted total sales of 69.62 lakh vehicles during the first quarter (April to June) of the current fiscal year. This represents an 18.01% growth in vehicle sales in the domestic market. In the first quarter of last year, the auto industry witnessed total sales of 58.83 lakh units all over the country.

  The report indicated sales growth in all segments of vehicles ranging fromscooters to commercial vehicles. One of the reasons for the huge growth in this year’s sales numbers can be attributed to the slump witnessed last year due to the anticipation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the shift to BS-IV safety norms.

  New product launches also contributed to the purchase of new vehicles this year. Total sales of cars, UVs, and van for the recent quarter stood at 8.74 lakh units. Total sales of two wheelers for the same period stood at 56.77 lakh units.

  

  11 July 2018

• The 2018 Himalayan Odyssey kicks off

  In what is considered the most iconic ride in India in the year, Royal Enfield kicked off the Himalayan Odyssey tour yesterday which will see a 60 rider contingent of 50 men and 10 women. The 60 member bike troop will cover 2,200 kms in 18 days that will see them ride through the most gruelling terrains in the country habituated by the Himalayan Range. Following the ritualistic ceremony carried out by the Lammas to bring the contingent good luck, the Royal Enfield troop kick started their 18 day journey across the Himalayan range from the iconic India Gate in New Delhi. The ride will be be yet another chapter in the Himalayan Women Odyssey diaries which over the last few years has been an inspiration and a guide for women empowerment in the country. The event and the kick start of the journey was flagged by the Royal Enfield President Mr.Rudratej Singh, who joyously boasted that this was the 15nth year in succession that the ride will be held. He said that over the years, the Himalayan Odyssey has encouraged to push the limits of their bike, and go through a journey that will emphasize the very reason of a Royal Enfield. He concluded by saying that the troop is about exploration.

  

  10 July 2018

• Updates of recently launched two-wheelers in India

  The three two-wheelers that have recently been launched in the country are the Honda Activa 125, the TVS XL 100 Heavy Duty i-Touch Star, and the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 650. The Honda Activa 125 was launched at the price of Rs.59,621. The 2018 variant has been fitted with an LED headlamp, black alloy wheels, and an updated semi-digital instrument cluster. The engine, however, remains the same as the previous version.

  The TVS XL 100 Heavy Duty i-Touch Star, another popular two-wheeler, has also been launched in the country. The moped is offered in a fresh new colour, and comes with an electric start feature, which adds to the two-wheeler’s convenience. It is offered at the rate of Rs.36,109.

  Kawasaki India also recently launched the latest model of the Ninja 650. The 2019 version of the two-wheeler comes with a new colour option – Metallic Flat Spark Black. It is offered at Rs.5.49 lakh. However, apart from the new colour option, the specifications of the motorcycle continue to remain the same as the previous version. The previous version, which is the 2018 Ninja 650 KRT edition, is sold at Rs.5.69 lakh, which the blue-coloured variant is sold at Rs.5.49 lakh.

  

  10 July 2018

• Hero, Honda and Suzuki all set to roll out their latest rides

  An announcement that would bring joy to bike enthusiasts across the country,  bike manufacturers Honda, Hero and Suzuki are all set to roll out their latest models. Suzuki is all set to roll out the Suzuki Burgman Street, Hero is set to launch the Xtreme 200R while Honda is going to roll out its latest rendition of the Activa 125. Powered by a 200cc engine, the Hero Xtreme is all set to be priced at roughly Rs.88,000 (ex-showroom price) and comes with ABS variants a load of other features. On the other hand, Honda is all set to roll out its update of the Activa 125cc at a price little less than Rs.60,000 (ex-showroom). The Honda activa will come with LED lamps, 3-way adjustable rear suspension and 4 in 1 locking mechanism. In competition to the Activa rolled out by Honda, Suzuki is all set to roll out its blend of scooters with the Burgman street which is powered by a 125cc engine as well. With the design taken off the 200cc model, the Burgman street is set to give stiff competition to its scooter rivals in the country.

  

  9 July 2018

• Price of Hero Xtreme 200R revealed in India; most affordable bike in the 200cc segment

  Hero Motor Corp. has revealed the price of its Xtreme 200R model in eight North Eastern states in the country. The ex-showroom price of Hero Xtreme 200R is revealed to be Rs.88,000, which makes it the most affordable bike in the 200cc segment. The price of this bike is lower than the prices of TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and Bajaj Pulsar NS200.

  The price is updated in the official website of Hero Motors. However, it is only applicable to the eight North Eastern states as of now. Though the official price is not revealed throughout India, it is expected to be in the same range.

  The 199.6cc Hero Xtreme 200R comes with a single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, and it features a 5-speed transmission. The engine of the bike features fuel injection technology and delivers an output of 18 bhp and torque of 17 Nm.

  

  6 July 2018

• Royal Enfield sees 18% jump in bike sales in June

  India’s iconic motorcycle company, Royal Enfield saw an impressive growth of 18 % in its sales volumes for the month of June. The company, part of Eicher Motors, sold a total of 74,477 units of its bikes, up by 11,317 units compared to June 2017. The bike manufacturer had sold a total of 63,160 units in the same month last year.

  While the company sold a total of 72,588 units in the domestic market, it sold 1,889 units internationally. International sales for the month of June saw a 27% increase compared to the same period last year, when the company had sold 1,489 units.

  The two-wheeler manufacturer has models like the Bullet 500, Thunderbird 500, Himalayan, Continental GT, the Classic Desert Storm, etc. in its portfolio.

  

  3 July 2018

• Driving licence now a must to buy a two-wheeler

  Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that any person looking to buy and register a two-wheeler must have a driving licence.

  The auto dealers and regional transport have been warned that their trade licence could get cancelled if they are found violating the rule.

  The two-wheeler dealers will have to keep the records of the driving licence number of the buyers and produce it to the transport officials as and when asked for.

  The move has been implemented by the government in the wake of recent series of accidents involving two-wheelers. The government strongly feels that this move will bring down the number of accidents and road mishaps.

  

  6 July 2018

• Kocheta Innovations develops wearable LED illuminator to make vehicle riders more visible

  In an effort to make riding safer for two-wheeler owners in India, Kocheta Innovations has recently developed an LED illuminator/Kroozer Shield called Flaunter. The illuminator can be worn over the shoulder by the rider, and is wirelessly connected to the two-wheeler’s tail lamp, brake lights, and indicator. The device is currently priced at a sum of Rs.5,000.

  It is expected that this Kroozer Shield is ideal for individuals with cruiser-style motorcycles, which require the rider to sit upright. Kocheta’s Kroozer Shield will, thus, make riding in roads with minimal or no lighting much easier for two-wheeler owners.

  

  2 July 2018

• Kerala Transport Department earns Rs.13 lakh in one day through auctioning of fancy numbers

  In what has become a huge fad off late for vehicle owners, many are bidding for a fancy number to grace their number plate. The reasons vary from it being a style statement to it being auspicious and for the very reason of identifying their bike. And the biggest winner is the Transport Department, who are happy to auction fancy numbers for a few thousands to lakhs. That said, in just 24 hours, the Kerala Transport Department has collected Rs.13 lakhs in just 24 hours. With the roll of out the new CP and the CN series, vehicle owners have bidded for numbers between 01-166 and this has fetched the Kerala Transport department Rs.13 lakhs in just a day. Numbers such as ‘01’, ‘07’, ‘77’ and ‘04’, were stormed by bidders, with the number 01 going for a whooping Rs.4.15 lakh to the highest bidder. In addition, ‘07’ and ‘77’ went for a price tag between Rs.1 to Rs.2 lakh. With what looks to be a great start, the Kerala Transport Department expects to generate a revenue of Rs.25 lakhs from the bids.

