Honda launches the new Aviator

Despite the recent labour unrest at its manufacturing facility in Noida, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) launched its latest product, the new Aviator gearless scooter in Mumbai on October 28.

Fitted with a bigger 110cc engine, the new Aviator develops 8bhp. The company claims it has also achieved an increase of 15 percent in overall mileage. The scooter comes with a host of new features like viscous air filter, maintenance-free battery and a combi-brake system where the front and rear brakes are activated jointly when the left lever is applied.

The deluxe variant also gets a chrome front-cover, body colour grab rails, front disc brake with three-piston calipers and instrument panel garnish. The new Aviator adheres to the stricter BS-III norms for two-wheelers that will come into effect from April 2010.

Speaking at the launch in Mumbai, Shinji Aoyama, president and CEO, HMSI said, “Honda will continue to make innovative and appealing products to serve the new aspirations of Indian customers.” Retailing at Rs 45,180 for the base and Rs 50,410 for the deluxe variants, the new Aviator, compared to the outgoing model, gets dearer by Rs 3000 and Rs 4000 respectively.

HMSI has experienced labour unrest since August 1, 2009 and since then has suffered a back-log of around 75,000 units. The company and the trade union have now arrived at a long-term settlement and the production has re-started from October 27.

Meanwhile, the two-wheeler manufacturer has confirmed that it will unveil a brand new 100cc motorcycle for India at the Auto Expo 2010 in January.