Two-wheeler Sales Performance In November 2024

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) dispatched 4,72,749 units in November 2024. Of these, 4,32,888 units accounted for domestic sales, an increase of three percent when compared to the sale of 4,20,677 vehicles in November 2023. The company exported 39,861 units in the respective month. 
Royal Enfield sold 72,236 units in the domestic market in India in November 2024 marking a decrease of four percent when compared to the sale of 75,137 vehicles in November 2023. The two-wheeler major exported 10,021 units in November, up 96 percent as compared to the export of 5,114 vehicles in November 2023. 
Hero MotoCorp sold 459,805 units in November 2024 marking a 6.36 percent decrease when compared to the sale of 491,050 vehicles in November 2023. Domestic sales in November 2024 were 439,777 vehicles, down 7.66 percent when compared to the sale of 476, 286 units in November 2023. Exports saw a growth of 35.65 percent increase with 20,028 units dispatched in comparison to 14,764 units dispatched in November 2023. 
At 4,21,640 units in November 2024, Bajaj Auto has announced a five percent increase in total sales year-on-year. In the domestic market, the company saw a sales decline of seven percent at 2,40,854 units. In November 2023, it sold 2,57,744 vehicles. 
At 1,80,786 units, the two-wheeler major witnessed a 24 percent rise in exports in November 2024. In November 2023, it exported 1,45,259 vehicles. 
Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd achieved a total sale of 94,370 vehicles in November 2024, up eight percent when compared to the sale of 87,096 units in November 2023. 
The domestic sale in November 2024 stood at 78,333 units, up seven percent when compared to the sale of 73,135 units in November 2023. Exports grew 15 percent at 16,037 units in November 2024 as compared to 13,961 units in November 2023. 
TVS Motor Company registered a total sale of 401,250 units in November 2024, an increase of 10 percent when compared to the sale of 364,231 units in November 2023. Of these, 392,473 two-wheelers were sold in November 2024 respectively, marking a 12 percent increase in two-wheelers with the sale of 352,103 units in November 2023. In November 2024, 8,777 three-wheelers were sold marking a modest decline when compared to the sale of 12,128 units in November 2023. 
In the domestic market, the two-wheeler business of TVS Motor Company witnessed a four percent growth with the sale of 305,323 units. In November 2023, the company sold 287,017 units.  The motorcycle category saw a growth of four percent with the sale of 189,247 vehicles as compared to the sale of 172,836 units in November 2023. Scooter witnessed a growth of 22 percent with the sale of 165,535 units in November 2024 as compared to the sale of 135,749 vehicles in November 2023. 
The company recorded a 57 percent growth in electric vehicles with a sale of 26,292 units in November 2024 as compared to the sale of 16,782 vehicles in November 2023. The iQube e-scooter has been a big success, steadily closing the gap with e-scooter market leader Ola Electric’s offerings in the same category.
TVS Motor Company exported 93,755 units in November, clocking a growth of 25 percent year on year when compared with the sale of 75,204 units in November 2023. 
 

NHAI And Vertis Infrastructure Deploy Truck Mounted Attenuators For Highway Safety

Vertis

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Vertis Infrastructure Trust have introduced Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMAs) to improve safety in highway work zones. The technology is designed to protect road workers and motorists in high-speed traffic environments.

Work zones currently represent high-risk areas on the Indian road network due to vehicle speeds and limited protective buffering. TMAs serve as a standard safety solution in the US and Europe and are now being scaled across Indian national highway projects.

A truck-mounted attenuator is an impact-absorbing crash cushion fitted to the rear of service vehicles. Its primary functions include:

  • Energy Absorption: In a rear-end collision, the unit absorbs the kinetic energy of the impacting vehicle.
  • Controlled Deceleration: The system brings the vehicle to a halt in a manner that reduces the risk of fatal injuries to occupants and workers.
  • Track Record: Since initial testing on Indian roads in 2021, the technology has been credited with saving more than 100 lives.

The current rollout consists of 20 TMAs. Eight units were inaugurated during the launch event, which included a live demonstration and technical walkthrough. The remaining 12 units are scheduled for delivery within the next ten days.

Ankit Yadav, NHAI, said, “NHAI aims to move towards zero-fatality corridors across national highways. The adoption of technologies such as Truck Mounted Attenuators plays a critical role in improving work-zone safety and reducing avoidable loss of life.”

Dr. Zafar Khan, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Vertis Infrastructure Trust, said, “Our effort has always been to bring practical, globally proven safety solutions to Indian roads. Reaching the TMA stage is about protecting people working in some of the most vulnerable conditions on highways.”

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to integrate safety technology into India's infrastructure growth, prioritising the reduction of accidents in active construction and maintenance zones.

