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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The Indian two-wheeler industry is projected to achieve a moderate wholesale volume growth of 3–5 percent in FY2027, according to the latest sector update by credit rating agency ICRA.

While the sector enters the new fiscal year on a strong footing, the pace of growth is expected to normalise due to macroeconomic factors, a high base effect and geopolitical uncertainties.

Despite a more conservative outlook for the upcoming fiscal year, the industry continues to demonstrate baseline resilience, backed by healthy retail momentum and expanding international footprints.

The company stated that data from May 2026 highlights robust near-term demand dynamics across domestic and international channels. Domestic wholesales clocked 15.7 percent YoY growth, reaching 1.9 million units in May 2026. This volume was primarily driven by improved affordability stemming from GST 2.0 reforms and advanced consumer buying ahead of announced price hikes by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

On the other hand, retail sales maintained a steady upward trajectory, expanding 7.5 percent YoY during the month. Retail demand was supported by seasonal marriage season purchases and a highly diversified product mix spanning entry-level commuter options and aspirational premium models.

Exports surged 31.3 percent YoY in May 2026, which follows a strong performance in FY2026, where overall exports expanded by 23.3 percent, driven by expanding OEM product portfolios and a broader global acceptance of Indian two-wheeler brands.

The electric two-wheeler (E2W) market continues to outpace the broader internal combustion engine (ICE) segments in terms of growth velocity with EV penetration touching 8.9 percent (172,148 units) in May 2026, up 71.7 percent YoY.

This sharp rise in volume reflects improving ecosystem support, such as charging infrastructure expansion, and a structural shift in consumer acceptance toward electric mobility alternatives.

ICRA's moderate 3–5 percent growth projection for FY2027 balances several conflicting operational variables. Tailwinds includes sustained demand from ongoing GST rationalisation benefits and strong vehicle replacement demand from urban and semi-urban fleets.

On the other hand, growth could be constrained by extreme heatwaves that temporarily lower showroom footfalls, localised supply constraints for specific high-demand models and inflation-driven vehicle price adjustments.

Furthermore, a potentially weak or disrupted monsoon season triggered by El Niño patterns presents a risk to rural purchasing power.  Lastly, ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia remain a critical monitorable, as further escalation could destabilise global shipping lanes, disrupt manufacturing supply chains and increase raw material cost structures.

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a strategic alliance with Elektrorider, appointing them as the official importer and distributor for Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia and Czechia. The partnership marks a major phase in Ultraviolette’s international expansion, bringing its total footprint to 18 European countries.

Through this distributor agreement, Ultraviolette will introduce its high-performance electric motorcycle lineup – specifically the F77 MACH 2 and F77 SuperStreet – to the Central and Eastern European (CEE) markets. Elektrorider will leverage its existing retail network in electric two-wheelers and scooters to oversee sales, test rides, spare parts logistics and aftersales service.

The expansion leverages the distinct aerodynamic styling and performance architecture of Ultraviolette's core platforms. The design language emphasises fully faired battery enclosures, exposed trellis subframes and sharp geometry optimised for sport riding.

Ultraviolette has established market-specific, introductory on-road pricing structures across the CEE region for its high-tier RECON editions finished in Turbo Red.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “We are proud to Make in India for the World and it is immensely encouraging that the response to the F77 across key European markets has been positive. Customers have embraced our vision of performance electric mobility with remarkable enthusiasm."

"Expanding into Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region marks a significant milestone in our journey, given the region’s strong motorcycling culture and passionate rider communities. We believe the F77, with its bold design, advanced technology and exhilarating performance, will resonate strongly with riders seeking a new generation of motorcycling experiences,” said Subramaniam.

Attila Pavuk, Chief Operating Officer, Elektrorider, added, “The F77 combines performance, technology, design, and emotion in a truly unique way. Our team has completed dedicated sales, technical and after-sales training, and we are ready to support customers from the first test ride through sales, spare parts, service, and long-term technical assistance. Our short-term goal is to give as many riders as possible the opportunity to experience the future of electric motorcycling, a future that is already here.”

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Amazon India, one of the leading online marketplaces, has announced that its two-wheeler store on Amazon.in has achieved a 2x year-on-year growth in sales. The surge in demand is primarily led by consumers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities who are increasingly buying premium and electric vehicles alongside standard commuter motorcycles.