  

  27 June 2018

• KTM Adventure 390 to hit the streets of India in 2019

  With the Austrian brand making its mark in the Indian market - giving Indian and other bike manufacturers a run for their money, they are all set to step it up with their 390 Adventure. The initial version of the bike was spotted way back in 2016, and the latest update of it as seen in the test ride seems almost a different bike. The bike manufacturer plans to roll out the bike in 2019 and according to them, it will be the smallest and most affordable as compared to their previous models. Talking specifications, the bike engine, frame and guard will be borrowed from the 390 Duke and it will be powered by a 43 bhp 373cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine.

  

  28 June 2018

• Royal Enfield offers discounts on riding gear and apparel

  Royal Enfield announced that it will provide end-of-season discounts on a range of merchandise available under their brand. The company has a unique collection of accessories and apparel that even non-Royal Enfield owners can purchase and use. The discounts are available for accessories like helmets, bike covers, saddlebags, bags, gloves, eyewear, etc. and apparel such as jeans, jackets, shirts, rain jackets, etc. The discounts are available in Royal Enfield stores, gear stores, dealership stores, third-party stores and online stores. The discount will be on from 29 June 2018 to 15 August 2018 only.

  

  29 June 2018

• Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station to multi-level parking

  In order to solve the problem of parking at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station, the authorities of the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station are planning to build a multi-level parking system at the station. The new project will have the capacity to park 300 two-wheelers, 150 on each level of the parking structure. The entire project will cost the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station authorities Rs.25 lakh. As reported by Times of India, Rajesh Chandran, the director of the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station said that more than 500 vehicles are parked at the parking area at the railway station, the majority of which are two-wheelers. The multilevel parking system for two-wheelers will not occupy much space and can be constructed in the available land at the second entrance. Also, the parking space for a large number of two-wheelers at the main entrance in Thampanoor side can be shifted to second entry side, since it is a better system. Rajesh Chandran added that upon the suggestion of the MP, they will build another level as well as have services for eateries as as of now there isn’t much service for them at this point.

  

  26 June 2018

• Hero Splendor beats Honda Activa to become the best selling two-wheeler

  Hero MotoCorp’s Hero Splendor pushed Honda Activa to the second spot to become the best selling two-wheeler for the year May 2018.

  Hero MotoCorp sold 280,763 units to take the first spot as compared to the Honda Activa which sold 272,475 units.

  This is for the first time when Hero Splendor has grabbed the first position to become the best selling two-wheeler in India. Honda Activa had enjoyed the numero uno status since January 2016 post which Hero Splendor zoomed ahead in the number of sales to take the top spot. Honda Activa’s negative sales played a major reason in them getting displaced to the second spot.

  HMSI’s Honda CB Shine continued to outsell Hero Passion as they sold 99,812 units putting itself fourth on the list of top selling two-wheelers. HF Deluxe took the third spot, while Hero Passion took the fifth position. TVS XL Super, Glamour, Jupiter, Pulsar, and Dio made the rest of the list.

  

  26 June 2018

• Smartron’s first E-bike to be launched in July

  Smartron, a tech product company is all set to launch its electric bike in July, with the company expected to price it around Rs.50,000. The bike, which has a range of 50 km and a top speed of 25 km/hr has been designed and developed by Volta Motors, a startup Smartron acquired last year.

  The bike’s battery can be removed and charged remotely, making it possible to use the bike without having charging infrastructure in place. The bike is powered by a 500W Li-on battery. The battery can be fully charged in around 2 hours.

  The bike will initially be launched in 12 cities in the country. The company will also open service centres in these cities.

  The bike’s speed has been limited to 25 km/hr in order to avoid complications regarding the need of a license to ride the bike.

  

  25 June 2018

• UM Adventure Bikes turn their heads to the Indian market

  With big bike manufacturers such as BMW and KTM making their presence felt in India with their G 310 GS and G 310 R of BMW and KTM’s 390 looking to hit the streets of India soon, UM Adventure Bikes will look to compete with BMW and KTM with their variants that are selling in numbers abroad. UM Adventure Bikes will look to bring their  Hypersport and the DSR to India soon and are already testing the possibilities of making it a reality. Currently the HyperSport which is tearing the road abroad is powered by 16hp at 7,500rpm and 17.69Nm at 5,500rpm while the DSR is powered by 15.74hp at 7,500rpm and 16.65Nm at 5,500rpm. While the power of these bikes will certainly lure bike enthusiasts in India, the question of toning down the engines to suit the India roads is the big question mark. Both bikes however will be equipped by the ABS braking system.

  

  21 June 2018

• New norms could make commuter bikes more expensive

  New emission and regulatory norms could make commuter bikes costlier, with experts of the opinion that once implemented, bikes in the 150-180 cc category could cost as much as bikes belonging to the 350cc category.

  The new norms, which are expected to be implemented from 2019 require bikes to have on-board diagnostics, anti-lock braking system (ABS), adherence to BS VI norms (from 2020) and raw material pricing pressure.

  It is expected that bikes could cost 20% more following the implementation of these norms.

  Bike manufacturers will also have to make changes to their manufacturing and design process, since the bikes would now require changes in the layout of different components.

  As per SIAM data, bikes in the 150-200cc category saw a 43% Y-o-Y increase in their sales, with around 8.45 lakh units sold. Certain industry analysts are of the opinion that there could be a drop in sales volume once BS VI norms are implemented.

  

  22 June 2018

• E-bikes come with innovative features as smart as phones

  The high-end bikes available today come with various innovative features which make them as smart as the smartphones we have. These bikes are designed as complete systems with computers to operate the entire system.

  With the introduction of e-bikes, even those who wish to have a simplified cycling experience can ride these bikes without too much physical exertion. These bikes look like traditional bicycles but they have an electric motor to operate the vehicle without much physical power.

  These bikes have a big market in Europe. However, they are slowly gaining foothold in the United States where most of the population rely on their cars for their morning commute. Some experts predict that these bikes might encourage the U.S. people to ditch their cars and take up e-bikes for their morning commute.

  The industry is currently witnessing rapid growth in different parts of the world. It is estimated that $77.1 million worth of e-bikes were sold in 2017

  

  21 June 2018

• Cleveland Cyclewerks ready to launch two bikes in India

  Cleveland based motorbike company, Cleveland Cyclewerks is all set to launch two new bikes in India. The bikes are expected to be launched in October this year, with the company partnering with Laish Madison Motor Werks, a Hyderabad based company for production and sales support.

  Cleveland Cyclewerks, had displayed four bikes at the Auto Expo earlier this year. It will launch two of these four bikes, the Ace and Misfit this year. Both the Misfit and Ace range of bikes share the same 229cc engine, with the Ace likely to be offered in three variants, Café, Deluxe, and Scrambler. The engine has a capacity to produce power of 15.4 bhp, with the torque being 16 Nm.

  The company is likely to price these bikes in the Rs.2 lakh price range, hoping to compete with the likes of Royal Enfield.

