By T Murrali

As India will be moving to the new emission regime from April this year, the manufacturing companies are fielding new models of new variants with BS-VI engines. India Yamaha Motor (IYM) has announced a slew of new brands, in line with its concept of ‘The Call of the Blue’ that carved out the ‘The Yamaha Uniqueness’ of product line-ups and experiences through the ‘Blue Square’ network. IYM has fielded four vehicles with several innovative features and technologies, with plans to create a strong network of dealers; nonetheless, it has still kept a conservative sales growth target of 4 percent.

In 2019, the company sold 624,000 units (with 40 percent scooters and the rest motorcycles), witnessing a 13 percent drop in sales over the previous year, matching the industry average. It exported 296,000 units during the year. For 2020, IYM has set a target of 650,000 units with the same break-up for scooters and motorcycles. This is just 4 percent more than last year’s sales. However, it aims to raise exports to 315,000 units.

Ravinder Singh, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Planning Group, Yamaha Motors India Sales Pvt Ltd, said, “We have been able to increase our market share in deluxe and premium segments and maintain it in the scooter segment (for Fascino), thanks to our focused brand strategy: ‘The Call of the Blue.’ Our success in 2020 will depend on creating a strong network and we have started working on this direction. ‘Blue Square’ is one such initiative.”

‘Blue Square’ 

‘Blue square’ is a unique concept intended to offer Yamaha’s racing DNA to exciting, stylish and sporty products and experiences. ‘The Call of the Blue’ started in 2018 expanded to products and experiences in 2019.

‘Blue Square’ is created as a destination for all two-wheeler enthusiasts. The concept was to expand the company’s uniqueness for fuelling the passion for riding in India featuring a wide range of riding gears and accessories along with the two-wheeler line-ups that deliver good driving experience. Yamaha Blue Square Showrooms will serve the excitement to grow into a popular culture by turning it into an aspiration for every young rider.

To a question on how ‘Blue Square’ will help the company to strengthen its market position, Singh said the company’s objective is to focus on youngsters. It launched the brand campaign ‘The Call of the Blue’ mainly to connect with the young customers. Now IYM is taking it to the next level with ‘Blue Square,’ which according to him is more of the brand connection, linking its BTL (below the line) activities. “From ATL (above the line) activities to BTL, we are connecting the customers and giving the experience of sporty and stylish vehicles, which is our core DNA, to the product.” The additional dealerships planned for this year will be primarily for ‘Blue Square’ outlets, he said. 

Many of the existing dealerships will also be upgraded to deal with its new introductions of 155cc motorcycle MT-15 and the 125cc scooters, the Ray ZR 125 FI and Street Rally 125 FI, and the iconic Fascino 125 FI. Shifting from the 110cc segment, IYM is strengthening its market in the 125cc scooter segment and the motorcycle line-up.

MT-15

Known for its balance of torque and agility, MT-15 has enhanced control postures and single-channel ABS. A special colour ‘Ice Fluo-Vermillion’ was also introduced. It received rave reviews in many countries for its distinctively aggressive appearance. The new BS-VI compliant MT-15 has a rear radial tyre. Its advanced design expressing torque and agility is popularised further by a minimal look, dynamic headlight, short tail and an overall finish that illustrates its unique style.

The new bike comes with VVA engine for nimble acceleration with model-specific ECU,  optimized secondary reduction gear ratio for snappy riding in town, A&S clutch for stress-free gear shifts, motard-like riding position with a great deal of freedom on a tight, concentrated silhouette, 282mm front disc brake with single-channel ABS for excellent stopping power. The advanced design expressing torque and agility is further accentuated by dynamic front face styling headlight, short tail with a vertical tail light and overall graphics and finish.

Ray ZR 125 FI, Street Rally 125 FI

The new scooters come with several new features, new engine technologies and are available in a range of new colours. The new Ray ZR 125 FI and Street Rally 125 FI are powered by a BS-VI compliant, air cooled, fuel injected, 125cc blue core engine that produces a power output of 8.2 PS @ 6,500 RPM and a torque of 9.7 Nm @ 5,000 RPM. The power output and economy are 30 percent and 16 percent higher respectively than the earlier scooters.

