HMSI to launch stripped-down Dream Yuga today

New Delhi, April 16, 2013: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) is all set to take the covers off the new Dream, a stripped-down version of the 109cc Dream Yuga commuter bike (pictured above).

According to industry sources in the know, the 109cc Dream will be priced around Rs 2,000-3,000 lower than the Dream Yuga which is priced at Rs 44,657 (ex-showroom Delhi). The new commuter bike will squarely target the big-selling Hero MotoCorp Splendor.

The Dream Yuga has been a hugely successful product for HMSI and currently has a market share of around 5 percent in the mass commuter segment. Within a year of its launch on May 15, 2012, it has clocked sales of over 300,000 units. HMSI has had a good run in 2012-13. During the year, it sold 2.75 million two-wheelers, a 31 percent growth over the previous year. That helped the Japanese OEM capture an 18.89 percent share of the Indian two-wheeler market. Its motorcycle sales grew higher on a lower base than scooters. HMSI sold 1.29 million motorcycles, which is a 49 percent growth over the previous year. Its scooter sales rose 18 percent year-on-year with total sales of 1.46 million units. Earlier this year, HMSI had made clear its ambition of being the No. 1 in the Indian two-wheeler market by 2015-16. It not only launched three revised scooter models (Activa, Dio and Aviator) based on its Honda Eco Technology (HET) but also inaugurated a cutting-edge Technical Centre at Manesar which will help expedite new product development programmes for India.

HET’s raison d'être is reduced friction, improved combustion and optimised transmission of the 110cc Honda engine. In January, HMSI had said that HET will be leveraged to develop four new models, one of which was to be a 100-110cc model priced lower than the Dream Yuga. The new Dream is that model.

SHOBHA MATHUR