Q: India’s two-wheeler market is highly competitive and dominated by commuter two-wheelers. How will Benelli field its products?

Jhabakh: The Indian two-wheeler market is the largest in the world as we speak. Barring the slowdown in the last one year, it is one of the growing markets at a high pace. So, I believe once we get through the tough period, we will go back to the heyday’s growth numbers.

Definitely, when the market size is big and so much at stake, one can expect a lot of competition around, which is what we see in India. Earlier the Indian two-wheeler market was completely dominated by commuter bikes, but in recent years, we are witnessing the emergence of the premium and mid-premium segments. Though the numbers are small, the segments are growing very strongly over the last few years.

Our products and services bring a different value proposition to the Indian market. Benelli is a fairly young brand in India compared to our peers, but we are confident about our products. We are currently offering products in the range between 250cc to 600cc, which is just above the commuter segment that is the150-200cc space. With our current product portfolio, we cater to different customers from the cruising, adventure, sports segments and more. So that way, we have a lot of depth in our portfolio and focus on value for money products.

Q: What consumer-centric initiatives are you planning to introduce to support the user’s requirement and enhance Benelli’s brand image?

Jhabakh: Benelli has been in India for the last two years only and sold over 5,000 units. As of now, we 35 dealers across the country. In that sense, we have been picking up a lot of recognition and becoming one of India’s fastest-growing brands.

We aim at continuing the growth with the launch of new products in 2021. The company will also increase our dealership network and retail presence across the country. The company targets to have 60 outlets by March and, from there on, we will be adding approximately two dealers every month in our network. So, the intention is to continue growing organically. With this, the brand will reach to more people and geographics increasing the overall awareness.

Apart from this, Benelli will also be focusing on riding activities to enhance brand awareness. Going forward, based on how situation permits, we have aggressive plans for different types of riding activities such as day, night and weeklong rides.

Q: How is Benelli managing the spare part supplies as many companies face issues on importing parts, especially from China?

Jhabakh: Benelli imports spare parts from multiple countries and locally. Of course, due to lockdown, there was a little bit of concern on the supply chain side.

When we started two years ago, we did not have a single local supplier. Today, we have around 20-25 local suppliers and are currently in talks with many suppliers. We aim to increase the local content in our products and reduce dependency on imports without compromising quality.

Q: What are the plans for localisation? What upgrades are expected in the production lines to increase the production capacity?

Jhabakh: Localising the content and getting Indian suppliers on board have always been our aim as it also safeguards us from global shocks, like the one we just faced. We are already working with about over 20 suppliers in India, primarily for the Imperiale 400, because that is the product which has the maximum volume for us in our portfolio.

We were in the discussions with many suppliers, but we had to halt the talks due to the lockdown. When we procure certain safety products, like brakes, abs, the process of testing can take as long as nine months to one year and requires extensive testing before we can change to a new supplier.

On investments and up-gradation, we utilised the lockdown period to upgrade our capacity at the plant. We now have a capacity of 30,000 units a year.

Q: In India, dealers make less than one percent profit in the business. How are you taking new dealers onboard and on which cities Benelli will focus?

Jhabakh: Benelli takes dealerships and their profitability very seriously. We keep a good balance between the investments that somebody makes into the business and returns. We have been through the closure of four to five months and still managed to hold on to all the dealers in our network. In fact, we have added dealers to our network through digital launches. So, people continued to showcase their confidence towards the brand, the products, and the company’s future strategy.

We will expand on pan India for the dealership, having a major focus on the north and west India. We already have a good presence in the south in terms of dealerships.

Q: Common issue plaguing the premium two-wheeler industry is service reliability. How does the company plan on winning customer confidence with service?

Jhabakh: We also don’t want our customers to face after-sales or service issues. If you buy an Imperiale today, you get a three-year warranty along with two years of free service. Apart from that, we have roadside assistance, AMC and pick and drop facilities. We also keep a smooth supply of service products focusing on our customers’ after-sales experience, so that at any given point of time, they do not have to worry about a part failure.

Since our bikes are specialised, it requires specialised training to service them. We have an internal training programme and a training facility that train all our dealership staff, especially for new dealerships or new products. In fact, during the lockdown, we converted all our training into e-training modules. We have created video modules which have helped us to save time and money.

We also have a concept called the Flying Doctor, where if a dealership is facing a problem which is not getting resolved for two or three days by the dealership staff, then highly technically trained personnel will be deployed to the dealership to resolve the problem. We are also now coming up with DIY videos and DIY sessions at our dealerships across the country where we invite customers to come down and learn how to do basic maintenance on their bike and share tips to improve the bike’s life the ride quality.

