Autocar Professional, March 1 issue – Two-Wheeler Special – is out

Of the various vehicle segments, the two-wheeler industry has been firing on all cylinders for the past few months. And within the segment, scooter sales are simply taking off. In January 2018, a total of 553,695 scooters – or 17,861 units each day – were sold in India, notching 48 percent year-on-year growth. Little wonder then that all manufacturers are keen to ride the wave of scooterisation.

Interestingly, in a young India, scooter buyers are preferring to put their money on 125cc premium models, equipped with better features and more pizzazz. Which is why last month’s Auto Expo saw a good number of brand-new 125cc models being showcased.

The lead story in the Two-Wheeler Special is about all that. With TVS Motor and Hero MotoCorp entering the premium league, and Honda and Suzuki expanding their presence with new 125cc models, this buoyant category is showing all signs of riding into a new trajectory. Along with the detailed model-wise table of all the existing 125cc scooters and upcoming ones, we also analyse the growth path ahead.

TVS Motor has recently launched the NTorq 125 with which the company is targeting the young customer. We reveal how TVS plans to tap opportunities in the evolving scooter market.  

Meanwhile, Hero MotoCorp, the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, which kind of lost momentum in the premium motorcycle segment is plotting a major comeback. How? We spill the beans in a three-page report.

If all OEMs are betting big on scooters, there’s one major who’s not. Bajaj Auto remains firmly committed to motorcycles. Eric Vas, president – motorcycles, Bajaj Auto, speaks to Autocar Professional on what it takes to be an industry leader and the growth path ahead.

We’ve also got three crisp interviews with industry leaders in this 72-page issue. Minoru Kato, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's president and CEO, is bullish on reaching the six-million unit sales volume mark this fiscal. He talks to Sumantra B Barooah on growing the company in a highly competitive environment, sustaining the leadership in scooters, challenges in selling commuter motorcycles, and electric mobility.

With a set of premium products, both sporting advanced technologies and the company's racing legacy, TVS Motor Company seems to have entered a new phase and a revised outlook as an OEM. President K N Radhakrishnan reveals how the growth story could unfold in coming times.

Diego Graffi, Piaggio Vehicles India’s MD and CEO, speaks to Amit Panday on introducing the Aprilia SR 125 and 150, readying the Storm for launch, and targeting full localisation when it enters the midsize motorcycle market.

Electric mobility on two wheels
Another recent industry phenomenon has been of large companies betting big on on small EV start-ups for electric mobility. The latest example of collaborations in India is that of homegrown global auto component major Bharat Forge's investment in Tork Motorcycles, a start-up which is preparing India's first electric performance motorcycle. We report on the growing trend.

Meanwhile, Auto Expo saw many iterations of electric two-wheelers in the form of scooters, cruisers and even superbikes. Get to know the ones that caught the showgoer's eye.

Do you know that CAS Modeling, a Pune-based design house which has worked with famed designer Henrik Fisker, is plotting a smart electric scooter? Well, we have the details.  

Component industry bullish on two-wheeler OEMs 
When a vehicle segment sees an uptick in sales, component suppliers stand to gain as volumes expand. That's not all, with BS VI to deal with and electromobility in the fray, suppliers are now game to offer new solutions to OEMs.

Meanwhile, in a bid to tap the growing demand for electrical and electronic parts, Hella India Automotive has set up a dedicated team at its engineering centre in Pune to tap the opportunities emanating from both the two- and three-wheeler segments. We also speak to Naveen Gautam, member of the executive board, Business Division - Electronics, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.  

Stanadyne, a global technology major in engine-based fuel management systems, has recently revealed its compact Gasoline Pumping Injector, which will enable two-wheeler OEMs to meet BS VI emission norms with ease. 

The March 1 issue also has value beyond two wheels only. Along with a crackling news section which opens with news on Kia Motors' five cars for India, there are detailed reports too. Like Maxion Wheels which is setting up a two million aluminium wheels per annum plant near Pune, or how product design and validation solutions provider Altair is enabling automakers to fast-forward time to market for new products. 

Where to buy?
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