Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, Hero MotoCorp, has taken the lead position at the ongoing Rallye du Maroc 2024 with an impressive performance in Stage 1. Hero team pilot Ross Branch emerged as the fastest rider of the stage.

Riders Ross Branch, Sebastian Buhler and Nacho Cornejo, who were competing in the premier Rally GP Class, finished the first stage in 1st, 6th and 8th place, respectively. In the overall Rally GP Class standings, they are currently ranked 1st, 6th and 9th. Branch had the advantage of starting 11th for Stage 1 after placing second in the Prologue, which he capitalised by finishing first by a 48-second cushion over his closest rival. Cornejo started the stage today and made a determined effort to go cautiously across the incredibly challenging terrain, reaching the finish line without suffering any significant errors.

The first complete Stage of the 2024 edition included 180 km of timed sections and an additional 200 km of liaisons. The event organisers had to make last-minute changes to the race strategy yesterday when floods caused delays in the cars' arrival at the bivouac in Zagora. Participants in Stage 1 were dispatched on the Stage 2 course, although with a shorter mileage and later start times. However, this circuit around Zagora turned out to be one of the most difficult stages that Maroc has experienced recently. On rocky, uneven paths badly harmed by the rains, the day began with dangerous pathways that lay ahead, with much of the original routes swept away. In the last stretch, where visible, rolling trails guided the way to the finish line, the riders finally found some solace after risking their journey across narrow dunes.

In Stage 2, the participants will return to the original course planned for Stage 1. This second loop around Zagora will be one of the longest specialities in this year, spanning 314 km in the Sahara and an additional 158 kilometres in road sections.

Rallye du Maroc is the fifth and final round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2024. Since the second race of this season, Branch has held the top place in the standings chart, and this impressive perfoemance in the Maroc Rally has increased his chances of winning the World Championship title.

Branch said, "I’m happy to have finished Stage 1 with a good result. It was a really tough one – definitely one of the most challenging stages I’ve ever ridden at Rallye Du Maroc! The tracks were really beaten up and washed away from yesterday’s rains, but I managed to pull through. Nacho did an amazing job opening the track; I can only imagine how much more difficult it would have been for him. Opening the Stage tomorrow will be a mammoth task, but we’re pushing forward with confidence."

Buhler said, "It was a very difficult Stage – perhaps one of the hardest I’ve ever ridden here at Maroc. The terrain was full of rocks and rivers, making it challenging to manoeuvre. I tried to maintain a good pace, but it wasn’t easy – every time I went full on the gas, I seemed to be hitting something. I’m glad to have finished well, and I hope tomorrow will be a bit smoother."

Cornejo said, "Stage 1 is complete, and it was very rough, thanks to the rains from yesterday. I did my best opening the Stage, and lost a few minutes here and there. But overall, I’m happy with my focus and navigation. Tomorrow is a new day, so we’ll keep pushing and doing our best – one day at a time."

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, recorded overall monthly sales of 142,985 units in July 2026, marking a 26 percent YoY growth, as compared to 113,600 units last year.

In the domestic market, the company sold 123,216 units, up 28 percent YoY, as compared to 96,029 units last year. Exports came at 19,769 units, marking a 13 percent increase over 17,571 units sold a year ago.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “July 2026 has been a landmark month for Suzuki Motorcycle India, with our sales touching an all-time high of 142,000 units. Every vehicle sold represents a customer placing their trust in our brand. We deeply value that trust and remain committed to enhancing every stage of their ownership journey, from purchase to after-sales service. We thank our customers, dealer partners and suppliers for their continued support and confidence in Suzuki.”

In addition to vehicle dispatches, spare parts revenue reached INR 10.29 billion in July, representing a 23 percent YoY growth. Last month, the company conducted customer activation programs, including the GIXXER Pit Stop event across Prayagraj, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru for test rides, and an Access Mileage Contest in Hisar focused on fuel efficiency evaluations.

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Hero MotoCorp, one of the leading manufacturers of scooters and motorcycles, has reported its wholesale sales for July 2026.

The company sold a total of 533,416 units last month, representing a 19 percent YoY, as compared to 449,755 units last year.

In the domestic market, the company sold 478,689 units, a 19 percent YoY growth, compared to 401,171 units last July. Sales were driven across motorcycle models including the Splendor, Passion, Glamour X and Super Splendor XTEC 2.0. Scooter segment volumes were led by the Destini and Xoom product lines, supported by a marketing campaign for the Destini model.

The emerging mobility division, VIDA, dispatched 22,714 electric vehicle units in July 2026. The brand introduced its products to Nepal, marking its entry into that market, alongside revealing a revised brand identity, VOOM, and introducing a 4.4 kWh battery variant.

Export volumes came at 32,013 units, supported by entry into Ecuador and Germany market. The establishment of commercial operations in Germany marks the company's 53rd international market.

In manufacturing operations, Hero MotoCorp initiated construction of its second Global Parts Center in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The facility will manage domestic and export spare parts supply operations. The company is also expanding production capacity at its Tirupati manufacturing plant, which handles assembly for its electric vehicle portfolio, alongside maintain investments in Ather Energy and related battery infrastructure.

By product category, motorcycle dispatches totalled 468,565 units in July 2026 compared to 400,615 units in July 2025. Scooter dispatches reached 64,851 units against 49,140 units in the prior-year period.

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Royal Enfield, one of the leading mid-sized motorcycle manufacturers, has reported its wholesales for July 2026.

The company sold a total of 118,232 units last month, marking a 34 percent YoY increase, compared to 88,045 units sold last year.

Domestic sales accounted for 105,317 units, representing a 38 percent increase from 76,254 units in July 2025. Export volumes reached 12,915 units, up 10 percent from 11,791 units a year ago.

B Govindarajan, Managing Director, Eicher Motors and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Enfield, said, “July was another strong month for us, marked by steady performance in our core motorcycle portfolio and an extremely encouraging response to our first electric motorcycle, the Flying Flea C6. To meet the rising interest and ensure seamless support for FF.C6, we are adding new Flying Flea retail sales and service outlets in Bengaluru. Expanding our community initiatives, we concluded the 22nd edition of the Himalayan Odyssey and hosted the global drop of the Limited-Edition Shotgun 650 x Rough Crafts, which sold out in just three minutes in India. To power the next phase of our growth, we are proceeding with Phase I of our new greenfield facility in Andhra Pradesh, a strategic investment designed to build capacity for the long-term. As we head into the festive months ahead, we are well on track to maintain our momentum.”

The company is progressing with construction of Phase I at its manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh to expand long-term production capacity ahead of the upcoming festive period.

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), one of the leading manufacturers of two-wheelers in the country, has announced its wholesale figures for July 2026.

The company sold a total of 542,934 units last month, which was 5 percent higher YoY, as compared to 515,378 units last year.

In the domestic market, the company sold 476,436 two-wheelers, a flat growth of 2 percent YoY, as compared to 466,331 units sold last year.

On the export front, sales grew 35 percent YoY at 66,498 units.

Interestingly, the Japanese automaker is gearing up for one of its biggest-ever product offensives with a slew of launches across segments. It was just recently that the company showcased 10 new products that it aims to introduce in the Indian market.

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