Q: At present, Benelli has only one model Imperiale 400 complying with BS-VI emission norms. Tell us about your plans to upgrade the other models to the new norms?

Jhabakh: Initially, the plan was to launch the BS-VI Imperiale in April 2020 and just before the festival, we wanted to upgrade the rest of the portfolio. But we had to shelve our plans due to COVID. We were able to introduce the BS-VI bike only in August post which we did not want to bring in any other bikes towards the end of the year. So that’s why we decided, from January 2021, we will start launching the rest of our BS-VI portfolio. Between January and August, we will be launching five to six new models in BS-VI. Initially, we plan to bring back the 500cc category. So, you will have the TRK and Leoncino come back, after that we will move on to the sub 500cc category.

We are planning to expand our 250cc portfolios. We launched the Leoncino 250 last year and strongly consider bringing other variants in the 250cc range.

Q: Would you be introducing electric bikes in India? Elaborate.

Jhabakh: Benelli, as part of the global portfolio, has e-bikes in certain countries. We have been closely monitoring the e-bike market in India. I think the Government of India has also been putting a very strong push for e-bikes in India. So, in 2021 we will focus on reintroducing our BS-VI portfolio and based on how the e-bike market develops and matures, we will plan for it later.

Q: How important is digitalisation for Benelli?

Jhabakh: Digitalisation has always been important. All the companies are moving towards being more digital, and the pandemic has only uplifted the pace for digitalisation. The entire buying experience has a couple of steps. At first, people do their research on the products, prices, finance and comparisons online. We have been investing a lot of our time and money in the digitalisation. We are trying to make information available to consumers on platforms that they are accessing. In fact, when we had launched the Imperiale 400, we made bookings available online.

In the second step, customers want to complete the transaction in an offline mode where they would like to come down to the store and get a feel of the bike, brand and environment before making the final decision and that is where our dealer network becomes very important. I do not see the entire buying process moving digitally, but a large part of the information process that goes into the buying decision will definitely move to digital. We will keep enhancing connected technologies in our products.

Q: Do you have any plans to set up a manufacturing facility?

Jhabakh: To have a manufacturing facility, it requires large investment and sales numbers for it to be viable. In 2019, we grew 100 percent compared to a year ago. Despite the lockdowns, we clocked a growth in 2020. For 2021, we target to grow by 100 percent. So, our idea is to continue improving sales numbers with the increasing level of the localised content. Once we reach a certain number sales per month, then there is viability to have a manufacturing plant.

Q: With complete localisation, by how much do you expect the overall price to come down?

Jhabakh: It is a difficult question to answer because localisation happens over time. Localisation needs investments and it is not about just replacing an outsider supplier with a local one. So, the answer is not that straightforward that the price will drop by this percentage. Localisation and price drop go hand in hand. The more you localise, the more the price will come down.

Q: What are the challenges in the business?

Jhabakh: I think more of the recent challenges have been with the lockdown and the lockdown’s subsequent opening. We import parts from many countries globally and because of the different rules in each country and states within the country, there has been a huge disruption in the global supply chain.

Also, the global restart has not been very kind. Freight expenses have shot up through the roof and the container availability has become very difficult. Parts that were taking 25 to 30 days transit time are now taking 45 to 60 days of transit time. But we see this as restarting issue and every week it is getting slightly better. We are hoping that maybe by February or March the market should stabilise. Also, after the festival season, many people have started buying again, be it bikes or cars or electronics or cloths. So, consumer spending capability is now slowly beginning to come back. If we continue in this format, and if there are no more shocks in the market, I think many of these challenges will go away. (MT)

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Goa will host Motoverse 2025, an annual moto-culture festival, from November 21–23, 2025. The event is a gathering for riders, enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Motoverse 2025 will feature custom motorcycle builds and new innovations, including the Flying Flea and the Himalayan Electric test bed. The festival plans to debut new products and initiatives. A structured club championship will be introduced for the Dirt Track events. The Art of Motorcycling will conclude with a finale and the Motoreel stage will host industry figures and adventurers.

The festival will incorporate a split-stage music format. The Main Stage will feature acts like Hanumankind, The Yellow Diary and Parvaaz. The lineup includes a collaboration between Kutle Khan and Karsh Kale. The festival also announced its first international electronic music act. The Hilltop Stage will highlight a new generation of independent artists.

A new concept, Motohub, will provide a dedicated space for riders to connect. It will feature film screenings and interactive zones. The event will also offer group registration incentives for riding crews to promote community participation. Motoverse 2025 will conclude with an awards ceremony recognizing achievements within the motorcycling community.

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Hero MotoCorp has launched the all-new Glamour X 125, positioning it as India’s ‘most futuristic’ 125cc motorcycle at prices starting INR 89,999 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Drum brake variant and INR 99,999 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Disc brake variant.

