Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) has been steadily moving up the sales charts and gaining ground in the scooter as well as in the motorcycle segments.
The company recently claimed the number one position in 15 states and two union territories, and its bestselling Activa brand has emerged as the largest selling two-wheeler in India. Auto Tech Review caught up with Minoru Kato, President & CEO, HMSI, to discuss about the company’s future roadmap and Honda’s India plans.
STRONG MARKET CREDENTIALS
HMSI is well acquainted with its Indian customers – its 26-year partnership (ending in 2011) with Hero paved the way for it emerging as a market leader in the 100 cc commuter segment with the Splendor. Its foray as HMSI, a wholly-owned unit in 2000, saw the Activa becoming an instant hit with customers and continues to set new benchmarks for the scooter segment in India. Kato said that he is excited about the growth opportunities offered by the Indian market.
HMSI added one million incremental sales last fiscal, posting a 22 % growth over the same period. This emboldened the company to announce an investment of around ₹800 cr this year to ramp up its India presence.
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