  The bikes will be assembled in Pune, with completely knocked down being sent from China.

  

  20 June 2018

• Eicher Motors’ volume grows on higher demand in rural markets

  Eicher Motors, the parent company of renowned motorcycle brand Royal Enfield, has witnessed improvement in its volume growth visibility owing to higher demand in the rural segments. The company has been witnessing falling volume growth over the last few quarters. However, street sentiment about the company has improved lately owing to recovery in various key markets and the launch of new markets.

  Falling volume growth of Eicher Motors has been attributed to the increase in competition in the entry-level bikes segment. Some of the players in the market are also slashing prices to gain market share over other rivals in the industry.

  Royal Enfield is one of the top choices among Indian customers. Its entry into various under-penetrated markets is like to contribute to the company’s growth. Its launch of various new models and high-margin variants could contribute significantly to its earnings.

  

  19 June 2018

• KTM’s adventure bike to be launched next year

  The Australian bike manufacturers, KTM AG, has confirmed that the all-new adventure bike, KTM 390 Adventure, is set to be launched in the year 2019. The other adventure bikes by the company are Streetfighter Dukes and Supersport RC. The bike is expected to cost around Rs.2.3 lakh and is said to have borrowed some of its features from the other adventure bikes by the company. The bike has a 373 cc engine and weighs around 160 kg. The power expected to be produced by the bike is 41 BHP and the torque is 37 Nm. The bike can be comfortably used for on-road riding and hardcore off-road riding. In terms of design, the bike has a carrier, mounts for luggage boxes, bigger fuel tank, and knuckle guards. Additionally, the exhaust has been mounted on the side to give more ground clearance. KTM 390 Adventure is one of the few adventure bikes in India that are priced less than Rs.5 lakh.

  

  19 June 2018

• Rapido around the city with the latest bike app

  For those who have been getting peeved off late with the cab services, their poor service, and surcharge rates, they can now hop on to a bike and get around the city courtesy Rapido. With already 50,000 downloads, the Rapido Bike Taxi App is soon getting a grip over citizens hailing from the metropolitans. Covering a radius of 15 km around the city, customers can avail the bike service between 7 am and 11 pm every day of the week. With a minimum fare of Rs.15, customers will be charged Rs.3 for every km. All that the customers have to do is to download the app from the Google Play Store, enter their credentials and book the closest bike taxi. Customers are insured up to Rs.5 lakh and are offered facilities such as a raincoat and a helmet if they wish for it. With big cities getting even more congested, traveling my bike is definitely the fastest way to get around the city. In addition, Rapido is looking for captains, people to get on board with them with a minimum wage of Rs.18k. Those with a valid license are eligible to get on board

  

  18 June 2018

• EV adoption to be witnessed first by two-wheelers and three-wheelers vehicles

  The EV adoption will be first witnessed by two-wheelers and three-wheelers vehicles followed by corporate cabs, intracity buses, and government fleets.

  India is the largest market for both two-wheelers and three-wheelers and offers a huge opportunity for the development of EV in the country.

  The man reason behind two-wheelers and three-wheelers vehicles being the first to adopt is that EV offers over combustion engine automobiles which compels the owners to base their cost needs on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) instead of it being based on the acquisition cost.

  In order for the EV market to grow, India needs a large number of vehicle charging stations to be installed and India is already witnessing divergence with different business models operators working to provide a charging infrastructure for those who are going to be the users of EV.

  

  15 June 2018

• Royal Enfield mulls allowing select customers to watch their bikes getting built

  Motorcycle major Royal Enfield is reportedly considering the possibility of allowing certain buyers to watch their bikes getting assembled at the factory. This unique experience, which is possible only in super high-end vehicles, is currently being planned by Royal Enfield as a marketing initiative.

  Royal Enfield has a dedicated customer base throughout the country, and this initiative is likely to provide a thrilling experience for its loyal customers. This initiative is something that has never been tried by any other motorcycle manufacturer in the country. The company has reportedly formed a team to evaluate the feasibility of this experience.

  The company already has many different marketing initiatives for its loyal customers. It has been conducting factory tours for a long time. Moreover, it has also formed a community for its customers by organising motorcycle tours to various parts of the country. This new initiative is yet to be publicly revealed by the company. It is likely to be challenging considering the sheer number of vehicles being sold by the company every month.

  

  18 June 2018

• Honda starts delivery of the Rs.26.85 lakh tour bike

  Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India started its Gold Wing deliveries yesterday. The bike, launched in the 2018 Auto Expo, is available in two variants – Tour and Standard. The only colour the customers can purchase is red. It is priced at a whopping Rs.26.85 lakh and the first customer was from Jaipur. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, the Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing of the company stated that they had received 35 bookings and the first bike had been delivered. The bike has a 1,833 cc liquid-cooled six-cylinder engine and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Gold Wing is Honda’s first motorcycle that has a front suspension with a double wishbone. It is also the first motorcycle in the world to be designed with a 7-inch TFT display that supports features such as Apple CarPlay.

  

  14 June 2018

• Bharat Forge acquires 35.26% Stake in UK-Based Tevva Motors

  Bharat Forge, a Pune-based automotive firm, has acquired a 35.26% stake in UK-based Tevva Motors Limited by investing a sum of Rs.90 crore into the company. This acquisition marks the company’s third biggest investment in the electric vehicles space.

  In a BSE Filing, Bharat Forge stated that it had acquired a 34.53% stake in Tevva Motors, while Kalyani Group owned Bharat Forge International Limited had acquired another 0.73% stake in the company, thus bringing the total acquisition to 35.26%.

  Tevva Motors, which was established around 4 years ago at Chelmsford, UK, provides electric powertrain solutions for commercial busses and vehicles in the 7.5 – 14 T weight category. By way of making this investment in Tevva Motors, Bharat Forge has acquired a license to commercialise the technology used by Tevva in India and to strengthen its Research and Development activities in the electric-mobility sector

  

  14 June 2018

• The second half of 2018 to see the launch of 10 new bike models

  Despite the rise in the fuel prices, the two-wheeler companies seem to look optimistic as close to 10 new bike models are expected to be launched in the second half of the year.

  June 2018 will see Suzuki Burgman, a 125 cc scooter hitting the road. The vehicle will cost between Rs.65,000 to Rs.70,000. Hero Xpulse, seen as a competitor to the Royal Enfield Himalayan will make its debut in June 2018 and will range between Rs.1 lakh and Rs.1.2 lakh.

  July 2018 will see the launch of Norton Dominator and Norton Commando 961 with the former priced between Rs.18 lakh to Rs.20 lakh and the latter costing around Rs.14 lakh and Rs. 15 lakh.

  The month of August will see Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 making its debut. Both the variants are expected to cost between Rs.3 lakh and Rs.3.5 lakh.

  The period between September and December will see the debut of UM Motorcycles Renegade Duty S, BMW G310R, Hero Dare 125, and Bajaj Pulsar RS 400. While the UM Motorcycle Renegade Duty S will cost between Rs.90,000 and Rs.1.1 lakh, the BMW G310 R will cost around Rs.2.5 lakh and Rs.2.7 lakh. Hero Dare 125 will be priced around Rs.55,000 and Rs.60,000, and people who wish to purchase the Bajaj Pulsar RS 400 model will have to shell out between Rs1.75 lakh and Rs.2 lakh.

