India’s two-wheeler riders are increasingly depending on navigation tools to manage congested roads, delivery timelines and daily commuting, according to a new study released by HERE Technologies.
The study, titled Inside the Two-Wheeler Landscape in APAC: Key Trends and Rider Behaviors, surveyed more than 2,400 riders across six Asia-Pacific markets, including 404 respondents from India. Conducted by Point Consulting in the first quarter of 2026, the study examined rider behaviour across commuters, delivery workers, leisure riders and EV users.
High Navigation Usage In India
According to the findings, 61% of surveyed riders in India said they use navigation services “often” or “always”, placing the country among the highest users of navigation tools in the APAC region. Riders prioritised features such as real-time traffic alerts, accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA), turn-by-turn voice directions and full-screen map views.
The study noted that Indian riders increasingly evaluate navigation platforms based on how accurately they reflect live traffic conditions, road constraints and routing efficiency. Many respondents also viewed navigation as a productivity and stress-management tool in dense urban traffic environments.
Delivery Riders Prioritise Routing Accuracy
The report highlighted strong navigation dependency among gig economy and delivery riders, who rely on accurate routing and ETAs to maintain workflow efficiency and customer satisfaction. Common concerns cited by delivery riders included poor routing, inaccurate travel-time estimates and unsafe shortcut suggestions.
Among the most valued features for delivery riders were safer route suggestions, multi-stop routing support and instant diversion options during congestion or unexpected delays. The study stated that navigation accuracy increasingly affects rider productivity, ratings and earnings.
Safety-Focused Features Gain Importance
The report also pointed to rising demand for safety-oriented navigation features in India’s mixed-traffic conditions. Riders indicated a preference for alerts related to potholes, damaged roads, accident-prone areas, sharp curves and better-lit routes during night riding.
Shyam Shankar Raman, Business Segment Head for Two-Wheelers, Asia Pacific at HERE Technologies, said riders in India expect navigation systems that can respond to rapidly changing on-road conditions and support daily productivity through dependable routing and ETA accuracy.
The study noted that as urban congestion and gig-economy activity continue to grow, demand for real-time traffic intelligence and two-wheeler-specific routing solutions is expected to increase further.