One Year Since The Pandemic: E-biking Has Become A Viable Commuting Option For India’s Urban Elite

One Year Since The Pandemic: E-biking Has Become A Viable Commuting Option For India’s Urban Elite

Covid has stalled many cycles but it has revived the demand for electric bicycles worldwide. In India, its sales (which were stagnant) grew by over two-fold in the last year.

The acceleration has been caused by the growing desire for fitness and personal mobility. With restrictions on movement and access to gyms or sports arenas, people have taken up cycling as an alternative way of exercising. The adoption of cycling as apart of one’s lifestyle is growing across age groups and is proof that the pandemic has changed mindsets. If only the pandemic had waned in India, cycling would get a fresh pedal on World Bicycle Day.

Electric bicycles, aka e-bikes, globally are playing a major role as it helps in meeting the goals of smart cities. It allows the user to commute faster, increases transportation options, contributes towards curbing pollution, enhances road safety by reducing traffic congestion and allows for social distancing. E-bikes are ideal for anyone who craves speed without the mechanical intricacies of a gas-powered machine. A lot of attention is also being given to its design, as one can now find handsome designs with fine finishing and detailing. 

The traditional way of looking at bicycles is that it's either meant for fitness or to travel shorter distances. But not anymore as e-bikes have become the latest craze around the globe. With easy distribution, offline and online, more and more e-bikes are seen on the roads. 

But how is this important for corporations and employers? With improvement in physical fitness, no wastage of time in traffic jams, and reduced frustration from road rages and accidents, comes astronomical improvement in the mental health of workers, thus further improving their efficiency, leading to higher output and reduced leaves due to health issues.

Employers in India have begun to notice the benefits of e-bikes and have started taking the initiative of providing their employees with the same and enjoying the benefits of costs saved and healthy employees. OEM brands working in the e-bikes sector need to join hands together to promote this habit to co-exist within all metropolises to make the impact significant enough on a global scale.

The pedal assistance allows all age groups to travel more easily and longer while giving them the proper daily dose of vitamin D. A typical working professional in an Indian metropolitan city lives within a radius of 10 kilometres from their workspace. However, with the proliferation of motorised vehicles in such cities, and the tacit label of status that is attached to the ownership of a motorised vehicle, our roads are choked with private cars and motorcycles. This has increased the average living expenses by around INR 1.2-1.5 lakh annually if you own a car or INR 30-50 thousand for a motorcycle. Along with this comes numerous problems such as clogged roads, instances of road rage and accidents, all of which have contributed to time wasted on the road and deteriorating mental health. This is also not to mention, the costs of air pollution and CO2 emissions making life in the city bleaker by the day.

 

Highlighting the Advantages of Electric Bicycles

  1. Cycling, as we all know, is one of the best exercises that help in maintaining the body metabolism. For moderate distances like 25–50-kilometre, e-bikes are the best solution.
  2. E-bikes are pollution-free. Imagine a scenario where battery-operated automobiles are seen in large numbers on the roads. E-Bikes are surely going to contribute to keeping the environment green!
  3. Simple to operate and park – The safety automatic features make e-bikes a hassle-free technology. You do not have to stress about what gear you are in and how to operate the clutch correctly. You only have to execute a little physical effort to drive your e-bike. The fact that you do not have to worry about gas or oil makes it fantastic. They are also easy to park in.
  4. Connected mobility enables the fusion of technology with products that make them intelligent. 

 

Now you need not be Lance Armstrong to get the thrill of riding at an average speed of 25 kilometres per hour. Just own an e-bike and go riding your world! Governments and businesses around the world have come to realise the true benefits of e-biking to work and have worked together in bringing schemes to encourage this habit. The UK government’s scheme of biking to work is one such example, where both parties have come together to subsidise the cost of ownership of e-bikes for their employees. Governments around the world have also cordoned off zones and lanes specifically for cycles and e-bikes, measures that have been adopted by the Kolkata government (which has announced 120 kilometres of cycling lanes in the city).

However, the major challenge facing the industry today is awareness. People are just not aware of e-bikes and their benefits and that’s primarily due to the limited reach. This is the right time to adopt e-mobility for a greener and fitter India.

 

India Bike Week Shifts From Goa To Panchgani Hills For 2025 Edition

IBW

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 19th and 20th 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.

Hero MotoCorp Clocks 31% Sales Uptick In November Amid Continued Demand

Hero MotoCorp

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.

Suzuki Motorcycle India Sells 122,300 Units In November 2025

Suzuki Motorcycle India

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.”

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Clocks 25% Sales Growth In November

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter

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.