The e-commerce platform currently offers a selection of more than 20 brands such as Triumph, KTM, Royal Enfield, Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy and Hero MotoCorp across the electric, premium and commuter segments. The digital storefront is supported by an integrated network of more than 3,000 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) authorised dealers.

The platform’s sales data highlights that online two-wheeler procurement has become a notable trend outside metropolitan areas.

Approximately two in three two-wheeler buyers on Amazon.in come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. In terms of electric two-wheelers, the consumer share from beyond the metros rises to seven in 10 buyers. Within the last 12 months, customers from more than 2,300 Tier 3 towns purchased a two-wheeler for the first time on the platform.

In terms of geography, Kakinada, Tirupati, and Nellore registered the highest acceleration in the South, showing up to a 12x increase in bookings. Purnia and Samastipur emerged as new demand pockets in the East, growing up to 7x. While bookings from Nagaur, Jind, Jamnagar, Bilaspur, and Rajkot grew up to 6x in the West and North.

Moreover, consumers are increasingly selecting models equipped with premium features, connected technology, advanced safety systems and long-term ownership value. This behavioural shift is reflected across multiple product categories with the average price of a two-wheeler purchased on the platform now exceeding INR 100,000. The premium segment recorded the fastest acceleration, growing nearly 5x year-on-year.

Commuter bike sales more than doubled, while internal combustion engine (ICE) scooters grew 1.5x over the same period. In the electric two-wheeler segment, the INR 100,000 to INR 150,000 price segment now accounted for over half of all EV demand on the platform, moving consumer interest away from entry-level options.

To build customer confidence, every dealer operating on Amazon.in is OEM authorised. This structure guarantees that buyers receive genuine products backed by original manufacturer warranties.

The digital platform allows customers to shop 24x7, compare various brands and fuel types, read verified owner reviews, and view specific ex-showroom prices mapped to their exact pin code. Payments are fully digitised using credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and net banking. Transactions made via credit cards incur zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges and feature fraud protection.

Amazon India has deployed several AI-powered features and data tools to compress the vehicle research cycle and assist customers with their purchasing decisions.

Aman Lohan, Director of Home, Kitchen, and Outdoors at Amazon India, said, "The two-wheeler buying journey in India is often long and can get overwhelming with multiple options, fuel types and price points to consider. This feels more restrictive when you have limited selection, especially beyond the metros. For customers, Amazon.in brings together the largest selection by brands, price points and fuel types in one place with full price transparency and the convenience of digital payments. For brands, it expands their reach. Over the last two years, we have built the selection, the tools and the reach to serve both and will continue to expand through the year."

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has expanded its premium BigWing lineup with the 2026 CB750 Hornet E-Clutch and XL750 Transalp E-Clutch, marking the first integration of E-Clutch technology into the 755-cc platform. The Gold Wing also receives a new colour option, while the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP remains the flagship supersport model, strengthening HMSI’s portfolio across street naked, adventure touring, luxury touring and high-performance categories.

The CB750 Hornet E-Clutch combines convenience with spirited riding, powered by a 755-cc engine producing 67.5 kW and 75 Nm of torque. Key features include Showa 41 mm upside-down front forks, dual 296 mm discs, a five-inch TFT display with RoadSync and multiple riding modes. The E-Clutch system enhances the streetfighter character for both city and winding roads.

The XL750 Transalp E-Clutch shares the same 755-cc engine and adds E-Clutch technology to Honda’s adventure touring platform for improved comfort across diverse terrains. It features Showa SFF-CA front suspension, a five-inch TFT screen with RoadSync, multiple riding modes including Gravel and a dual LED headlamp setup, making mixed-riding conditions more convenient.

The 2026 Gold Wing continues luxury touring with a new paint scheme, an 1833-cc six-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission with reverse mode. Premium amenities include an electronically adjustable windscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an advanced audio system and an airbag. The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP remains track focused with a 1,000-cc engine producing 160 kW, Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes and an Akrapovič exhaust.

Price and colour details:

Tsutsumu Otani, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “With the introduction of E-Clutch, Honda is further enhancing the premium motorcycling experience by offering greater comfort, ease of use and riding confidence. Designed to support customers across diverse riding environments – from everyday urban commuting to long-distance touring – this technology reflects Honda’s continued commitment to delivering advanced engineering and meaningful value to riders in India.”

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