HMSI plans to launch over ten two-wheeler models next year

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India plans to launch over ten two-wheeler models next year, including seven all new products, as the company aims to further strengthen its presence in the country.

The company, which today expanded its mid-sized motorcycle range with the launch of CB Unicorn 160, sells a total of over 20 motorcycle and scooter models in the country.

'CB Unicorn 160 despatches will begin in the third week of January, so it would be our first model of 2015. During the course of next year we plan to launch over ten models,' HMSI President & CEO Keita Muramatsu told reporters here.

Out of over ten product launches planned for the next year, seven would be completely new platforms while others would be upgrades of the existing models, he added.

When asked about plans to launch low-cost models in the country, Muramatsu said: 'We are working on two models, a bike and a scooter, but there is no definite time frame set for the project.'

Honda sells a low-cost bike priced at around USD 600 (about ₹ 37,500) in Africa.

'It is not easy to launch low cost bikes. I have learnt that in the last three years. It is not easy to go for cost reduction when more technology is needed. In the last three years the cost of production has gone up. Even our in-house cost has gone up by 15 per cent over the last year,' Muramatsu said.