Relatively low cost of ownership and an increase in demand in urban and semi-urban areas are the primary drivers behind the growth of India’s 2-wheeler market. Post the COVID-19 era, there is a general sentiment among the consumers, considering 2-wheelers as the preferred alternative to public transport and shared mobility. The 2-wheeler segment is expected to play a vital role in boosting the automotive sector post- COVID-19 by providing affordable personal mobility alternatives while we observe social distancing.

As the 2-wheeler market continues to boom in India, it is essential to also focus on the safety aspects related to the vehicles.

According to the World Road Statistics Report 2018, India has the largest number of road accident deaths across 199 countries. A report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that 2-wheeler deaths have increased on a year-on-year basis, rising by 38 percent from 2009 to 2019.

The Indian Government has implemented various new policies related to automotive safety in the last few years. Today’s consumer is also more conscious about safety and looks at key features that ensure safety instead of viewing it as an option confined to premium variants. Today, vehicle safety is transitioning from cost-addition to value addition.

The consumers are continually looking for technology upgrades in all the departments, be it safety or convenience. This has pushed us to be innovative and flexible in adapting globally proven safety technologies to local requirements in the form of effective products.

Anti- Lock Braking System (ABS)

ABS is a piece of safety equipment that prevents the wheels of a vehicle from locking up under emergency, panic, or harsh braking conditions. The introduction of ABS will significantly impact improved road safety, with other factors such as the safety belt and the introduction of speed limits playing a role alongside ABS’s spread. All 2-wheelers over 125-cc are mandated to have ABS as of April 2019 in India.

At Continental, we have a range of solutions in the ABS segment suited to all vehicle types. India has a range of lighter 2-wheelers, where ABS is not mandated. The MiniMAB - One Channel ABS for Motorcycles is suited to scooters and small motorcycles. The small and lightweight solution is easily adaptable to smaller vehicles because only one wheel speed sensor is required. The system prevents the front wheel from locking up and avoids falls or the vehicle from becoming unstable.

Beyond ABS:

As a technology company, Continental is at the forefront of safety technologies. We have all the relevant products for different demands such as ABS ride modes, traction control, optimised curve braking, motorcycle hold & go, and Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS).

These technologies have a lot of scopes to gain prominence in the safety department in India. ARAS include functionalities like,

● Blind Spot Detection and Lane Change Assist: Warns the rider of vehicles driving in the blind spot area. The alert helps facilitate safe lane changes. The rearward-facing radar sensor monitors the road area behind and next to the motorcycle and warns if a lane change cannot be recommended.

● Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Forward Collision Warning: Supports the rider in avoiding run-up accidents by a radar-aided early threat assessment. It detects critical traffic situations and ensures optimum use of the available braking power. When a rear-end accident threatens, the motorcyclist will be alerted first before the EBA function supports his active braking system with slight pre-brake pressure.

● Intelligent Headlight Assist: The ARAS function Intelligent Headlight Assist (IHA) enables better vision at night. Motorcyclists can delegate the constant tedious task of changing from high to low beam to the electronic co-pilot. It detects the vehicles’ lights in front and oncoming vehicles and switches the high-beam headlamp on whenever possible to ensure optimum lighting of the road.

● Traffic Sign Assist: Detects traffic signs using a front camera and displays them to the rider. Failure to see a road sign displaying the permissible maximum speed can be expensive. Especially for people who rely on their driving license for their work, the consequences can be unpleasant. Traffic Sign Recognition has a display on the instrument panel to remind drivers of the current speed limit. This is achieved through multiple uses of the same camera, which is also used for the Lane Departure Warning system. When combined with high-performance software, it can even recognise speed limit signs. Digitised speed limit information of the onboard navigation system will be incorporated to be prepared for roads not assigned with speed limit signs.

● Adaptive Cruise Control: Relives the rider by automatically controlling throttle and brake to maintain the safe riding distance with the vehicle ahead.

Other technologies like Continental’s eHorizon for 2-wheelers is a cloud-based data management service that enables a variety of use-cases, increases safety, eco-efficiency, and enhances riding pleasure. The data, such as road geometry, traffic signs, or temporary events on the road, is collected and aggregated from various sources and transmitted back to the vehicle to either predictively inform the motorcyclist on relevant information on the route or to enhance vehicle functions directly.