The company said the launch of Glamour X follows the success of the Xtreme 125R, which now features several first-in-segment innovations, including the world’s first Low Battery Kick Startability, powered by the new AERA (Advanced Electronic Ride Assist) Tech. The bike also introduces a Ride-by-Wire system for precise throttle control, Cruise Control for relaxed long-distance riding, and three distinct ride modes – Eco, Road and Power. Additionally, a Panic Brake Alert system enhances safety by warning trailing vehicles during emergency stops.

From a design perspective, the Glamour X 125 has a muscular stance with sharp lines and a signature 'H' full LED lighting package. The advanced Multi-Colour LCD instrument cluster includes Bluetooth connectivity, Turn-by-Turn Navigation and a gear position advisory.

Powering the motorcycle is the new Sprint-EBT engine, which produces 11.4 BHP at 8250 RPM. This engine is designed for a combination of performance, refinement, and fuel efficiency, featuring a silent cam chain and a balancer shaft to minimise noise and vibration. The bike also offers a comfortable riding position with a wide handlebar, enhanced pillion comfort, and a USB charging port.

Ashutosh Varma, Chief Business Officer, Hero MotoCorp’s India Business Unit, said, “The 125cc segment continues to be a growth engine for the motorcycle industry, attracting both the aspirational first-time buyers and value-conscious upgraders. While the Xtreme 125R leads in performance and the Super Splendor in fuel efficiency; the new Glamour X introduces innovative technology, first-in-segment features, and a bold new striking design. This strategy expands the brand’s reach across various sub-segments; boosting volumes and market share while further strengthening the company’s leadership.”

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Bajaj Auto marked India's 79th Independence Day with 'The Great Indian Ride', an event that brought together Chetak riders for a cultural parade in Bengaluru on 16 August 2025. The ride was a celebration of patriotism and heritage, uniting generations of riders.

More than just a scooter rally, the company stated that 'The Great Indian Ride' was a tribute to the values that have shaped both India's progress and the Chetak's legacy of innovation. A diverse group of riders, including Chetak owners, brand friends and influencers, rode through historic routes like MG Road and Netaji Road, making stops at national landmarks such as Freedom Park. The riders were dressed in traditional Indian attire with tri-colour motifs, bringing the city to life.

The ride concluded with a memorable finale. All the Chetaks were parked to form the number '79', and the national flag was hoisted, creating a striking visual from a bird's eye view. The event established the Chetak as a cultural movement rooted in Indian values, rather than just a product. It was designed to be visually iconic and emotionally resonant, redefining the role of scooters in Indian mobility by associating them with pride and national identity.

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India Yamaha Motor, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has updated its 125cc Fi Hybrid scooter range with new features and colour options.

The company’s hybrid scooter lineup now features the ‘Enhanced Power Assist’ function, which delivers high torque, stronger acceleration and performance. Powered by a high-performance battery, the function allows users to squeeze more power from the scooter, which will be useful when starting from standstill, carrying loads or climbing inclines. The scooters continue to be equipped with the Smart Motor Generator (SMG) technology, Silent Start and Stop & Start System (SSS) tech.

Furthermore, the Fascino S scooter now features a Colour TFT Instrument Cluster equipped with Turn-by-Turn (TBT) Navigation, using smartphone connectivity through the Y-Connect app. It is also integrated with Google Maps to support Turn-by-Turn (TBT) navigation.

In terms of colour options, the Fascino S 125 Fi Hybrid, is now available in Matte Grey colour option, while the disc-brake variant gets Metallic Light Green and drum-brake variant gets Metallic White options. Alongside, the RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid Street Rally is offered in a Matte Grey Metallic hue, and the RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid disc variant features a Silver White Cocktail shade.

Itaru Otani, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group, said, “Yamaha’s 125cc Hybrid scooter range has consistently delighted customers with its dynamic styling, superior comfort, and fuel-efficient performance. The introduction of the new ‘Enhanced Power Assist’ function marks another step forward in enhancing everyday riding convenience and instilling greater confidence among commuters.”

“Further elevating the appeal, the launch of new colour variants brings a refreshing vibrancy to the entire scooter lineup. These updates are a direct reflection of the insightful feedback received from customers through our various engagement platforms. We are confident that these thoughtful upgrades will resonate strongly with our customers and continue to strengthen Yamaha’s presence in the 125cc scooter segment,” he said.

The scooters continue to be powered by Yamaha’s air-cooled, fuel-injected (FI) and 125cc Blue Core Hybrid engine. The Fascino S and RayZR Street Rally variants additionally offer the Answer Back feature and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL). 

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