Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) just dropped some numbers that’ll make you wince – a hefty 17.3% year-on-year decline in June 2025 sales. They moved 4,29,147 units compared to 5,18,799 units last June. Ouch. This comes even as the Japanese giant’s been throwing everything at the wall with new launches and electric dreams.
Here’s the thing though – it’s not all doom and gloom when you dig deeper. HMSI still managed to ship 40,335 units overseas while keeping 3,88,812 units happy on Indian roads. And if you zoom out to the first quarter of FY26, they’ve clocked 13,75,120 units total. That’s 12,28,961 for the home market and 1,46,159 heading abroad. Not terrible, but certainly not the growth story they’d hoped for.
New Product Launches Couldn’t Stem the Tide
June was supposed to be Honda’s moment. They rolled out the 2025 XL750 Transalp – a proper adventure beast priced at Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom). This thing sits pretty alongside the CB650R and CBR650R in Honda’s “we-mean-business” lineup. It’s aimed squarely at folks who think weekend rides should involve more dirt than tarmac.
But here’s the reality check – even this shiny new toy couldn’t stop the sales slide. The Transalp launch felt a bit like bringing a knife to a gunfight, considering the broader market’s been acting like a moody teenager lately. Supply chain hiccups, changing buyer preferences, inflation eating into budgets – you name it, the two-wheeler industry’s dealing with it.
Read Also: Royal Enfield Sales Surge 22% in June with 89,540 Units Sold
Electric Push Gains Momentum
Now, Honda’s electric game is where things get interesting. They’ve opened their first EV Concept Store in Bengaluru (because of course it’s Bengaluru), and here’s the kicker – they’re offering the Activa e: battery on subscription for just Rs 678 a month. Smart move, honestly.
This Battery as a Subscription thing is pure genius when you think about it. Most people hesitate to go electric because they’re terrified of that eventual battery replacement bill. Honda’s basically saying, “Hey, we’ll handle the scary stuff, you just ride.” It’s like Netflix for batteries, and it might just work in a price-sensitive market like ours.
Road Safety and Community Initiatives
While the sales team was probably pulling their hair out, Honda’s community folks were busy doing the good stuff. They ran road safety campaigns across 12 cities – places like Jamnagar, Satna, Kota, and Gurugram. Plus, they celebrated some serious milestones: 11 years of their Traffic Training Park in Bhubaneswar and 6 years in Tiruchirappalli.
Sure, these initiatives won’t magically boost next month’s numbers, but they’re building something more valuable – trust. Indian consumers love brands that give back, and Honda’s playing the long game here.
What’s Coming Next
Honda’s product calendar is packed tighter than a Mumbai local train. The CBR300R should hit showrooms by July, followed by the Activa 7G in September, and the CRF300L adventure bike in October. They’re also doubling down on flex-fuel tech after the CB300F Flex Fuel showed promise with its E85 fuel compatibility.
Meanwhile, the racing circuit’s buzzing with the 2025 IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Cup CB300F action in Chennai. Young guns are tearing up the track while Honda’s MotoGP involvement continues across Europe. It’s all about keeping the brand visible and exciting.
Market Reality Check
Let’s be honest – that 17% drop stings, but it’s not exactly shocking. The two-wheeler market’s been through the wringer lately. Petrol prices that make you question life choices, inflation that’s eating everyone’s lunch money, and this gradual shift toward electric that’s got everyone confused about what to buy.
Honda’s playing it smart though, spreading their bets across everything from daily commuter bikes to weekend warrior machines and electric scooters. It’s like having multiple fishing lines in the water – something’s bound to bite eventually.
The real test will be how quickly they can stabilize these numbers while continuing to pump money into future tech. Because let’s face it, the automotive world’s changing faster than a Bangalore weather forecast, and standing still isn’t an option.