Zero to 350,000 in less than two years. Yes, that's what the TVS NTorq, TVS Motor Co's snazzy-looking 125cc scooter launched on February 5, 2018, has recorded at the domestic two-wheeler box office. This, despite the past 10-odd months being rather difficult for the entire industry.

With every passing month, its contribution to TVS' overall scooter sales is growing. In September 2019, the NTorq was bought by 27,814 scooter aficionados, bettering its previous best – 25,578 units in August 2019. 

Targeted at millennials, the NTorq, which is TVS' first 125cc scooter and the production version of the Graphite concept showcased at Auto Expo 2016, is powered by a CVTi-REVV 124.79cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 3-valve, air-cooled SOHC engine that develops 9.4hp at 7500rpm and 10.5 Nm at 5500rpm. At launch, priced at an aggressive Rs 58,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), the company had targeted sales of 200,000 units in the first year of production which it achieved, successfully riding the demand curve for premium 125cc scooters in the country.

NTorq sales
FY2018: 19,809 (February & March 2018)
FY2019: 213,039
FY2020: 140,159 (April-September 2019)
Total: 373,007

The NTorq comes with several segment-first features including the TVS SmartXonnect, which offers Bluetooth connectivity with the rider’s mobile phone (via a mobile app), thus providing navigation assist, location assist, call / sms alerts, rider stats and several other features. The TVS NTorq became the only scooter in its segment offering a fully digital console with over 50 features.

In September 2018, barely seven months after launch, the TVS NTorq raced past the 100,000 unit sales milestone in the domestic market. To mark the 100,000 sales milestone, the company has rolled out a new colour variant – metallic red – adding to the yellow, red, green and white colour options (all matte finish) offered at launch. In April 2018, colour variants including blue and grey (metallic finish) were added to accelerate sales.

NTorq 125 Race Edition checks in
Last month, on September 19, in an effort to add more fizz to sales, TVS rolled out the NTorq 125 Race Edition at Rs 62,995 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new model features a new LED headlight with a T-shaped diffused LED DRL, as well as a few other changes. This version costs Rs 3,000 more than the standard model.

NTorq 125 Race Edition, priced at Rs 62,995 (ex-showroom, Delhi), features a new LED headlight with a T-shaped diffused LED DRL, as well as a few other changes and a unique colour scheme.

The Race Edition of the 125cc scooter features a unique colour scheme. The body panels are red-, black- and silver-coloured and the scooter also gets chequered-style decals on the front apron and side panels. Interestingly, what would be regular black plastic on the standard scooter is painted in red near the footboard of the Race Edition. It also features a hazard light, this time around. With the addition of the new colour scheme, the NTorq is now available in a total of eight colour options, three of which are metallic and five have a matte finish

Commenting on the launch, Aniruddha Haldar, vice- president (Marketing) – Commuter Motorcycles, Scooters & Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said, “Since its launch, the TVS NTorq 125 has become a darling of Gen Z customers. Apart from its striking appearance and the TVS SmartXonnect feature, it is the performance which has been the hallmark of the TVS NTorq 125 experience. The scooter is built on a rich pedigree of 37 years of TVS Racing and the Race Edition is launched to celebrate the same.” 

Earlier this year, the TVS NTorq won the prestigious Autocar India 'Scooter of the Year' award.

Contributes 23% to H1 sales, helps TVS grow market share
The TVS NTorq is turning out to be quite a standout performer for the company. In September, and in a tepid-sentiment market where all the biggies are floundering, the NTorq and the Suzuki Access 125 are the only two scooters to have recorded YoY growth in September. It has also risen two ranks to fifth place in the Top 10 Scooters ranking. That's not all. In H1 FY2020, the NTorq has sold 140,159 units, which constitutes robust 39% YoY growth (H1 FY2019: 101,165). 

The NTorq's robust performance in the past six months has helped TVS increase its scooter market share to 19.20% in H1 FY2020 from 17.19% a year ago. Consider the NTorq's sterling contribution of 23% or 140,159 units to TVS' total scooter sales of 598,617 units in the first half of the ongoing fiscal and the growing importance of the product to the company can be seen. The Jupiter with 59% (352,664 units), at present, continues to be the No. 1 scooter for TVS, followed by the NTorq, Zest and Wego. 

Given the surging demand for the NTorq, expect the company to put its shoulder to the wheel of the snazzy scooter in an effort to maintain the sales momentum, and also ensure it stays the talk of the town.

Also read: Top 10 Scooters In September 2019

TVS and Suzuki grow scooter market share in H1 FY2020