  

  12 June 2018

• Sale of passenger vehicles and motorcycles increase significantly in the month of May

  While a number of businesses across the country and banks have faced a slump over the last few months, with the apparent numbers, it seems like the motor vehicle manufacturing companies are going through a good phase. Based on SIAM data and a Business Standard compilation record, the number of sales of domestic passenger vehicles increased by 19.65% as compared to May 2017 - same time the previous year. Just in May 2018, 3,01,238 units have been sold as compared to 2,51, 764 the previous year in May. Domestic car sales went north as well with a year-on-year increase of 19.64% as 1,99,479 vehicles were sold in May 2018, compared to 1,66,732 vehicles in May 2017. It was a positive month for motorcycle manufacturers as well as their sales as compared to May 2017 increased by 15.16%. Based on the data, in the month of May 2018, 12,21,559 units were sold as compared to 16,94,323 units that were sold in May 2017. In the commercial vehicle department, sales increased by 43.06% to 76,478 vehicles as compared to May 2017. All in all, vehicle sales in all categories increased by 12.13% t0 22,82,618 units from 20,35,610 units - the same month the previous year

  

  12 June 2018

• Bajaj plans to launch electric two-wheeler in 2020

  Vehicle manufacturers Volvo and Porsche recently announced their desire to go full electric in the coming years. Bajaj has now followed suit and plans to launch an electric two-wheeler by the year 2020. In an interaction with CNBC, the CEO of Bajaj, Rajiv Bajaj, revealed that the company will soon bring an electric two-wheeler to the market. He stated that the launch will give the company a huge push if the government implements its plan of promoting electric vehicles.

  Bajaj has seen good sales overall, including its international performance in Cambodia, Philippines and Iran. The company expects the growth to hit a good 30% by the end of the month of June. Motorcycles like CT, Discover, and the Pulsar range have been doing exceptionally well. The company sells nearly three thousand to four thousand units on a monthly basis by the company. In addition, the manufacturer waits for approvals to finally launch their brand new quadricycle, Qute.

  

  6 June 2018

• Two-wheeler OEMs register over 9% growth in May 2018

  The six leading two-wheeler manufacturers in India, namely Hero MotoCorp, Honda, TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto, Royal Enfield, and Suzuki Motorcycle, have in total sold 17,89,888 units up to May 2018, thereby registering a 9.21% year-on-year growth.

  Hero MotoCorp sold a total of 7,06,365 units in May 2018, thus hitting a 11% YoY growth. In comparison, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sold 5,19,072 units in May 2018. This was a 1.7% YoY growth for the two-wheeler manufacturer. TVS Motor Company, which sold 2,46,231 units during the same period, registered a YoY growth of 2.4%.

  Bajaj Auto, a Pune-based company, sold a total of 1,92,543 units, thus touching a YoY growth of 23%. Royal Enfield, which reported a YoY growth of 24%, sold 72,510 vehicles in May 2018. Lastly, Suzuki Motors sold around 38,923 vehicles in May 2018 and reported a YoY growth of 36.59%.

  

  6 June 2018

• BMW Motorrad G 310R and G 310 GS bookings open

  The most awaited motorcycles, BMW Motorrad G 310R and G 310 GS, can now be booked. Both the motorcycle variants have 313 CC single cylinder liquid cooled engines and have 6-speed gearboxes. The mileage is estimated at 30 kilometres per litre depending on the riding style. The fuel tank can hold up to 12 litres of fuel. The bikes can go up to a top speed of 143 kmph and can be accelerated from 0 kmph to 100 kmph in around 5 seconds. While the kerb weight of G 310 R is 158.5 kilograms, the kerb weight of G 310 GS is 169.5 kilograms. The booking for either of the motorcycles can be made in any BMW Motorrad dealerships by paying an advance of Rs.50,000. The bike will be delivered on a first come first serve basis once it is launched in India

  

  11 June 2018

• eMotion Motors to unveil prototype of electric bike today

  eMotion Motors, a Coimbatore-based start-up is all set to unveil the first prototype of its geared electric bike, called Surge, today. Thus, the launch of the motorcycle will coincide with the World Environment Day.

  Mr. Pranav Singanapalli, the founder and CEO of eMotion Motors, has said that the Surge will be a feature-rich bike with around 40 innovations. The bike will come in two variants, with one of the variants being able to clock a top speed of 120 km/hour. The motorcycle can be charged in just half an hour, and can run around 100 kms on a single charge.

  

  5 June 2018

• Two-wheeler manufacturers and dealerships offer attractive discounts to vehicle buyers

  Manufacturers and dealers are selling several top two-wheelers at attractive prices to vehicle buyers. With regard to this, the Suzuki Access 125, which is renowned for its comfort, performance, and reliability, is currently being offered with a cash back of Rs.3,000. Certain dealerships, however, are offering the two-wheeler with a cash discount between Rs.1,000 and Rs.2,000.

  The remaining models of the Kawasaki Z1000 are being offered with a discount of around Rs.2.5 lakh by its manufacture. Although the bikes comes with a 2017 manufacturing date, they will be offered as brand-new models to customers.

  The Bajaj CT100 Kick Start Alloy, which is one of the most affordable motorcycles in the country, is being offered at Rs.32,000. The initial price of the two-wheeler was Rs.41000. Thus, the total discount offered to customers is nearly 25%.

  

  1 June 2018

• Motor Insurance companies against the Ministry’s directive compelling a PUC

  With the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways making sure that citizens who drive or ride a motor vehicle making sure that it is compulsory for one to hold a third-party insurance and a fitness certificate for transport vehicles and vehicles over 15 years old, their latest directive has gone against the wishes of insurance companies. Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in tandem with the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) pushed the Supreme court to make it compulsory for vehicle owners to get a PUC (pollution under certificate) when renewing their insurance policies, a directive that was obliged by the Supreme Court. The recent announcement of the Supreme court however hasn’t been well received by General Insurance companies, who have said that it would not be possible to follow the directive and they would meet the IRDAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to discuss the drawbacks of their decision. Though the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has heard of the opposition of General Insurance companies to the latest directive, they answered bluntly saying that the directive which has come from the Supreme Court has to be met by all insurers henceforth

  

  1 June 2018

• Honda Activa regains top spot for best-selling two-wheelers in India

  Honda Activa has reclaimed the top spot as the best-selling two-wheeler in the country for April 2018. This spot was earlier held by the Hero Splendor. The other four spots in the same category went to the Hero Splendor, HF Deluxe, CB Shine, and Passion.

  The Indian two-wheeler sector witnessed a remarkable growth at the beginning of the new fiscal year. Honda Activa’s sales grew by 64% in the month of April as a result of Honda selling more than 3.3 lakh units of the Activa during the same month. On the other hand, Hero Splendor’s sales only increased by 1% in April 2018.

  

  30 May 2018

• Sales of Apache RR 310 by TVS Motor expedite

  The first bike launched after the union of TVS Motor and BMW Motorrad is Apache RR 310. The super bike was launched in December last year and the monthly sales of the bike are 1,000 units. In total, more than 3,000 units have been sold and the company aims to sell 10,000 units in the first year after the launch. The company has planned many customer engagement activities that are believed to give a thrust to the sales of the high-end bike, in the upcoming months.

  The Apache Owners Group is an initiative that brings together like-minded riders who own a TVS Apache. Another initiative taken by the company is to conduct the Apache RR Cup where riders compete in a five-round race with TVS Apache RR 310 motorcycles.