The styling concept is ‘Armored Energy’ which evokes the feeling of a powerful motorcycle laced to proportions, details, striking design and new technologies. The sporty, sharp-looking headlight is Class C-compliant while the Y-shaped LED position light adds greater originality to the design. The turn signals at the front and rear use individual mounting stalks like those used for motorcycles. The Ray ZR 125 FI is available in both drum and disc brake versions, and the disc brake version gets digital instrument cluster as a new feature. The new Ray ZR 125 FI is available in a wide range of colour variants including Dark Matte Blue, Metallic Black, Cyan Blue, Matte Red Metallic and Reddish Yellow Cocktail.

The new Street Rally 125 FI also fuses motorcycle elements with those of a scooter and scatters them throughout the design. Brush guards shield the rider's hands from oncoming airflow and add a sporty, adventure-influenced touch to the machine. It additionally offers fully digital instrument cluster, side panels designed to look like a rugged frame, block-pattern tyre, sporty coloured wheel stripes (front and rear) and side panels intended to look like metallic protectors. The new Street Rally 125 FI is available in two colours: Deep Purplish Blue Metallic and Sparkle Green.

Fascino 125 FI

The new Fascino 125 FI is powered by a BS-VI compliant, air cooled, fuel injected, 125cc blue core engine that produces a power output of 8.2 PS @ 6,500 RPM and a torque of 9.7 Nm @ 5,000 RPM. The power output and economy are 30 percent and 16 percent higher respectively than the earlier scooters.

Along with the new features and technologies, the visual impression of the new Fascino 125 FI rests on its classic European styling as it gets an all-new exterior design, higher quality bodywork, newly designed headlight, new gauges and other features that produce a feeling of elegance and status. The new scooter is designed to be a fashionable vehicle with styling that embodies strength, refinement and beauty along with classical touches. The vehicle is available in disc and drum brakes and a wide range of colour variants including Vivid Red, Metallic Black, Yellow Cocktail, Matte Blue, Dark Matte Blue, Suave Copper and Cyan Blue.

Lightweighting

The body weight of the new Ray ZR 125 FI, Street Rally 125 FI and Fascino 125 FI is 99 kg, which is, at the least, 4 kg lighter than Yamaha's earlier scooters. All the new scooters come with ‘stop & start system’ that prevents engine idling and subsequent start with a single throttle twist which uses the sensors to assess the riding environment. The vehicles have front disc brake with unified brake system. In addition, the smart motor-generator fitted to these vehicles uses electronic controls to bring a quieter engine start without the need for a separate conventional electric starter. One of the key features is the ‘side stand engine cut-off switch,’ which prevents the engine from starting if the side-stand is not retracted. This is a unique feature as it can prevent accidents and ensure safety of the rider.

Talking to this publication on the objective to introduce the engine cut-off switch to the side-stand, Yasuo Ishihara, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Research & Development India Pvt Ltd, said that in Europe these safety systems are mandatory. Since it is a safety feature the company wanted to introduce it in India also. “We have decided to incorporate this feature in the two-wheelers (Ray and Fascino) that we have launched now. In a phased manner this feature will be introduced in all the models we produce.”

The company has also introduced stop-start systems and this was possible as it replaced the starter motor with a combined generator-cum-starter motor. Ishihara said that in India the traffic is dense with more stopping and starting conditions, not only at traffic lights but also on congested roads. This mild hybrid helps in managing these situations while conserving fuel. However, when there are frequent stops and starts, the power drawn will be more from the battery; therefore the company has increased the battery capacity.

Yamaha has also reduced the total kerb weight by 4 kg. This was achieved as the design team was given very stringent targets to reduce weight. There were targets set for every major part in the vehicle. This combined with high-end design helped the company achieve weight reduction despite increasing the sheet metal content. For instance, in the earlier version of the scooters, the front fender was in plastic but in the BS-VI version this has been replaced with metal. According to him, one of the reasons for weight reduction was that the vehicles have no starter motors, since the generators do that function. Despite introducing new technologies, localisation in all the models is over 90 percent, he said.

