Honda adds new scooter to its portfolio, its most affordable yet

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today expanded its scooter portfolio with a sixth model. The new scooter  is named Cliq and is priced at Rs 42,499 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

While the Honda Cliq becomes the most affordable scooter from the company in the domestic market, it uses the proven single-cylinder, 110cc BS IV-compliant engine equipped with Honda- patented HET technology. The engine also powers other successful scooters including Activa 4G, Activa i, Dio and Aviator.

Notably, the 110cc category is the largest and most fiercely contested space within the scooter segment currently wherein the Honda Activa is the undisputed leader. Other top-selling scooters in the 110cc category include the TVS Jupiter, Hero Maestro, Honda Dio and Yamaha Fascino.

Launched this evening in Jaipur, Honda’s all-new Cliq clearly underlines HMSI’s intent to penetrate deeper into the semi-urban and rural markets as the company emphasises upon value-for-money and practical features. For example, the company claims to have introduced an industry-first feature of special block pattern tyres that offer extra grip to the riders on patchy roads.

Commenting on Honda’s attempt to expand the rapid scooterisation beyond the urban markets, Minoru Kato, president and CEO, HMSI said: “Six out of 10 two-wheelers sold in India belong to the 100-110cc segment. Within this segment, automatic scooters have witnessed tremendous growth and now count for almost half of the total size. With the highly increasing demand and varied customer needs, this segment is poised to sub-segmentation. As the leaders of scooter category, Honda has developed the Cliqwhich would address the needs of customers with additional value of comfort and convenience.”

Honda has equipped its new scooter model with its combi-brake system with equaliser technology, a safety feature that will see mandatory fitment on all sub-125cc two-wheelers from April 1, 2018.

According to the company, Honda has given low seat height along with a kerb weight of only 102kg, thus making the new model easier to manoeuvre in typical traffic conditions as well as narrow lanes. A mobile charging socket, given to the Honda Cliq, is another feature that is gradually becoming standard on many scooter models.

Yadvinder Singh Guleria, senior vice-president - Sales and Marketing, HMSI, said, “Focused at up-country customers with a progressive mindset, the Cliq is a perfect blend of practicality, versatility and value for money. Breaking the price barrier of automatic transmission on two wheels, only Honda as the market leader in automatic scooters with its unparalleled economies of scale and assured trust, could challenge traditional preferences by bringing this kind of disruption in the 100-110cc segment.”

Positioned as a unisex scooter, Cliq’s design language is slightly different than Honda’s conventional scooter design, primarily differing on the front and body panels.

According to the company, Honda will manufacture the Cliq at its second factory in Tapukara, Rajasthan. The company has decided to begin the Cliq’s retail sales starting from Rajasthan as the model will be made available across India in phases. The new Honda Cliq will be offered in four colour options – red, blue, black and grey in standard and graphic variants.

It would be interesting to see how well the new Honda scooter performs in the market while impacting the demand for the rivals.

How Honda's scooter portfolio stacks up, price-wise

110cc Honda Navi – Rs 41,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

110cc Honda Cliq – Rs 42,499 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

110cc Honda Activa i – Rs 48,355 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

110cc Honda Dio – Rs 49,567 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

110cc Honda Activa 4G – Rs 51,172 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

110cc Honda Aviator – Rs 52,519 for drum brake variant, ex-Delhi

125cc Honda Activa 125 – Rs 57,396 for standard variant, ex-Delhi

Honda’s most affordable motorcycle model:

Honda CD 110 Dream – Rs 45,236 for kick-start option, ex-Delhi

Also read: INDIA SALES: Top 10 scooters – May 2017