  

  31 May 2018

• New Smart Insurance Assistant Provides Two Wheeler Insurance Instantly

  A mobile designed website named AskArvi is said to provide two-wheeler insurance policies in a minute’s time. All one has to do is upload a picture of one’s two-wheeler and his/her driving license. The aggregator, which uses bot-based technology, provides the insurance policy in an e-PDF format instantly from one of the 14 insurance companies it is tied up with, as chosen by the individual.

  AskArvi is considered India’s first smart insurance assistant that uses artificial intelligence to provide insurance. The company has materialised 180 insurance policies already and aims to process 1,500 policies by the end of the year. Sushant Reddy, the founder of AskArvi, said that their bot named Arvi has been trained to understand the intent of the customer and guide them to the right product. He is of the opinion that two wheeler insurance is not renewed by many due to the cumbersome processes involved, and has hence created this platform for faster and convenient purchase and renewal of insurance.

  

  28 May 2018

• Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus Edition to be launched on May 30

  The all new Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus Edition was unveiled recently and is all set to be launched on May 30. The price and availability of the bike will be revealed the same day. However, certain sources have revealed that the price of the limited edition motorcycle is Rs.2.39 lakh. Only 1,000 units are said to be released, out of which 250 units have been allocated for India.

  The bike’s design draws inspiration from RE/WD Flying Flea 125 that was used by British paratroopers in World War II. The new model has a 499 cc engine and can churn out 27 bhp of power. Each motorcycle unit will have a unique number stencilled on the fuel tank. While the bike is available in Olive Drab Green and Service Brown colours, only the latter will be available in India because the former is the Indian Army’s official colour.

  

  29 May 2018

• New Fintech provides two wheeler insurance in a minute

  AskArvi, a 1.5 year old Fintech which uses artificial intelligence aims to provide two-wheeler insurance policies in a minute. The company, which utilises bot-based tech has currently partnered with 14 insurers to offer insurance.

  All a customer needs to do is visit the website of the company and upload pictures of his/her DL and vehicle for which insurance is needed.

  As of now the company has processed around 200 policies, with the aim being to increase this number to 1,500 by the year end. It is also aiming to raise around $2 million to achieve this goal.

  The company is also looking to venture into the car insurance segment. In addition to two-wheeler insurance, customers can also purchase health and life insurance through the organisation.

  AskArvi is currently licensed by the IRDAI as an insurance web aggregator.

  

  25 May 2018

• Royal Enfield, Triumph and Ducati plan to set up used-bike segment

  Royal Enfield made a recent announcement that they plan to set up a used-bike wing to their existing business. They will start the initial sales at the end of the year in 10 stores across India. Gradually, they will extend the program to minor cities and towns as well.

  Triumph, too, plans to enter the used-bike field owing to the fact that almost 15% of the volume made is received from second-hand bike sales in metro cities and 5-6% of the volume made is received from non-metro cities. Within the next year and a half, they will start the business in a few metro cities and later open dealerships specifically for used-bike sales.

  Ducati also has the same plans in mind with regard to the launch of the used-bike segment. They will first ascertain if they can provide the same luxuries with second-hand bikes as well and then start the program.

  

  21 May 2018

• Royal Enfield roll out the Classic 500 Pegasus

  Much to the appreciation of Royal Enfield fans across the globe, the bike manufacturing company unveiled the Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus - a bike that will surely bring back memories for war veterans and lure collectors of war memorabilia. Inspired by the Royal Enfield Flying Flea which was used by soldiers from United Kingdom during World War II, the Pegasus will be rolled out in the army-style olive green colour and a shade of brown as well. With the Flying Flea an iconic model, powered by a 2-stroke 125cc engine and light as a feather for soldiers to carry them over fences, the Pegasus 500 will be limited in the market - a move that will make the demand for it soar. According to Royal Enfield, they will roll out only 1,000 units of the bike, out of which only 250 will go on sale in India. In India, the bike will be available in a shade of brown and not the olive green shade as it is not permitted apart from army vehicles. The newest model of the Royal Enfield will be powered by a 499cc engine, with 27.6hp at 5,250rpm and 41.3Nm of peak torque at 4,000rpm. The ex-showroom price is expected to be around Rs.4 lakh.

  

  24 May 2018

• Metro Stations in Hyderabad to offer Bike Rental Services at Rs.4/km

  In an effort to enhance connectivity and ease daily commute, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) recently inaugurated new bike stations across the city. These stations are located at Parade Ground, Nagole, and Begumpet.

  Thus, commuters can rent bikes from any of these stations at Rs.4 per kilometre by simply furnishing their Aadhaar card and driver’s license.  Commuters availing this service will not have to pay any fuel or waiting charges, and will be provided a helmet to use during their commute.

  A ‘Rent a Bike’ station was also set-up at Miyapur earlier this year, as a collaborative venture between the HMRL and a private agency.

  

  18 May 2018

• Honda plans to overtake Bajaj in motorcycle sales

  Honda, in Fiscal Year 2018, has narrowed the gap that it had with Bajaj Auto to take the second place for sales of motorcycles in India. The company sold 19.5 lakh units in the year and Bajaj Auto sold 19.7 lakh units. According to a report created by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, Honda beat Bajaj in 7 out of 12 months in the previous financial year.

  However, Hero Motocorp is at the top spot of motorcycles sales. In the two-wheeler segment, Honda takes the second spot thanks to its bestseller- Activa. Honda is gradually making it to the top in the race.

  

  18 May 2018

• No RC for modified silencers in Kerala

  Considering the amount of pollution of various forms which affect the environment and violation of the law, the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department authorities have announced that any vehicle fitted with modified mufflers or silencers, the registration certificate will be cancelled.

  The department will first spread awareness about this new rule and the campaign will be launched on June 1st, 2018. Under this campaign as mentioned above, the RC will be canceled for all vehicles with modified silencers and once the RC is cancelled, the vehicle will no longer be eligible to be ridden on the roads and the insurance will too become void. But the silver lining, is this suspension is temporary and it will last only for three months. Once the silencer has been modified, the Rc will be restored and the insurance too will be active. This rule has become effective now because the number of modified silencers have increased in the state and they cause a loud noise of  95dB to 100dB which is more than the prescribed level. It is stated in the law that these kind of silencers are only for race tracks and off road usage.

  

  9 May 2018

• New Electric Scooter by Artem

  The Artem Energy Future owners feel that the M9 electric scooter is the most evolved scooter of this generation. The founders have said that the new regulation that mandates ABS and CBS on two-wheelers will also help in improving the braking system in electric models as well.

  The M9 is a scooter that is one of its kind for many reasons. It features an advanced driver assistance system which is otherwise not found in any electric or fuel engine scooter. It can reach a top speed of 90kmph and 0-50kmph in just 6 seconds. At one charge it has a range up to 100km. In its first kind, the Artem M9 has taken a unique approach where the vehicle can be charged by onboard fast charger alongside battery swapping technology. This model will have a successor at the very early stage with M9-A and M6 in coming months. The founders also believe that this bike is one of the most safest bikes in the world.If the rider is riding too fast, the vehicle warns it much ahead for braking where it automatically activates the electrodynamic braking which reverse the traction force for safe stopping. It is a patent of the company.