This “swarm-intelligent system” uses technologies already present in vehicles, like camera systems, to classify road conditions like dry, wet, very wet (risk of aquaplaning), snowy, or icy. Based on that information, dynamic friction charts can be created and then used to forecast how well the tyres will grip the road stretch in question. I believe both these technologies have a good scope in the market, like India. Then again, a reliable ecosystem is vital to enable it.

We at Continental, with a strong legacy in-vehicle safety systems and inspired by its Vision Zero - Zero Fatalities, Zero Injuries, and Zero Crashes are committed to improving safety across the world awareness through various global and local forums. (MT)

NB: Thalavai Venkatesan is the Head of Sales & Key Account Management, Continental Automotive India. Views expressed are personal.

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive collaborated with the Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) of the Indian Army for a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu, by providing a fleet of F77 motorcycles.

The ride honoured the army Veterans and Veer Naris of Madras Regiment and the Armed Forces community in the region.

Under the aegis of the Dakshin Bharat Area, the rally covered six districts of Tamil Nadu - Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni and Coimbatore. The team of army personnel engaged with approximately 3,000 veterans and veer naris during the journey: addressing various concerns, sharing crucial information on entitlements, and providing immediate assistance. The F77s covered a cumulative distance of over 6000 kilometres.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, " Collaborating again with the Indian Army for this remarkable outreach initiative is an honour that resonates deeply with Ultraviolette's ethos. Our vision to create world-class technology is inspired by the spirit of the India - undaunted, resilient, and driven by purpose. The F77 embodies the very principles that define our Armed Forces - precision, performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To witness Ultraviolette playing a key role in this rally, honouring veterans, and their families, is not just a privilege but a defining moment in our journey".

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a leading manufacturer of two-wheelers in the country, has reported wholesales of 112,948 units for April 2025, which is 14 percent higher than 99,377 units it sold last year.

The company reported an 8 percent growth in its domestic sales at 95,214 units, as compared to 88,067 units last year, while exports grew by 57 percent at 17,734 units, as against 11,310 units for the same period last year.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “This positive start to the year fills us with gratitude. Each unit sold represents the beginning of a new journey with our customers and we are thankful to be a part of it. We will continue to work sincerely to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and contribute positively to their journey with us.”

Last month, the company further upgraded its product lineup, including the Hayabusa to be OBD-2B compliant.

Chennai-based two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company has announced its wholesales for April 2025. The company reported witnessing a 16 percent growth, selling 443,896 units, as against 383,615 units last year. 

The domestic two-wheeler sales include 220,527 motorcycles and 169,741, while exports accounted for 106,683 units.  

EV sales grew by 59 percent, rising from 17,403 units in April 2024 to 27,684 units last month.

Three-wheeler sales grew by 50 percent YoY from 9,023 units to 13,566 units.

Blending the pulse of street culture, community and high-octane energy, Royal Enfield hosted the first-ever edition of HunterHood in Mumbai and New Delhi during the last weekend of April 2025. 
Inspired by the spirit of Hunter motorcycle of the company, the HunterHood event – the latest cultural initiative built around the ethos of “From the streets, For the streets” – brought together riders, artists and urban explorers across the two Indian mega cities. 
The company also unveiled ‘The 2025 Hunter 350’ with three new colourways and upgraded features inspired by and designed for ‘The Coolest Neighbourhoods of the world’.
Featuring unique programming in the form of skateboarding sessions, spontaneous cyphers, vibrant graffiti art, live music jams, dynamic dance circles and exhilarating BMX stunts, the event witnessed high-octane performances by some of India’s top musicians like Dino James, Wild Wild Women, Shah Rule, Suggahunny, The Spindoctor, OG Shez, Ikka, DK Mocity, Dhanji, Lush Lata and Samriddhi Bhargav. 
The event saw over 12 homegrown, premium and emerging street-led brands spanning skateboarding, apparel, sneakers and the culinary space participate. It was attended by 5,000 people across the two mega cities.