With the electric two-wheeler industry  gaining great momentum, albeit with the help of government incentives, new dealers are emerging in almost every nook and corner of cities. As representatives of electric two-wheeler manufacturers, many of whom are start-ups, the scene is getting more and more active with every passing hour. Some dealers are experienced businesses and some are entirely new. Rajni Jose of Motoring Trends spoke to Jay Sumit Patwa, Chief Visionary Director, Patwa Group of Nashik and Bhushan Shah, CEO, Miracle 5 of Pune, about their experiences. 

How different is it to sell electric two-wheelers over your other business concerning mobiles, FMCG goods,  plastics and furniture?

Patwa: It feels exciting to have diversified into automobiles. Especially in the EV category with a brand like Ather, which has its aura and goodwill.  The reason for diversification is that  EV is the future. There is also a social cause attached to it, which will create an  indirect impact.

From a revenue perspective, how do you fare with electric two-wheelers with far less moving parts than a conventional two-wheeler does?

Patwa: Yes, there are  fewer components as compared to IC engine vehicles. The profit margins however are good and helps in building up a sustainable business model that results in  dealership revenue.

Shah: We do not look at servicing vehicles from a revenue generation perspective. It is only an add-on business with EVs. We consider it more like a customer interface and customer relationship management. Even spare parts replacement is not a viable revenue generation point for EVs considering the lack of replacement needs. Selling an EV is the only source of revenue.

How will FAME II drive the business?

Patwa: We are banking on the  FAME policy to have a big impact on the pricing of electric vehicles that we sell. It is a good initiative by the Central Government as well as state governments for the proliferation of electric vehicles. the EV industry.

Shah:  We are still in the process of obtaining the approval. Our vehicles are in the testing phase. We should be all set in two months. Our FAME II products will be 80 percent localised. Only some  20 percent of the parts will be imported. These would be majorly electrical and electronic in nature. With higher subsidies we are expecting higher sales volumes. 

How do you look at the current charging infrastructure?

Patwa: Ather Energy has a dedicated business vertical called Ather Grid, which is solely in charge of making and installing charging stations in cities where it has opened its Experience Centres. Currently, in Nashik, we have more than five charging stations. 

Shah: We have a few around Pune, but charging infrastructure is not an issue when it comes to our vehicles. A user’s daily commute can be fulfilled in a single charge. In the future however, we are expecting charging stations and charging infrastructure to mushroom like STD and PCO booths.

Does the dealership provide financing and insurance options?

Patwa: Yes, we provide finance and insurance. We also provide leasing options to our customers. We have tied up with renowned brands like Aditya Birla and Bajaj,  HDFC, IDFC and Hero Fincorp for finance, and with Autovert for leasing. 

Shah: Yes, we provide finance options. We have tie-ups with Bajaj Finance, LoanTap and Manappuram Finance. We also have tie-ups with cooperative banks. However, due to the need for a guarantor in such banks, most customers prefer the former options.

How is the market response for electric two-wheelers? 

Patwa: In Nashik, we are seeing good demand. We are experiencing  daily walk-ins of over 100 people that are interested in buying an Ather electric scooter.

Shah: More and more people are starting to accept electric two-wheelers. Especially with the pandemic, the need for personal mobility has surged and two-wheelers are found to be the best way to address that. In cities like Pune where public transport is not very efficient, we are getting buyers that range from  housewives to children. We are getting buyers that are delivery boys. They are keen to use our vehicles as they are efficient and cost effective. With the entry of big household automobile brands in the electric two-wheeler space, more and more people are getting the assurance that they can make the shift.  

What has Covid-19 affected sales?

Shah: Sales were largely down throughout last year. Our business was closed for more than half the year. Things picked up during December-February. They witnessed a drop in March 2021 once again as the second wave hit. With the fuel price hike, things have once again started to pick up. 

How many outlets do you have? Any plans for expansion? 

Patwa: We currently have one showroom and are focused on stabilising it. We are assessing the demand.  Depending on the same we will be chalking out our plans for expansion. In 2022, we could look at opening Ather sales points and service centres. 

Shah: We have various touch points across India for test drives, product viewing and booking services. We currently have dealerships in Mumbai, Indore and Pune, and are looking at expanding to other cities in the next six months.  (MT)

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India Bike Week (IBW), presented by Gulf Syntrac, has shifted its 2025 venue from Goa to Panchgani, Maharashtra. The move, executed due to the rescheduling of Zilla Parishad elections in Goa to the IBW dates, means riders will now converge in the Deccan hills on 19^th and 20^th December 2025.

IBW 2025 will transform Panchgani into a high-altitude playground for riders, featuring new trails, cooler winds, bonfire nights, camping and after-parties. The edition promises IBW’s line-up yet, offering motorcycling experiences across multiple terrains – from hill climbs and mud trails to manufacturer-led road tests.