  

  10 May 2018

• Mandatory BIS certification for all helmets

  With an average of 150,000 people in the country losing their lives to road accidents, the Government of India has now made it compulsory to for all helmets sold in the country to be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). According to the ISI Helmet Manufacturers Association President, Rajeev Kapur, he said that the association is relieved by the Government’s decision - one that would reduce fatalities arising from road accidents and improve the safety of riders across the country. The new helmets that will be rolled out under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will be roughly 300 grammes lighter and will focus on the quality of the visors as well - to improve optical quality and provide scratch resistance as well. According to Rajeev Kapur, the fact that the Government insisted on improving the quality of visors is imperative as most accidents have occurred also due to the poor vision of visors, due to the scratches on them.

  

  14 May 2018

• Steelbird new helmet range only for Enfield riders

  Steelbird Hi-Tech India Limited has launched a specific range of helmets dedicated to Royal Enfield riders and cruiser bikes called Bunker Rack. The helmet has an anti-scratch visor, anti-theft locking device, removable zipper neck pad, removable neck pad which can be washed and re-attached. The new thing about this helmet is that it has a high impact ABS which is resistant towards collisions in any accidents. It also has a multi-layer thermocol (EPS) with high density and low density as per the requirement. To add further comfort it has safety air channels for wind circulation. The entire helmet is inspired by an italian design and it has a multi-pore breathable padding system on the inside which is anti-odour, anti-bacterial and anti-allergic coated. The Bunker Rack is priced at Rs.1799. If you own a Royal Enfield, you have to have this superiorly sophisticated technology helmet to give you a comfort ride without the helmet itch.

  

  3 May 2018

• Bombay HC orders safety gears for pillion riders

  The Bombay High Court has ordered the Maharashtra Government and Bajaj Auto to install safety gears for pillion riders after a plea for statutory requirement from Supreme Court order for the same.

  A bench of Justice SM Kemka and MS Karnik passed this order after a plea was filed by an elderly resident of Mumbai city Gyan Prakash, seeking court’s direction in the above mentioned matter. Gyan Prakash appealed in the Bombay High Court earlier this month to enforce the order passed by the Apex court in February. The order passed by the apex court stated that any two-wheeler which does not abide by the standard guidelines for installation of safety gears for pillion riders, must not be registered under the Central Motor Vehicle Rule 1989.

  

  25 April 2018

• Digital Influence On Automobiles Rapidly Increasing In Non-Metros

  According to Google’s year-in search report, online searches related to automobiles have been significantly increasing in non-metros across the country. In these locations, digital methods contributed to 20% of the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) sales. The report also indicated that there is a 100% growth in search queries regarding two-wheeler insurance.

  There is a 43% growth in queries regarding parts and accessories for two wheelers. Also, queries regarding automobile dealerships have increased by about 26%. With the increasing reliance on web, the offline touchpoints involved in a customer’s automobile purchase journey is reducing.

  The report stated that non-metros will soon overtake metros in terms of web usage associated with automobile searches and purchase. It also noted that there is a 50% reduction in dealership visits before the two-wheeler purchase process. Most customers now prefer to gather information online and watch videos of two-wheelers before making the purchase decision.

  

  26 April 2018

• Mumbai Transport Department to conduct road safety awareness

  There is no doubt that the number of vehicles are increasing at an alarming rate all over the country which is leading to more traffic congestion and pollution. To this problem even the dream city Mumbai is also one of the victim.

  The number of two-wheelers in Mumbai city is increasing by 1 bike for every one meter. Which means 975 bikes for every one kilometer. Within the next 2 or 3 months, the city will hit 20 lakh bikes and scooters mark as per the transport department’s statistics. This could cause more problems for the general public with traffic clogging and pollution. But to tackle this problem, the Mumbai Transport Department is going to conduct Road Safety Awareness soon that will be launched by Devendra Fadnavis. This awareness will include, zebra crossing cautions, helmet awareness, following traffic rules, consequences of violation traffic rules, etc.

  

  25 April 2018

• Royal Enfield makes it to Top 10 list of best selling bikes

  Owning a bike like Royal Enfield is every biker’s dream. With increase in number of variants in the bikes from the company, the Royal Enfield bikes have managed to fulfill the dreams of many bikers. And now to add another feather to its crown, the Company’s evergreen model Classic 350 has made it to the Top 10 best selling bikes list for 2018 first quarter.

  The company has managed to sell 5,55,513 units of Classic 350 model in the financial year. The data was released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM). The Classic 350 even managed to put behind Bajaj CT to take the 10th position. Classic 350 is one of the oldest model that has been re-invented by the company time and again to uphold the legacy. Besides this, HMSI Activa scooter has reclaimed its top position with sales of 31,54,030 units. Hero MotoCorp Splendor and HF Deluxe took second and third position respectively. The TVS XL Super is in fourth position, Hero Passion in fifth, Honda CB Shine in sixth, Hero Glamour in seventh, TVS Jupiter in eighth and Bajaj Pulsar in ninth position.

  

  24 April 2018

• Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X is here

  All the bikers who dreamt of owning a sporty looking sleek Royal Enfield bike, this model if definitely for you. The Royal Enfield launched all new version of Thunderbird variant in 350X and 500X.

  The looks and design of the new version are more appealing to the youth says the company. The new version have a complete blacked-out theme with bright fuel tanks to give it a different dimension. The contrast colour is also reflected in the other graphical designs on the body of the bike. The bike gets a new handle bar, and the remaining ergonomics is pretty much the same as the old version. The light handle bar in the new version is much lighter and it is easy to manage in the city roads.The new version of Thunderbird was one of the most awaited bike of the year and the wait is finally over. The bookings are already open across the country and run to the nearest Royal Enfield Showroom today. There are multiple colour options you can choose from so do not hesitate to experiment with the new bike. The Thunderbird 350X is priced at Rs.1,56,849 and Thunderbird 500X is priced at Rs.1,98,878.

  

  23 April 2018

• Two-wheeler financing proves to be a hit for Muthoot Finance

  Seems like the growth in the two-wheeler segment has benefited Muthoot Capital Services greatly. The company churned out more two-wheeler loan in 2018 due to which the sales has been almost doubled compared to the last year’s profits.

  The company has nailed a profit of Rs.53.7 crore in the current fiscal year compared to  Rs.30.1 crore in the previous fiscal year. The net profit during the current quarter was Rs.21.5 crore with a growth of 94%. The assets under management  touched Rs.2,238 crore which double compared to last year in the same time. Muthoot expanded its base from South-India to northern and eastern Indian markets in the last 3 years. These parts witnessed 100% growth year to year and expects much higher target to be achieved in the current financial year. The company has already disbursed 12 lakh loans up until now for two-wheelers. The total live accounts as on March 31st 2018 stood at 5.7 lakhs in only the first quarter of the year. The company has also started new schemes such as top-up loans and it conducted a test pilot on used car loans in the last financial quarter.

  

  19 April 2018

• Two Wheelers exports touch a record high since FY12

  Two Wheelers export touched a record 2.8 million units, highest since 2011-12 as they registered a year-on-year (y-o-y) growth of 20.29%.

  Motorcycle exports played a huge role in the two wheeler exports touching such numbers as 88% of the vehicles exported were motorbikes. Scooters accounted for 11% of the total exports at 314,307 units. Moped exports though fell down 13.6%.