Target Customers               

The target customers for the three scooters, according to the company, are the youth (18-24 years) who are high on adventure, and who find the true reflection of their riding personality by the mobility they ride and its performance. Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India group of companies, said, “Customers can now take the experience of all such exciting Yamaha two-wheelers at the new ‘Blue Square’ outlets of Yamaha which is conceptualized to garner the racing spirit along with its comfort, ambience and the beacon of the Yamaha Blue. The company also plans to expand its brand strategy of ‘The Call of the Blue’ including product strategies and networks in 2020. The ‘Blue Square’ which was opened recently in Chennai will expand to 100 outlets in 2020 and eventually would consolidate the 125cc scooter market share and sports market share for the brand. The ‘Call of the Blue’ will be scaled up in 2020 to offer the excitement, sporty and stylish experiences to a wider audience.”

Digital Communication

On the communication side, he said, the company is more focused on the digital platform. Despite fielding new stylish models with more safety features and power, the company has set itself a growth of just 4 percent for the current calendar over 2019. Seeking his reason for this, Singh said it is justified. “At this moment we are very conservative. We are talking to dealers and we are also taking feedback from people like you. We see a clear shift from 110cc to 125cc (in scooters) and it will increase in the coming years as people are further upgrading.” Therefore, the segment will further evolve. But it all depends on increasing affordability, which is directly linked to economic growth. The key point is that India is a country where more than 50 percent of the population is young. This is precisely the reason for the company to field products targeting the youth, he said. “Based on the features and the pricing we are going to get a good amount of market share in this segment; still we are taking cautious steps,” he explained.

The company will focus on three areas to connect with its customers easily - Premium, Deluxe and Scooters. Otherwise, connecting with customers from the commuting point of view would be difficult for Yamaha. This is the reason for the company to upgrade its scooters to 125cc, Shitara said.

Currently, IYM has 593 dealers across India with about 2,000 touch points. The company has allotted INR 1,500 crore for building capacity and capabilities, to be spent over four years from 2018. It had to invest INR 16 crore to develop BS-VI engines. Though modifications to the engine were minimal, the additions were in the form of double catalytic converters for exhaust, O2 sensors and advanced OBD modules. Investments have also gone into precision machining of parts for BS-VI related elements, and the development of new parts.  (MT)

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a leading two-wheeler manufacturer in the country, has introduced new colour options across its GIXXER motorcycle line-up, covering the GIXXER, GIXXER SF, GIXXER 250, GIXXER SF 250 and GIXXER SF 250 FFV models. The updates bring revised aesthetic options to the manufacturer's sub-300cc product portfolio, available across dealerships nationwide.

The GIXXER and GIXXER SF models feature a new Metallic Oort Gray and Pearl Blaze Orange dual-tone combination. The GIXXER 250, GIXXER SF 250, and GIXXER SF 250 FFV receive a Glass Sparkle Black and Metallic Oort Gray option. Additionally, a standalone Glass Sparkle Black finish has been added for the flex-fuel GIXXER SF 250 FFV model.

The new GIXXER colour scheme range can be had for prices starting INR 137,221 (ex-showroom Delhi) and INR 140,729 for the GIXXER SF. The quarter-litre models are priced from INR 184,517 for the GIXXER 250, INR 192,768 for the GIXXER SF 250 and INR 198,476 for the GIXXER SF 250 FFV.

Furthermore, customers will also benefit from the promotional purchase incentives of up to INR 1,500 for 155cc variants and up to INR 3,000 for the 250cc variants, alongside retail financing options starting from an interest rate of 5.99 percent.

The motorcycle range remains mechanically unchanged. The 155cc GIXXER and GIXXER SF are powered by an OBD-2B compliant single-cylinder engine producing 13.6 PS and 13.8 Nm, equipped with single-channel ABS and connectivity features. The 250cc series utilises a oil-cooled single-cylinder engine developing 26.5 PS and 22.2 Nm, paired with a six-speed transmission and dual-channel ABS. The flex-fuel GIXXER SF 250 FFV variant operates on ethanol blends up to 85 percent, generating 27.9 PS and 22.5 Nm.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “The GIXXER series has established a distinct identity through its sporty styling and engaging riding character. With the introduction of new colour combinations, we are adding a fresh visual expression to the range while retaining the design and performance attributes associated with GIXXER. We believe these updates will offer our customers more choices to complement their individual style.”

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Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group, has unveiled the Jawa All Stars 42 Bobber at the Global Chess League 2026. The unveiling represents the second release under the company's All Stars series.

The Jawa All Stars 42 features a 334 cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled DOHC engine with electronic fuel injection and a twin exhaust system. The engine delivers 29.9 PS at 7,500 rpm and 30.01 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm, paired with a six-speed transmission.