Martin Da Costa, Founder and CEO, Seventy Event Media Group, said, “As we celebrate 12 years of India Bike Week, it’s incredible to witness how this festival has grown into one of the world’s most spirited motorcycling gatherings. Although circumstances pushed us to shift venues this year, our ethos remains the same – community, adventure, and the freedom to explore. Panchgani offers us a fresh canvas and IBW 2025 is shaping up to be our most exciting edition yet.”

IBW’s 12th edition includes showcases such as the Endurance Stunt Show by Pol Tarres powered by Gulf Syntrac, the Wheelie Experience by Aprilia and India’s Test Ride Arena featuring the majority of India’s premium motorcycle line-up, now including a showcase by the Gulf TrackHouse MotoGP Team.

Over 10 riding experiences await, from the Pulsar Stunt School to a dedicated Kids’ Mini Moto Track by Vida’s Dirt-E K3, along with masterclasses led by expert creators and overlanders.

Competitive racing will feature on FMSCI-backed tracks such as the IBW Hill Climb by Reise Moto and Harley-Davidson Flat Track Race.

The Skoda Kodiaq All-Wheel Drive Track makes its debut, offering driving and off-road challenges.

Presented by Carlsberg Elephant Strong Soda, the festival’s music line-up includes performances by King, Karan Kanchan, Sugga Honey, along with Harley-Davidson Rock Riders’ Music featuring Antariksh.

The BIG TRIP presented by Gulf Syntrac returns with a compelling line-up. Twelve speakers – including global overlanding legends Simon & Lisa Thomas, Elspeth Beard, Zubin Jaafar and storytellers Kshitij Saxena, Gautham AG, Candida Louis and Maral Yazarloo – will bring narratives of grit, resilience and exploration.

The Ladakh Tent presented by Carlsberg Elephant Strong Soda hosts discussions, including ‘India on Two Wheels,’ a Storytellers Roundtable, ‘RTW 101,’ and ‘Women in Motorsports.’

The Jameson Connects Howling Dog space brings together creators, rider groups, and lifestyle influencers.

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, registered dispatches of 604,490 units in November 2025, marking a 31 percent YoY growth.

In the domestic market, the company sold 570,520 two-wheelers, up 30 percent YoY, as against 439,777 units sold last year. On the exports front, the sales came at 33,970 units, as against 20,028 units, marking a 70 percent increase YoY.

This performance sustains the growth momentum following the festive season, driven by positive consumer sentiment across urban and rural markets, supported by GST benefits and a macroeconomic landscape.

VAHAN registrations showed strong domestic demand, with 886,330 units registered in November 2025. Retail registrations grew 26 percent to 1,882,739 units for the combined period of October and November 2025, reflecting dealership and consumer demand.

The company's performance was supported by the success of new models such as the Xtreme 125R, GlamourX 125, Destini 110, and Xoom 160.

VIDA, powered by Hero, sustained its growth trajectory with 12,199 VAHAN registrations, reflecting a 66 percent growth compared to the same period last year. The company strengthened its position in the EV sector, capturing a 10.4 percent market share. The VIDA Evooter VX2 continued to drive retail growth and sales volume, and the company also expanded the line-up with the VX2 Go 3.4 kWh variant.

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has announced its sales performance for November 2025, recording total sales of 122,300 units. This marks a strong 30 percent YoY growth over 94,370 units sold in November 2024.

In the domestic market, the sales touched 96,360 units last month, which was 23 percent growth over 78,333 units a year ago.

On the exports front, sales grew 62 percent reaching 25,940 units in November, up from 16,037 last year.

Additionally, SMIPL’s aftersales business continued gaining momentum with spare parts sales of INR 955 million in November.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “We are grateful for the growing confidence our customers place in Suzuki. Their support, along with the dedicated efforts of our dealer network, continues to drive our growth. Alongside strengthening our presence, we are also expanding customer engagement initiatives and experience-led programs to bring riders closer to the brand. We will continue to invest in enhancing accessibility, after-sales experience, and community-building as we work towards sustained growth.”

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has reported wholesales of 591,136 units in November 2025, up 25 percent YoY.

The total sales figure for the month included 533,645 units in domestic sales and 57,491 units in exports.

During the period, the automaker continued its commitment towards road safety by organising awareness campaigns across various cities nationwide, encouraging responsible road behaviour through interactive learning.

HMSI also celebrated Children’s Month with a Kids Carnival across all its manufacturing facilities, Traffic Training Parks (TTPs), and Safety Driving Education Centers (SDECs). The initiative, themed ‘Safety Explorers: Journey Through Traffic Land,’ aimed to make road safety learning engaging for children while promoting safe habits from an early age.

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