Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, Hero MotoCorp, has taken the lead position at the ongoing Rallye du Maroc 2024 with an impressive performance in Stage 1. Hero team pilot Ross Branch emerged as the fastest rider of the stage.

Riders Ross Branch, Sebastian Buhler and Nacho Cornejo, who were competing in the premier Rally GP Class, finished the first stage in 1st, 6th and 8th place, respectively. In the overall Rally GP Class standings, they are currently ranked 1st, 6th and 9th. Branch had the advantage of starting 11th for Stage 1 after placing second in the Prologue, which he capitalised by finishing first by a 48-second cushion over his closest rival. Cornejo started the stage today and made a determined effort to go cautiously across the incredibly challenging terrain, reaching the finish line without suffering any significant errors.

The first complete Stage of the 2024 edition included 180 km of timed sections and an additional 200 km of liaisons. The event organisers had to make last-minute changes to the race strategy yesterday when floods caused delays in the cars' arrival at the bivouac in Zagora. Participants in Stage 1 were dispatched on the Stage 2 course, although with a shorter mileage and later start times. However, this circuit around Zagora turned out to be one of the most difficult stages that Maroc has experienced recently. On rocky, uneven paths badly harmed by the rains, the day began with dangerous pathways that lay ahead, with much of the original routes swept away. In the last stretch, where visible, rolling trails guided the way to the finish line, the riders finally found some solace after risking their journey across narrow dunes.

In Stage 2, the participants will return to the original course planned for Stage 1. This second loop around Zagora will be one of the longest specialities in this year, spanning 314 km in the Sahara and an additional 158 kilometres in road sections.

Rallye du Maroc is the fifth and final round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2024. Since the second race of this season, Branch has held the top place in the standings chart, and this impressive perfoemance in the Maroc Rally has increased his chances of winning the World Championship title.

Branch said, "I’m happy to have finished Stage 1 with a good result. It was a really tough one – definitely one of the most challenging stages I’ve ever ridden at Rallye Du Maroc! The tracks were really beaten up and washed away from yesterday’s rains, but I managed to pull through. Nacho did an amazing job opening the track; I can only imagine how much more difficult it would have been for him. Opening the Stage tomorrow will be a mammoth task, but we’re pushing forward with confidence."

Buhler said, "It was a very difficult Stage – perhaps one of the hardest I’ve ever ridden here at Maroc. The terrain was full of rocks and rivers, making it challenging to manoeuvre. I tried to maintain a good pace, but it wasn’t easy – every time I went full on the gas, I seemed to be hitting something. I’m glad to have finished well, and I hope tomorrow will be a bit smoother."

Cornejo said, "Stage 1 is complete, and it was very rough, thanks to the rains from yesterday. I did my best opening the Stage, and lost a few minutes here and there. But overall, I’m happy with my focus and navigation. Tomorrow is a new day, so we’ll keep pushing and doing our best – one day at a time."

TVS Motor Company, a leading manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers, has attained two new milestones for the TVS Apache motorcycle brand.

First introduced in 2005, the sporty TVS Apache motorcycle marked the company’s entry in the premium segment. It was targeted towards young customers and took inspiration from TVS Racing heritage. The company has announced that in addition to celebrating the 20th anniversary milestone for the Apache motorcycle, the brand has also crossed the 6 million sales milestone.

The TVS Apache is currently sold in more than 60 countries, including LATAM, Africa and Europe. Furthermore, TVS Apache is said to be the first two-wheeler brand in the country that offers factory customisation build-to-order (BTO) option.

Sudarshan Venu, Managing Director, TVS Motor Company, said, "We are immensely grateful to the over 6 million passionate riders of TVS Apache for their unwavering trust and enthusiasm over the last 20 years. Their love for performance and adrenaline has propelled TVS Apache to become one of the fastest-growing sports motorcycle brands globally. This milestone belongs to every member of the TVSM family – our engineers, designers, factory teams, dealers, suppliers and partners – who push the limits of innovation every day. TVS Apache’s enduring success emanates from cutting-edge racing technology, precision engineering, and unmatched performance. It is a testament to our relentless commitment to empowering the new generation of young riders who live and breathe the thrill of motorcycling.”