Maruti Suzuki Design Challenge

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has completed its first Design Challenge, a competition involving more than 400 students from 70 design institutes. Participants were tasked with designing a compact car, focusing on mobility solutions for the Indian market.

Teams from the MIT Institute of Design (Pune), the Association of Designers of India at VIT (Vellore) and the Strate School of Design (Bengaluru) secured the top three positions. The winning teams received cash prizes and six-month internships with the Maruti Suzuki design department.

The competition consisted of four evaluation rounds. The initiative is intended to provide students with exposure to the automotive industry and professional design environments.

The top 3 teams were awarded internships to work alongside company designers on future models. The next 7 teams received gift vouchers and potential internship opportunities pending further assessment. The challenge included students from both Indian and global design institutions.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “India is a land of immense talent and innovation, with creativity thriving across every field. At Maruti Suzuki, we were already engaging with young start-ups to find mobility solutions. With the Maruti Suzuki Design Challenge, we expanded our open innovation efforts to provide a suitable platform to young designers where they gain real-world industry experience in automobile design. As design plays a pivotal role in shaping customers’ decision-making, it is vital to engage with young minds who bring fresh perspectives and challenge conventional thinking. The Maruti Suzuki Design Challenge reflects our commitment to cultivate automotive design talent and co-create future-ready mobility solutions with young India.”

The project forms part of the company's ‘open innovation’ strategy, seeking to integrate external perspectives into its vehicle development process.

Ola Electric Receives INR 3.66 Billion In PLI-Auto Incentive For FY2025

Ola Electric

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has received a sanction order from the Ministry of Heavy Industries for incentives totalling INR 3.66 billion. The payment is granted under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components for FY2024-25.

The incentive relates to the Determined Sales Value for the period and will be disbursed through IFCI, the financial institution appointed by the government for the scheme.

The PLI-Auto Scheme is an initiative by the Government of India designed to increase domestic manufacturing and the adoption of advanced automotive technologies. Ola Electric’s eligibility for the claim is based on its vertical integration and localisation of electric vehicle (EV) components.

“The sanction of INR 3.66 billion under the PLI-Auto Scheme is a strong endorsement of Ola Electric’s manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to building world-class EV technology in India. This incentive recognises our sustained efforts in scaling domestic production, deepening localisation, and driving innovation across the electric mobility value chain. We remain committed to supporting the Government of India’s vision of making India a global hub for advanced automotive manufacturing and clean mobility,” said the company in a statement.

bp To Sell 65% Stake In Castrol To Stonepeak For $10.1 Billion

Castrol

UK-based energy major bp has reached an agreement to sell its 65 percent shareholding in Castrol to investment firm Stonepeak at an enterprise value of USD 10.1 billion. The deal follows a strategic review of the lubricants business and is expected to result in net proceeds for bp of approximately USD 6 billion.

The transaction includes USD 0.8 billion as a pre-payment of future dividend income on bp’s retained 35 percent stake. The valuation represents an enterprise value to EBITDA ratio of approximately 8.6x. Following the sale, a new joint venture will be formed with Stonepeak holding the majority interest and bp retaining 35 percent.

The sale is a component of bp's USD 20 billion divestment programme. To date, the company has announced or completed divestments totalling USD 11 billion.

Proceeds from the Castrol transaction will be used to reduce bp’s net debt, which stood at USD 26.1 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2025. The company aims to reach a net debt target of USD 14–18 billion by the end of 2027. bp has a two-year lock-up period on its remaining 35 percent stake, after which it has the option to sell.

Carol Howle, interim CEO, bp, said, “Today’s announcement is a very good outcome for all stakeholders. We concluded a thorough strategic review of Castrol, that generated extensive interest and resulted in the sale of a majority interest to Stonepeak. The transaction allows us to realise value for our shareholders, generating significant proceeds while continuing to benefit from Castrol’s strong growth momentum. And with this, we have now completed or announced over half of our targeted USD 20bn divestment programme, with proceeds to significantly strengthen bp’s balance sheet. The sale marks an important milestone in the ongoing delivery of our reset strategy. We are reducing complexity, focusing the downstream on our leading integrated businesses, and accelerating delivery of our plan. And we are doing so with increasing intensity – with a continued focus on growing cash flow and returns and delivering value for our shareholders.”

Anthony Borreca, Senior Managing Director, Stonepeak, said, “Lubricants are a mission-critical product, which are essential to the safe and efficient functioning of virtually every vehicle, machine, and industrial process in the world. Castrol’s 126-year heritage has created a leading market position, an iconic brand, and a portfolio of differentiated products that deliver meaningful value to its customers. We are excited to work alongside Castrol’s talented employees, coupled with bp’s continued guidance as a minority interest holder, as we support the business’s continued growth.”

The transaction is expected to complete by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. bp stated that the move allows the company to simplify its portfolio and focus its downstream operations on integrated businesses.