Breaking: Honda to set up electric motorcycle factory in India by 2028

Honda Motor Company plans to establish a dedicated electric motorcycle factory in India by 2028, Daiki Mihara, the Head of the Motorcycle and Power Products Electrification Business Unit told the media persons in Japan on Tuesday.

The plant will likely be built in Karnataka, like its existing two-wheeler factory in Narasapura on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

While the primary aim is to cater to the growing domestic market, the company may use it as an export hub to cater to similar emerging markets, which require more accessible price points.

"We will start with the commuter bike, with a 4 KW battery comparable to 100 cc bikes. Exporting them is also an option. We can produce electric bikes similar to mid-size bikes there," said Mihara.

This factory will produce a variety of models by combining different modules. Additionally, for batteries, a key component, the company is working with battery manufacturers to develop specifications tailored to motorcycle characteristics and ensure stable procurement.

The company is also promoting the secondary use of batteries to achieve carbon neutrality, informed Mihara.

Eying number 1 position in electric motorcycles
Despite being one of the last to enter the electric vehicle market, Honda Motor Company has set itself the ambitious target of being India's number one electric motorcycle maker.

“Moving forward, we will continue to leverage the strengths cultivated through ICE technology to introduce new EVs, including models with fixed batteries. In India's largest market, we aim to achieve the number one position in the electric segment by implementing various initiatives,” announced Mihara.

Honda aims to offer electric vehicles at a price range where the total cost of ownership over three years would be comparable to that of ICE vehicles.

30 bikes and 4 million units target by 2030
Honda has been strategically proceeding with plans to introduce 30 electric models globally by 2030, aiming to increase its global annual sales of electric motorcycles to 4 million units by 2030.

To this end, Honda positioned 2024 as the first year of electric globalization and made a full-fledged entry into the market. In October 2024, Honda announced two global electric motorcycle models in Indonesia: the CUV e, powered by two units of Honda Mobile Power Pack e swappable batteries, and the ICON e, powered by a fixed battery. The CUV e is scheduled to go on sale in 20 countries, including European countries and Japan.

In November, Honda announced two electric motorcycle models designed exclusively for India: the ACTIVA e, powered by two units of Honda Mobile Power Pack e, and the QC1, powered by a fixed battery. Of the 30 models targeted for introduction by 2030, Honda has already introduced 13 models, making steady progress with the plan.

At EICMA 2024, Honda unveiled two electric motorcycle concept models: the EV Fun Concept, the first Honda electric sports model, and the EV Urban Concept, which embodies Honda's vision of urban mobility in the near future.
The global model CUV-E was also unveiled at EICMA 2024 in November. It is planned to be sold in 20 countries, including Europe and Japan.

The top management claimed that by offering various electric models that accommodate increasingly diverse customer needs, Honda will strive to become the leading company in the electric motorcycle market.

From Swapping to fixed batteries 
The Honda Mobile Power Pack E, which powers the CUV-E and Activa-E, is a detachable, portable battery. It is also supplied for use in other manufacturers' motorcycles and is being increasingly adopted across various products, including construction and agricultural machinery.

Honda will launch the swap battery-sharing service in Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai to coincide with the release of the Activa E.

Mihara claimed that this service will enable riders to swap batteries in the city and enjoy the Activa E without concerns about charging time or running out of battery power.

The company will leverage its sales network of 6,000 outlets across India to ensure customers can use its products with peace of mind. This will enable the company to provide comprehensive service and parts supply coverage nationwide.

The company will parallelly work on fixed battery solutions, with an eye on building an extensive network to expand the charging infrastructure across the country.

Dedicated EV Motorcycle Brand

Mihara says electric motorcycles are not limited to the commuting segment. At EICMA 2024, it unveiled two concept models. The first one was its first electric sports model, the FUN EV concept.

“Honda plans to unveil this unique electric motorcycle later this year officially. With this model, we aim to launch a new product brand for electric motorcycles, establishing a distinct Honda Electric brand,” informed Mihara.

The second model, the EV Urban concept, embodies Honda's vision of urban electric mobility and is currently under development with the goal of mass production.

Eye on Circularity

Mihara informed that the company is collaborating with OMC Power, a company specializing in distributed power and grid solutions in India, to repurpose used Honda Mobile Power Pack E units as power supply devices in regions of India with unstable electricity and non-electrified areas.

“This initiative aims to support power supply for small shops and schools in the region. Ultimately, we strive to establish a circular value chain, including recycling precious metals and other materials,” he added.