Vimal Sumbly, Head – Premium Business, TVS Motor Company, said, “TVS Apache has been at the forefront of premium motorcycling, embodying our strategic vision of building a brand rooted in racing excellence and innovation. Over the past 20 years, Apache has redefined performance motorcycling and has created a thriving ecosystem through the Apache Owners Group, uniting passionate riders globally. Crossing the 6 million customer milestone is a testament to the brand’s relentless pursuit of excellence, pioneering segment-first innovations, and delivering unparalleled consumer experiences. As we move forward, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of performance, technology, and community engagement to shape the future of premium motorcycling. Apache is more than a motorcycle – it’s a movement, a legacy and a community of racing enthusiasts.”

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), a leading manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles in the country, has announced its wholesales numbers for March 2025 and FY2025.

The company sold a total of 427,448 two-wheelers last month, which includes 401,411 units in the domestic market and 26,037 units exported.

For FY2025, the company shared it recorded 19 percent YoY growth with sales of 5.83 million two-wheelers, which includes 5.32 million units in the domestic market and 505,012 units exported.

During the fiscal, the company expanded its alternative energy portfolio with the introduction of the Activa e: & QC1 in the electric scooter segment and the introduction of the CB300F flex-fuel motorcycle, which is the country’s first 300cc flex-fuel motorcycle.

To support its e-scooter, the company also joined hands with Honda Power Pack Energy India for its battery swapping network.

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has announced its wholesales for March 2025 and FY2025.

The company sold a total of 549,604 two-wheelers last month, which was 12 percent higher as compared to 490,415 units last year. This includes 510,086 two-wheelers in the domestic market and 39,518 units exported, which was higher 11 percent YoY and 26 percent YoY, respectively.

For FY2025, the company clocked 5.89 million two-wheelers, which was 5 percent higher YoY. On one hand, while the company increased sales of motorcycles by 5.51 percent YoY, scooter sales declined by 2 percent YoY.

In the domestic market, the company sold 5.6 million two-wheelers, up 3.53 percent, as against 5.42 million units last year. Exports grew by 43 percent at 287,429 units, as against 200,923 units shipped last year.

registered sales of 5,899,187 units (5.9 million) in FY’25 (April 2024 to March 2025).

During the year, the company’s electric vehicle portfolio grew by 200 percent, albeit from a low base.  

Recently, Hero MotoCorp also marked its entry in the electric three-wheeler space with the acquisition of a substantial stake in Delhi-NCR-based Euler Motors.

Bajaj Auto, one of the leading two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturers globally, has achieved a new sales milestone for its popular Pulsar brand.

The company has announced that after a period of 24 years, the Pulsar motorcycle has crossed 20 million sales milestone, with the last 10 million unit sales coming in just six years.

Launched in 2001, the Pulsar was amongst the first made-and designed-in-India for India, sporty motorcycle. The company has continued to evolve and expand the Pulsar brand across various price points. Bajaj Auto shared that it was in 2018 that the Pulsar brand crossed the 10 million unit sales milestone, a period of 17 years from the launch.

The Pulsar is now sold across the globe including Latin America, Southeast Asia and Middle East among others.

As part of the milestone celebration, Bajaj Auto has announced Special Celebration prices on select models with saving of up to INR 7,300.

Sarang Kanade, President, Motorcycle Business Unit, Bajaj Auto, said, “Pulsar has always been more than a motorcycle – it's a powerhouse of energy, performance and a ‘Definitely Daring’ attitude. Reaching the 2-crore milestone in more than 50 countries is a badge of honor of the unflinching love and trust of Pulsarmaniacs everywhere. This celebration isn't ours alone – it's for each one of the riders who have made Pulsar a global phenomenon.”