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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Bhago Mobility has partnered Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Honda Power Pack Energy India to launch an electric last-mile rental service for Delhi Metro passengers.

The service, named BhaGoMo – iRide, has commenced operations at ITO Metro Station, marked as the first of six hub locations finalised with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

As per the understanding, passengers will now be able to rent Honda Activa e: scooters at Gate No 3 for hourly or daily durations. The verification will occur through the Bhago app via DigiLocker, while vehicles use swappable batteries compatible with the Honda e:Swap network, which operates across 90 stations and 202 battery exchangers in Delhi NCR.

The partnership combines vehicle supply from Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, battery swapping infrastructure from Honda Power Pack Energy India, and digital platform management from Bhago Mobility. The companies plan to expand the service model to additional metro networks across Indian cities.

Aditya Goyal, Founder, Bhago Mobility, said, “The ITO launch is a beginning. Together, Bhago and its partners intend to replicate the metro-hub model across the country – taking the same combination of metro-station convenience, Honda-engineered vehicles, battery swapping and AI-powered operations to metro networks and transit hubs in cities across India. The goal is simple: wherever mass transit moves people, an easy, convenient, comfortable, reliable and safe electric last-mile ride should be waiting at the gate. Bhago itself is inspired by Soichiro Honda’s philosophy Yume no Chikara – the Power of Dreams – and Sapno Ki Sawari, the Ride of Dreams, is our expression of it: world-class Japanese engineering, India’s world-class metro, and a platform that keeps the city Always On”

Mutsuo Usui, Director of Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “This collaboration brings together shared strengths to make electric last-mile mobility more practical and convenient for everyday commuters. It is a meaningful step towards addressing evolving urban mobility needs,”

Takuya Taniguchi, President & CEO, Honda Power Pack Energy India, said, "Battery swapping has already proven itself for commercial EV fleets – now, with BhaGoMo – iRide, we're bringing that same Honda e:Swap convenience to Delhi's daily commuters. This launch at ITO is the first step in a partnership that extends the ease of Delhi Metro travel all the way to the commuter's final destination."

Dr Amit Kumar Jain, Director of Operations & Services at DMRC, said, “DMRC is committed to strengthening last-mile connectivity through safe, convenient and eco-friendly mobility solutions. The iRide initiative by BhaGoMo will offer commuters a sustainable last-mile connectivity option while contributing to reducing pollution. We welcome this initiative and look forward to extending such eco-friendly solutions to more metro stations.”

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has announced the pricing for the ADV160 and Rebel 300 models, marking the initial releases from a 10-product portfolio introduced in July 2026.

The Honda ADV160 is priced at INR 170,000 ex-showroom Bengaluru, and will be available through Honda RedWing and BigWing dealerships.

The ADV160 is powered by a 156.93cc liquid-cooled engine using FlexTech technology; the model supports fuel blends up to E85 fuel. It features a 27-litre under-seat storage area, a TFT display with Honda RoadSync turn-by-turn navigation, Honda Selectable Torque Control and front & rear disc brakes with single-channel ABS.

The Honda Rebel 300 costs INR 222,000 for the Standard variant and INR 262,000 for the E-Clutch variant ex-showroom Bengaluru. Manufactured in India, the motorcycle will sell through Honda BigWing dealerships. It is powered by a 286cc liquid-cooled engine, LED projector headlamp, TFT instrument screen with Honda RoadSync navigation and disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS.

The models can be reserved for INR 5,000 through the Honda website and authorised dealerships, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-October 2026.

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TVS Motor Company has launched the TVS iQube MillionR special edition to mark reaching one million customers for its electric scooter model.

The special edition is built on the 3.5 kWh variant of the TVS iQube, which offers an IDC range of 145 kilometres. The model features an Aurora Green Dual Tone finish, revised graphics, seat upholstery and dedicated badging.

The company has increased the storage capacity from 32 litres to 35.5 litres through the addition of a front utility storage compartment alongside a USB Type-C charging port. The e-scooter comes with 118 connected technology functions.

The TVS iQube MillionR Special Edition is priced at INR 140,138 ex-showroom Karnataka. Pricing for the standard TVS iQube range begins at INR 111,310, with Battery-as-a-Service options starting at INR 59,999.

Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice-President – Head Commuter & EV Business and Head Corporate Brand & Media, TVS Motor Company, said, “TVS Motor has played a significant role in the scooterisation of India. Over the years, we have remained focused on creating mobility solutions that move Indian families forward, irrespective of the drivetrain, with a commitment to relevance, reliability and best-in-class quality. The 9 million achievement of TVS Jupiter and the one million milestone of TVS iQube mark significant chapters in this journey, reinforcing our focus on evolving with the needs of Indian families. In 2016, TVS Jupiter celebrated reaching one million customers with the MillionR Edition. Today, TVS iQube joins this legacy with its own MillionR Edition as its community reaches one million. I thank every customer who has placed their trust in TVS iQube. Their confidence reflects the progress electric mobility has made in India and inspires us to keep moving families forward.”

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has introduced the new Pulsar 150 and Pulsar 125 models with mechanical and technological updates to its most popular range.

The new Pulsar 150 carries an introductory price of INR 115,233 ex-showroom Delhi, while the Pulsar 125 is priced at INR 92,900.

First launched in 2001, the Pulsar line has recorded sales exceeding 20 million units across 40 countries over 25 years. The updated models retain the original chassis profile and fuel tank design while incorporating engineering changes to the engine, transmission, frame and suspension systems.

The new Pulsar 150 features a 149.5cc engine, which churns out 14 PS at 8,500 rpm and 13.7 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. The Pulsar 125 contains a 124.58cc engine delivering 12 PS at 8,000 rpm and 11 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. Both models feature revised gear ratios to improve acceleration, a diamond-type frame using the engine as a structural member and a nitrogen-charged emulsion monoshock unit.

Additional updates include a 5-inch TFT display with navigation mirroring, digital document storage, call alerts and music management functions. The new Pulsar introduce three riding modes (Road, Rain and Sport), low-speed traffic assist technology, LED headlamps and an Integrated Starter Generator with start-stop functionality on top variants to reduce fuel consumption.

Sarang Kanade, Chief Business Officer – Two-wheeler Business Unit, Bajaj Auto, said, “For over 25 years, Pulsar has been more than just a motorcycle. It has been the first taste of performance for generations of riders – the muscular tank, the unmistakable grunt, the rush of acceleration and the attitude that made it impossible to ignore. Pulsar has always been ‘Definitely Daring’, and that spirit remains at the heart of the brand. With the new Pulsar 150 and Pulsar 125, we have retained everything that makes Pulsar iconic while reimagining what lies beneath it. The result is a new generation of Pulsars that feels familiar in all the right ways, but is built for the riders of today.”

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