It is still the market leader by far in the ICE scooter space, even with products that are outmatched by the competition. However, it is the electric scooter segment where Honda is lagging and may have gotten its pricing strategy wrong.
The practical, entry-level, cost-sensible electric motorcycle with removable battery packs takes center stage this week as Honda plans to disrupt important markets like India with the Shine EV. Meanwhile, Livewire throws us two good-looking concepts for upcoming motorcycles.
The Infinite Machine Olto has us mesmerized; the Honda eQuad is a sign from the future; Roam has a new Air; and we launch our first syndicated research on the Indian market in July.
The Indian electric two-wheeler market is not growing. Data reveals that it has been stagnant over the last 29 months despite numerous launches and nearly every brand now having a presence. Even as more E2Ws are now visible on Indian roads, the penetration levels remain dismally low.
When electric vehicle start-ups write their business plans, they inadvertently run into two questions. First, what should I make in-house (and what should I outsource)? Second, what level of vertical integration would make one profitable faster and provide an unassailable edge?
This Weekender, we look at Zeway stopping operations, Honda EV scooters in Vietnam, Ola Electric starting production of the Roadster X motorcycle, the rocking Ryvid interview, and more...
Since we now do regular publishing nearly every week day, we decided to move the Weekly Newsletter to Saturdays. It is now the Weekender and we would focus on things that we could not talk about all week but important developments, nonetheless.
Daily News Impact 31-Mar-25: Honda has announced the commencement of production of the ICON e: electric scooter in Vietnam. This is an important event - a global manufacturer starting local manufacturing of an electric scooter in one of the hottest E2W markets in the world.
This is my most important letter to date and until next week. We are making many changes to InsightEV, enhancing our research offerings, increasing our frequency and coverage, and bringing more value to you.
For all non-fans, sushis are the same - a handcrafted roll with a trinket of fish, a sliver of vegetables, short-grain rice, and seaweed. But they are not. Each has a strong character and an unmistakable identity; you remember some more than others. Clubbing them together is a cardinal sin.
26-Mar-25: Honda has an electric motorcycle...sort of. Is Zapp Electric to get delisted? Ola Electric coughs up supplier dues. Argentina extends ABS by six months
How many swappable batteries would any brand make? That's a rhetorical question. Honda has already answered that. They would only do the MPP. So it's goodbye to SBMC, which may be the consortium's death knell. With Honda and Yamaha exiting, there is not enough meat on the bone.