  Geography additions and enhancement of market shares have played a pivotal role in the export growths. Top players like Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) have also contributed to the increase in the volumes.

  Bajaj Auto exported 1.39 million units of motorcycles during the fiscal year making it the undisputed leader in the motorcycle category. Yamaha Motors exported the most in the scooter category as they saw an increase of 45.5% y-o-y growth.

  

  17 April 2018

• Two wheeler manufacturers struggle with these products

  Manufacturers of products like Honda Cliq, Bajaj V12, Hero Achiever 150,Honda Navi,Royal Enfield Continental GT, Suzuki Lets, Honda Unicorn and many more, struggle to push the products to its customers.

  More than 12 new launches that happened not very long ago have been struggling in sales amidst the intense competition in the two-wheeler market. There are many products by these manufacturers which are doing exceptionally well in sales numbers and the demand just continue to rise. But there are few products like mentioned above which are pulled out of showrooms due to its underperformance.All the vehicles that were pulled back belongs to the 110- 115cc category.But on the other hand to level off these losses, Scooters like, Suzuki Access, TVS Jupiter, TVS Wego, Honda Activa, Hero Pleasure, etc have been able to perform 5 times better for its respective manufacturers.

  

  16 April 2018

• Planning to buy a bike in next 3 months? Look out for these

  The pace with which the two-wheeler industry is marching is just amazing. It is expanding rapidly with new launches and upgrades on the old model which just makes it much harder for the buyers to choose one particular bike. If you are planning to buy the bike anytime soon in next three months, then its good to consider these options.

  The Royal Enfield twin bikes is something all bikers are waiting eagerly for and this is finally here. The Royal Enfield twin bike Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 is what your top choice should be if you are a biker. Both of them are powered with 650cc engines with parallel twin engines with fuel injections and 6 speed gearbox. The Interceptor is priced at Rs. 3 to 4 lakh and continental GT 650 will be priced higher than its other twin. TVS Apache RTR 180 is your ideal racer bike for the season and it is scheduled for early launch next month. BMW G310R is a toughest competitor to KTM 390 duke is what the makers predict on its launch. The other bikes that are scheduled for launch are BMW GS310, Benelli Imperiale 400,SWM Super Dual, UM Renegade Duty S, Suzuki  GSX - S750.

  

  16 April 2018

• Scooters stay ahead sales

  Well it looks like India runs on scooters after all!. The strong love for scooters has definitely upset the Bike manufacturers such as Bajaj Auto with company’s growth declining to 1.34 % with total two-wheeler sales at 19,74,577 units.

  The SIAM report released on Tuesday this week reports that, 67,19,911 scooters were sold in the first half of 2018 which is higher than the number of scooters sold in the first quarter of 2017 which records a growth of 19.09%.The Bajaj Auto however does not offer any scooters. The other players in the market like Honda, Hero and TVS motor have not been facing this much dip in sales numbers because they are covered to face these kind of changes in the demand and supply cycles. The reason being they offer not just one product which caters to one section of people, but multiple products which is targeted towards all categories of people. Even Hro MotoCorp is pushing its offerings in scooter segment with great deals and discounts and new launches. Many experts believe that scooters will dominate the market in few years leaving it difficult for bike manufacturers like Bajaj Auto.

  

  12 April 2018

• Royal Enfield to scale up their productions, invest Rs.800 crore in capex in FY19

  Motorbike giant Royal Enfield will invest Rs.800 crore as capital expenditure towards scaling up their productions in fiscal year 2019. The company also announced that they will also start working on the second phase of their Vallam Vadagal plant in Tamil Nadu.

  The new fiscal year will also see the motorbike company form fully owned subsidiaries in Thailand and Indonesia.

  Royal Enfield’s total capacity in India post the completion of second phase in Tamil Nadu will touch 9.5 lakh units.

  Siddhartha Lal, chief executive and managing director of Eicher Motors Ltd. said that the motorcycle company is expected to continue growing at a robust pace across all markets as demand for their new products has exceeded the supply.

  

  9 April 2018

• Pune Municipal Corporation new relief for victims of road accidents

  In the interest of recent rise in number of road accidents and the victims of these accidents, the Pune Municipal Corporation has launched a new two-wheeler insurance scheme named as  Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay accident insurance scheme. Under this scheme, tax payers residing under the limits of PMC, will get an motor insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs in case of death or permanent disability of the victim of the road accident.

  The scheme is restricted only for property and service tax payers and slum dwellers who pay tax regularly. For non-taxpayers, this scheme is not applicable. In case of death of the victim, Rs. 5 lakh will be given to the victim’s family. If the victim has suffered disability or any other serious injury, then compensation will be paid according the extent of the injury. This scheme is valid for the financial year 2018-19 post which the plan can be renewed. A special cell with officials has been organised where civilians can contact for further details about the plan.

  

  9 April 2018

• March sees Royal Enfield’s sales rise 27%

  The month of March turned out to be good for bike giant Royal Enfield as their sales rose 27% to 76,087 units.The financial year saw their sales end at 8,20,492 units compared to 6,66,490 in FY ending March 2017. The exports for the month of March 2018 grew at 20% to end at 1,878 units.

  Separately, Argentina, the second largest motorcycle market in Latin America has become the third country after Brazil and Colombia where Royal Enfield has made an entry. Grupo Simpa has been appointed as the official dealer-partner for Argentina.

  

  2 April 2018

• Honda introduces ABS on two of its premier bikes

  CBR 250R and CBR Hornet 160R, two of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s (HMSI) premium bikes will be equipped with Antilock Braking System (ABS).

  The decision to provide the bikes with ABS is a positive move but the facility is currently optional rather than mandatory.

  ABS equipped CBR 250R is priced at Rs.1,93,107 while the ABS fitted CBR Hornet 160R will cost Rs.90,175.

  

  2 April 2018

• Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X is here

  All the bikers who dreamt of owning a sporty looking sleek Royal Enfield bike, this model if definitely for you. The Royal Enfield launched all new version of Thunderbird variant in 350X and 500X.

  The looks and design of the new version are more appealing to the youth says the company. The new version have a complete blacked-out theme with bright fuel tanks to give it a different dimension. The contrast colour is also reflected in the other graphical designs on the body of the bike. The bike gets a new handle bar, and the remaining ergonomics is pretty much the same as the old version. The light handle bar in the new version is much lighter and it is easy to manage in the city roads.The new version of Thunderbird was one of the most awaited bike of the year and the wait is finally over. The bookings are already open across the country and run to the nearest Royal Enfield Showroom today. There are multiple colour options you can choose from so do not hesitate to experiment with the new bike. The Thunderbird 350X is priced at Rs.1,56,849 and Thunderbird 500X is priced at Rs.1,98,878.

  

  23 April 2018

• IRDAI to moderate third-party premium soon

  After a threat of strike by the transporters lobby, truck owners in specific where the have demanded the IRDAI to roll back the hikes in third-party premium, the IRDAI mau just do that.

  The third-party premium for all vehicles is likely to be revised from April 1 and there will be a moderate increase in the same. Every year, the IRDAI hikes the third-party premium using a pre-set formula which takes into account the engine capacity and the claims experience of that particular segment vehicle. The third-party premium for certain segments like trucks, or any other goods carrier vehicles will pay the highest premium because the claims from these vehicles in particular are high. And in insurance, terms, the higher your number of claims, the higher renewal premium amount. The officials of the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) have said that they are open to all the views from the stakeholders and will review the hikes only if necessary. If there is no hike in the premium, it will be huge loss to the insurance companies.

