Honda Two Wheelers surpasses 500 million production mark globally

Honda has achieved a monumental milestone by surpassing the 500 million mark in global two-wheeler production since it began operations in 1949. The landmark 500 millionth unit rolled out from Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s (HMSI) Vithalapur plant in Gujarat. Notably, the milestone model was the Honda Activa — the best-selling scooter in the Indian market. The company further aims to reach 1 billion production mark by 2048.

Minoru Kato, Chief Officer – Motorcycle and Power Products Operations and Head of the Motorcycle Business Unit at Honda, emphasised that the two-wheeler segment remains the founding pillar of the company’s global operations. Honda began its journey in 1949 with the launch of its first motorcycle, the Dream D-Type. Today, the brand manufactures over 20 million two-wheelers annually across 23 countries.

Notably, India represents Honda’s largest production hub globally. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) currently boasts an annual production capacity of 6.4 million units and exports to 62 countries.

Honda Two Wheeler’s journey in India:

Honda has sold over 30 million Activas in India since 2001. The scooter is now sold in three versions, with an electric variant in the lineup as well.

Share Via

Honda has sold over 30 million Activas in India since 2001. The scooter is now sold in three versions, with an electric variant in the lineup as well.

Honda’s two-wheeler journey in India began in 1999 through a joint venture with Hero MotoCorp. The brand’s first indigenous product under HMSI, the Honda Activa, was launched in 2001 and quickly became a household name.

At present, HMSI operates four manufacturing plants across India—Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan), Narsapura (Karnataka), and Vithalapur (Gujarat)—with a combined production capacity of 6.4 million units. The company has announced plans to invest ₹92 crore in adding a new assembly line at the Vithalapur plant by 2027, which will raise total production capacity to 7 million units, positioning it as one of Honda’s largest two-wheeler facilities globally.

The Manesar plant currently puts out 3,80,000 units each year, while the Tapukara plant allows for an annual production capacity of 1.3 million units. The Narsapura plant currently has the highest production capacity at 2.5 million units each year. The Vithalapura plant currently has a production capacity of 1.96 million units per year. With the new assembly line, Honda estimates the annual production capacity of the fourth plant would increase to 2.61 million units.

Suggested watch: Honda Activa e electric scooter – price, range, features explained

Honda Activa: From first indegenious product to the best seller:

Launched in 2001 as HMSI’s first fully indigenous product, the Honda Activa has become the best-selling scooter in India over the past 24 years. Since its debut, over 30 million units have been sold, a testament to its enduring popularity and trust among Indian consumers.

Today, the Activa is offered in three variants—Activa, Activa 125, and the recently launched Activa electric—catering to a wide range of customer preferences.

The Activa is powered by a 109.51 cc BS-VI engine that makes 7.73 bhp and 8.9 Nm of torque. It brings a mileage of 59.5 kmpl and starts at ₹78,684. The 2025 Honda Activa 125 is powered by an updated 123.92 cc, single-cylinder engine that is OBD2B compliant. The motor produces 8.3 bhp and 10.15 Nm of peak torque and gives a mileage of 51.23 kmpl. The pricing for the Activa 125 starts at ₹82,257. The Activa e is the Japanese manufacturer’s first foray into the Indian E2W segment and starts from ₹1.17 lakh. It features a 3 kWh battery pack that powers a 6 kW motor and enables a single-charge range of 102 km (claimed).

Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape.