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)

 

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ultraviolette Automotive has introduced the X47 Venom, a substantially upgraded successor to the X47 launched a year ago. Featuring a new 100V electrical architecture, improved performance, greater range, faster charging and enhanced safety, the motorcycle also marks the first production application of a technology platform intended to support the company’s expanding product portfolio.

Introduced on 22 October 2026, the X47 Venom delivers a claimed IDC range of 343 km, peak power of 30 kW (40 hp), wheel torque of 550 Nm and a top speed of 155 kmph. It accelerates from zero to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds and weighs 180 kg, up to 20 kg less than its predecessor. The motorcycle supports 12 kW DC fast charging, which the company describes as a first for an electric two-wheeler in India.

Priced at an introductory INR 265,000 for the first 5,000 customers, deliveries are scheduled to begin in November 2026. A European launch is planned for 3 November at EICMA in Milan.

For the EV maker, the Venom represents more than a model upgrade. It introduces the VX-100, a 100V architecture designed to underpin its next generation of electric two-wheelers.

“The X47 Venom reflects our approach to engineering the entire motorcycle as one integrated system,” says Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive.

“Each subsystem has been developed in conjunction with the others to improve power density, optimise packaging and reduce weight. With 12 kW DC fast charging and multi-tiered electro-mechanical protection, including a pyro-fuse, we have advanced performance, convenience and safety together,” he said,

VX-100 to drive product expansion

Ultraviolette Automotive intends to deploy the VX-100 architecture across its upcoming portfolio, allowing technology developed for one vehicle to be adapted for others rather than requiring a separate electrical platform for every model.

“Over the next one year, you’ll see four new products coming with the same VX-100,” says Rajmohan.

The Tesseract electric scooter and Shockwave motorcycle are among the products identified for the next phase. The company is also working on the F77, although no timeline for an updated version has been disclosed.

The X47 was selected as the first application partly because it accounts for around 90 percent of Ultraviolette Automotive’s volumes, according to Rajmohan. Its crossover positioning also allows it to target riders across sports, adventure and street-motorcycle segments.

The common architecture is designed to accommodate different battery capacities, vehicle configurations and power levels. This modularity could help spread engineering costs across a wider portfolio and accelerate product development.

Till date, Ultraviolette Automotive has invested more than INR 5 billion in research and development, Rajmohan says. Its development process involves validating individual subsystems before integrating them into a complete vehicle.

“Just because a subsystem is ready doesn’t mean it is good enough to put on a vehicle, because it’s a safety-critical system,” he says.

The company’s test programme involves around 20 riders covering approximately 150–200 km a day, with motorcycles fast-charged between rides. The aim is to assess components under demanding conditions and validate the complete vehicle, including interactions between systems.

Powertrain and safety upgrades

The VX-100 combines a new battery system, a lighter motor and a redesigned motor control unit to improve performance, efficiency and packaging.

The SRB-11 battery is designed to deliver up to 20 percent higher energy density and twice the cooling performance. An optimised thermal path is intended to dissipate heat up to 50 percent faster, while a cast-aluminium enclosure provides structural protection.

Safety provisions include a battery management system monitoring cell voltage, temperature and current, alongside cell-level fuses. A pyro-fuse is designed to isolate the circuit within microseconds when a critical fault is detected. The battery pack carries an IP67 rating for protection against dust and water immersion.

The UV LIGHTFURY motor delivers 30 kW and uses soft magnetic composites to reduce mass and energy losses. Meanwhile, the new motor control unit is, according to the company, twice as compact as its predecessor and offers three times the power density.

The 12 kW DC fast-charging system incorporates safeguards against overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, excessive temperature and short circuits.

Charging access remains critical to longer-distance electric motorcycle use. Ultraviolette Automotive has developed its Supernova DC charging network to address gaps at selected highway locations, while working with external providers, including Bolt.Earth.

Rajmohan says the company combines targeted infrastructure investment with access to third-party networks, rather than relying exclusively on proprietary chargers.

Extending rider assistance technology

The X47 Venom features Ultraviolette Automotive’s UV Hypersense radar system, which uses a 77 GHz rear radar with a claimed range of up to 200 metres. Designed to operate at lean angles of up to 20 degrees, it supports blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assistance, overtake alerts and rear-collision warnings.

Other features include a 7-inch TFT touchscreen, integrated front and rear dashcams, Mappls navigation, cruise control and park assist with a rear-camera feed. Connected functions under the VIOLETTE AI package include movement, fall and towing alerts, remote lockdown and crash alerts.

The company has also introduced B-MAX, a reusable rider-safety vest designed to protect the collar, back, chest, sides and hips. Ultraviolette Automotive claims 86 percent force attenuation and says the vest exceeds CE safety standards, with reuse possible up to five times, subject to its condition and intended use.

Beyond two-wheelers, the company has received enquiries from other industries interested in its technology, including motor controllers for drones. However, its immediate focus remains on electric motorcycles and scooters.

“We’re not thinking about any other companies for the purposes of commercialising the technology right now,” says Rajmohan, adding that complementary applications could be explored when the company has the capacity to support them.

Manufacturing for anticipated demand

Ultraviolette Automotive is expanding production capacity alongside its product pipeline. At its existing facility, it has added another vehicle assembly line and scaled up battery production. Rajmohan estimates the plant’s maximum annual capacity at approximately 50,000–60,000 units.

A new facility in Hosur is planned with the potential to scale to around 500,000 units annually, with the first phase expected to provide capacity for 250,000 units. Both plants will remain operational, offering flexibility to manufacture different vehicle types and battery packs.

The expansion reflects the company’s intention to prepare for future demand rather than wait until existing capacity becomes a constraint.

Rajmohan said monthly volumes had been approaching 1,000 units at the time of the interaction. Ultraviolette Automotive claims it has witnessed tens of thousands of bookings for the Shockwave and nearly 80,000 for the Tesseract. These are company-reported bookings, not delivered volumes and conversion into sales will be important to capacity utilisation.

The executive believes electric motorcycles could follow a growth trajectory similar to electric scooters, whose market penetration has increased as consumer acceptance and product availability have improved. He sees the next 36 months as potentially significant for electric motorcycles, although adoption will depend on affordability, infrastructure and consumer confidence.

Expanding the retail and service network

Ultraviolette Automotive had around 55 active locations and was targeting approximately 100 showrooms by the end of 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027. Rajmohan says the company has received more than 2,000 dealership applications but is screening prospective partners for automotive experience and service capability.

The strategy is to establish aftersales support before expanding sales in new markets. Rajmohan cites a partner in Whitefield, Bengaluru, which he says services around 3,000 vehicles a month and has experience as a Royal Enfield service partner.

Around 90 percent of Ultraviolette Automotive’s volumes come from India, with the remainder from international markets, according to Rajmohan. As the company expands geographically, service quality and repair capability will be important for vehicles combining batteries, electronics, radar and connected systems.

The company also plans to support existing products as it introduces the VX-100. Rajmohan says support for both the existing architecture and the new platform, including in Europe, is planned for more than 10 years.

Turning engineering into sustainable growth

Ultraviolette Automotive’s next phase will depend on converting its technology investments into customer acceptance, reliable deliveries and sustainable volumes. Rajmohan believes electric motorcycles can offer competitive ownership economics against internal-combustion alternatives, but identifies brand trust, longevity and resale value as continuing consumer concerns. The company points to battery warranty coverage of up to eight years as one way to address these issues.

Supply-chain costs present another challenge. Rajmohan acknowledges that increases in semiconductor and memory prices cannot simply be passed on to customers. Ultraviolette Automotive is working with suppliers and partners, including Qualcomm and TDK, while exploring alternative components and sourcing options.

The X47 Venom brings together the company’s priorities: improved performance, faster charging and additional safety technology, supported by an architecture intended to serve future products. Execution will be as important as engineering, particularly as manufacturing capacity and the retail network expand.

As CEO and Co-Founder Narayan Subramaniam said in the launch announcement, the VX-100 is intended to establish “a technology foundation for a new generation of products across segments and markets”.

The platform’s success will ultimately depend on how effectively Ultraviolette Automotive translates that foundation into competitive products, customer confidence and sustained growth.

Piaggio Vehicles-owned motorcycle brand Aprilia has introduced the RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute, a limited-edition motorcycle produced to mark its victory record at the Australian circuit.

The vehicle will be on display at the EICMA exhibition in Milan from 5 to 8 November. The special edition commemorates Aprilia's 10 Grand Prix victories at Phillip Island, including the 2025 MotoGP win by Raúl Fernández on the RS-GP, which marked the manufacturer's 300th World Championship victory. The release coincides with the circuit's departure from the MotoGP calendar after 2027.

The motorcycle features a white, green and red livery incorporating the Phillip Island Circuit logo, track layout and chequered flag graphics on the side panels. The fuel tank displays a badge detailing Aprilia's victory count at the track, while the individual serial number is engraved on the steering head plate. The pillion seat cover is included as standard equipment.

Technically based on the standard RS 660, the motorcycle is powered by a front-mounted 660 cc parallel-twin engine delivering 105 horsepower at 10,400 rpm and 70 Nm of torque at 8,400 rpm, with a 35 kW restricted variant also available.

The engine acts as a load-bearing element within an aluminium frame. Electronics include a six-axis inertial platform managing traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control, cornering ABS, launch control, cruise control, adjustable engine mapping and a bidirectional quickshifter.

Italian superbike maker Ducati has introduced the Formula 73 in India, a limited-series motorcycle restricted to 873 numbered units globally at INR 2 million (ex-showroom).

Interestingly, the entire allocation reserved for the Indian market has sold out.

The Formula 73 pays tribute to the 1973 750 Super Sport Desmo, incorporating a silver and aqua green livery, a vertical gold stripe on the fuel tank, clip-on handlebars with bar-end mirrors, a tapered tail, and billet aluminium components.

It is powered by an air-cooled 803 cc Desmodue L-twin engine with desmodromic distribution, the vehicle delivers 73 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 65.2 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. The powertrain is paired with a Termignoni silencer and a Ride-by-Wire throttle system. The chassis utilises a steel trellis frame finished in aqua green, 17-inch spoked wheels fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres and an electronic package featuring cornering braking systems, traction control, directional quick-shifting and dual riding modes.

Bipul Chandra, MD, Ducati India, said, "The Formula 73 is a rolling masterpiece that pays homage to one of the most significant motorcycles in our history, the 1973 750 Super Sport Desmo. We are incredibly proud to secure a highly exclusive allocation of these limited-edition motorcycles for our passionate Ducatisti in India. With only 873 units produced globally, the arrival of the Formula 73 offers a rare opportunity for Indian collectors to own a piece of timeless Italian heritage seamlessly blended with modern Ducati performance."

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has signed a strategic partnership with ERMAR Sociedad Anónima, operating as Distrito Moto, to manage its sales and service network across Guatemala.

The partnership links Hero MotoCorp's vehicle manufacturing with ERMAR's retail operations in Central America. The network spans over 220 distribution points, incorporating more than 60 Distrito Moto sales locations and over 140 Tecno Fácil outlets across the country.

The operations provide vehicle distribution, replacement parts, service support and customer financing through Solvensa. Hero MotoCorp will provide a five-year or 60,000-kilometre warranty across its product line, which includes plans to introduce models such as the Hunk 250R, Xpulse 210, Hunk 150 Xtec ABS and Xoom 125.

Sanjay Bhan, Executive Vice-President of Global Business, Global Product Planning and Global Market Insights, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Guatemala is a strategic market where over 100,000 customers have placed their trust in Hero. Our partnership with Distrito Moto, backed by the strength of ILP Group and Distelsa, reinforces our long-term commitment to these riders and our growth ambitions in Latin America. With a global legacy of engineering excellence, world-class products and a proven track record of delivering quality, reliability and customer-centric experiences, Hero is well positioned to create greater value for riders in Guatemala. With the planned introduction of the Hunk 250R, Xpulse 210, Hunk 150 Xtec ABS and Xoom 125, we look forward to meeting the evolving aspirations of Guatemalan customers."

Javier Lainez, Commercial Head, Distrito Moto, said, "Our ambition is to make Hero ownership accessible and rewarding for more Guatemalans. Through competitive pricing, financing options from Solvensa and dedicated customer support, we want riders to feel confident at every step - from choosing their motorcycle to keeping it running reliably."