Built on a double cradle frame with a 1,485 mm wheelbase and 145 mm ground clearance, the motorcycle incorporates 35 mm telescopic front forks and a seven-step adjustable gas-filled rear monoshock absorber. Weighing 177 kg with a 12.5-litre fuel tank, it utilises a 280 mm front disc brake and a 240 mm rear disc brake supported by dual-channel ABS. Additional dimensions include a seat height of 740 mm, an 18-inch front wheel with a 100/90 tyre and a 17-inch rear wheel with a 140/70 radial tyre.

The All Stars edition introduces revised graphics, chequered patterns and updated colour schemes, including Silver Knight and Shadow Black variants.

The Jawa All Stars 42 can be had for prices starting INR 208,942 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Mystic Copper shade, extending to INR 219,942 for the Black Mirror variant. Additional pricing includes INR 215,942 rupees for the Jasper Red finish and INR 217,942 rupees for the Shadow Black model.

Anand Mahindra said, “The Global Chess League has shown how individuality and collective purpose can exist side by side. Every player approaches the board with their own style yet contributes to something larger than themselves. The new Jawa All Stars 42 Bobber reflects a similar idea. It celebrates those who are confident in their own choices and understand that every meaningful move on a chessboard or on the road, begins with intent.”

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Royal Enfield has launched the Himalayan 440 motorcycle at prices starting at INR 229,000 (ex-showroom Tamil Nadu) at the inaugural Himalayan Basecamp event in Ladakh. The launch marks 10-years since the introduction of the initial Himalayan series.

The model features an updated 443cc single-cylinder, long-stroke engine paired with a six-speed transmission. The Himalayan 440 produces 25.4 bhp at 6,250 rpm and 34 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Built on a half-duplex split-cradle frame, the motorcycle includes 41mm telescopic front forks with 200mm of travel and a linkage-type rear monoshock with 180mm of wheel travel. The chassis incorporates 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels, providing 220mm of ground clearance alongside an 800mm seat height and a 15-litre fuel tank.

Braking is managed by a 300mm front disc with a two-piston floating caliper and a 240mm rear disc, supported by switchable dual-channel ABS. Additional specifications include an LED headlamp, digital-analogue instrument panel, Tripper navigation system, and a USB Type-C charging port.

B Govindarajan, Managing Director, Eicher Motors and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Enfield, said, “Over the past decade, the Himalayan’s journey has been deeply gratifying and emotional for us - one shaped by both the mountains and a global rider community that transformed a simple adventure motorcycle into an international phenomenon. One of our most cherished products, it opened the doors to adventure touring and exploration, paving the way for extraordinary journeys from Everest Base Camp to the South Pole. The Himalayan 440 marks a celebration of this incredible journey. Driven by the messages from our community and guided thoughtfully by authentic rider feedback, the Himalayan 440 delivers precisely what was asked for - a simple, accessible, and uncomplicated adventure tourer - the same essence that defined the OG Himalayan.”

Initial production units will carry a 10-year anniversary emblem on the fuel tank. The vehicle is offered in three colour options, namely Sela Black, Mustang Brown and Nelong White.

Royal Enfield is also providing optional 7-year extended warranty package alongside roadside assistance for the Himalayan 440.

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) has reported total sales of 5,79,000 units in August 2026, up eight percent year-on-year as compared to total sales of 5,34,000 units in August 2025. Domestic sales in August 2026 stood at 5,17,000 units, up eight percent as compared to 4,81,000 units sold in August 2025. Exports stood at 61,000 units in August 2026, up 15 percent as compared to the export of 53,000 units in August 2025.

For the year-to-date period of FY27 (April-August 2026), HMSI recorded total sales of 27,33,000 units, registering 13 percent growth against the total sales of 24,25,000 units in April-August 2025. Domestic sales stood at 24,07,000 units during the respective period, up 11 percent as compared to the domestic sales of 21,76,000 unit during April-August 2025. Exports stood at 3,26,000 units during April-August 2026, up 31 percent as compared to the export of 2,49,000 units in April-August 2025.

HMSI, during Augst 2026, continued to serve customers across markets, reinforcing its commitment to mobility solutions across India through a nationwide network of over 7,000 touchpoints.

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