  

  30 March 2018

• Royal Enfield 650 twins will be launched in September

  The Royal Enfield company have already launched the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 in Australia to check the reliability, performance and customer response towards the bike. If there are any rooms for improvement the company wants to be ready with the rectification before it launched the twins in India.

  As per the Australian market, the Interceptor 650 has been priced at AUD 10,000 (Rs. 5 lakh) and AUD 10,400 (Rs. 5.24 lakh) for the Continental GT 650. But as already evident, the price range for Indian market at this rate is too high and there is a significant cost reduction as the manufacturing plant lys here. For the Indian market, the twins price range will start from Rs. 3 lakh. The customers can upgrade the bike with several optional accessories and the price will vary depending on your option. The twin bikes have an engine of 648cc and SOHC 4-valve unit. The engine has a 47 PS at 7,100 rpm and 52 Nm torque at 4,000 rpm. It is a 6 speed transmission with slip-assist clutch. The bike can provide around 20-25 kmpl mileage in real time usage.

  

  29 March 2018

• Accidents and two wheeler insurance policy go hand in hand

  There has been a significant rise in number of road accidents that have happened in last few months. And on top of the list, all metropolitan cities are named as the most dangerous roads to ride. But a two-wheeler insurance is just what you need in times like this.

  Riding a bike and going on long drives is thrill one has to experience. But sometimes these thrills are just what may cause the most painful incidents. With a valid bike insurance, you can always tackle the hurdles and damages that occur to the bike. In India, every hour 17 deaths occur due to road accidents and Chennai and Delhi are on top of the list. The report from the government shows that the number of road accidents have increased as every year passes by. Speed bumps and potholes kill 15 people everyday in the country. According to the official reports, Chennai has faced 7,486 road accident deaths, Delhi has faced 7,375 road accident deaths, Bengaluru has faced 5,323 road accident deaths, Indore has faced 5,143road accident deaths, Kolkata has faced 4,304 road accident deaths and Mumbai has faced 3,379 road accident deaths.

  

  28 March 2018

• Mojo’s engine platform to be used for Jawa bikes

  Jawa Bikes which belongs to Mahindra and Mahindra will make use of the Mojo’s 300cc engine platform. The Jawa bikes are likely to hit the road either in the end of 2018 or in early 2019.

  The engines will be adjusted to function differently for Jawa bikes but they will draw 300 cc of power from the same Mojo engine platform. The new Jawa bikes will be developed by Mahindra’s Classic Legends brand.

  

  27 March 2018

• Royal Enfield to launch their Interceptor 650 in India soon; spied testing done again

  Royal Enfield will launch their 650cc twins .i.e. Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 in India soon. In the meantime the motorbike was spied testing on road for performance and delivery ahead of its launch.

  The Interceptor 650 which has been jointly designed by Royal Enfield’s UK Technology Centre and the Chennai team. The motorbike has a four stroke, single overhead cam, air-cooled 648cc parallel-cylinder engine, which will churn out 47 bhp of power and 52 Nm of torque mated to a five-speed transmission. It is also fitted with a telescopic 41mm front fork at the front while a Twin coil-over shocks can be found at the rear. There is also a 320mm disc at front and a 240mm disc at rear which is supposed to take care of the braking system along with ABS. The 650 twins are expected to be launched in mid-2018 with the rumors rife that they might be launched in India by May 2018. The pre-bookings are expected to start around the same time in the country.

  

  26 March 2018

• Wear helmets to be safe

  The Madras High Court passed a rule in the 2015, that every bike rider should wear helmet to avoid any injury if there is an accident. Helmets are compulsory in Chennai and in most cities in India. The rule was passed after a significant rise in the number of accidents in the state. But still it is observed that majority of the riders neglect wearing helmets while riding a two-wheeler. The Chennai traffic police had booked cases on nearly 3.41 lakh riders for not wearing helmets despite making it a compulsory. The surprising number is that in the first quarter of the year the cases have already crossed 55,000. A senior police officer citing the concerns said that the majority of the people who die in accidents which is nearly 70% are the people who ride without a helmet.  And of these 90% suffer head injury. To study the root cause of this, the Chennai police department tied up with an NGO. The study is in progress and the results are yet to be furnished. But some of the medical officials say that in most of the cases, the death of a person is caused due to head injury caused at the time of accident.

  

  23 March 2018

• First all wheel drive bike using Maruti 800 engine

  It’s the first anywhere in the world, where a bike has been manufactured using a maruti 800 engine to give it an all wheel drive. The genius behind this model is young man by name Ruzbeh from Gujarat who is in his third-year of engineering. The bike is named as Hammerhead and it really is impressive.

  Hammerhead is a home-made motorcycle by Ruzbeh which has a 769cc engine pwer drawn by the Maruti 800 car engine. It transmits the power to both the wheels through a dual propeller and this unique characteristic makes it one of a kind  and can be extremely efficient in off-road section. But since it has a 769cc engine placed in front, it would definitely be very heavy to just ride on a normal road. The vehicle is built in a diamond shape and the extra frame adds rigidity and strength to it. It is a fourspeed forward transmission and has a reverse option too. The gear speed also gets ans overdrive feature.This creation by Ruzbeh has already grabbed the eyes of big bike manufacturers. A patent has also been registered. It has also won the best ‘macho bike’ award in 2017 on India Bike week.

  

  22 March 2018

• Bikes to look forward in March and April 2018

  All you bike enthusiasts, get ready to rock and roll because there are some exciting launches coming up that will blow you away.  From scooters to mount bikes to roadsters, 2018 is a hopeful year for all two wheeler manufacturers as it has something for everybody. Here are few launches to look forward to.

  The Royal Enfield is coming back stronger with ites twin launches Continental GT and Interceptor. Both of these bikes have an old world charm with vintage touch to its designs and looks. Interceptor was the first bike to feature a twin cylinder engine and it will be the most powerful bike yet from the company. Aprilia SR125 Storm is going to hit the scooter segment just like its name. It was showcased in Auto Expo in February and it is adventure tourer version of the previous. Aprilia SR 150 was sold like a hot cake in the market and this is expected to perform no less.The other two-wheelers that will be launched in these two months are Hero duet from Hero MotoCorp which is concentrated on building market for premium scooter market and Triumph Tiger. The bookings to these wheels will be open from April 2018.

  

  16 March 2018

• Auto sales for February ends in high!

  The February month sales came as a bit of surprise for the motorcycle manufacturers when the sales volume of motorcycles outnumbered the sales of scooters by 23% while usually it is the other way round. A per the reports, the Motorcycles sales growth was recorded at 26% and scooter at 24% in the month of february.

  According to the reports released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), has reported that the sales of domestic passenger vehicles like cars and utility vehicles and vans has grown by 7.77% which is lower that the cumulative growth of 8.04% during the same period last year. Nearly 80,254 utility vehicles were sold in February and the sales of car grew by 3.7%. Since in the start of the year, the two-wheeler segment especially the motorcycles sales have opened to such positive response, the SIAM is expecting the production to touch nearly 23 million units and sales crossing at least 20 million units. According to SIAM, the two-wheelers account to nearly 80% of the automobile industry growth and if its does better this year, it will have a direct impact on the whole sector.

  

  14 March 2018