By Areeb Khan
Honda is studing resale values, battery health and long term ownership patterns in India's used electric two-wheeler market. The company expects to gain clearer insights over the next three years before considering a more aggressive EV strategy.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) ko believe hai ki next three years mein company India ke used electric two-wheeler market ko lekar or better understanding develop kar payegi. Iske liye company resale values, battery health or long-term ownership patterns ko closely study kar rahe hai. Abb dekhna yeh hoga ki jab Honda ke paas enough datacollect ho jayega or company usse satisfied hogi, toh kya woh EV segment mein apna approach change karegi? kya Honda future mein electric two-wheelers ko lekar more aggressive strategy adopt karegi, unlike abhi jab company is segment mein relatively cautious approach follow kar rahi hai? According to the company, the market for used EVs may help sustain EV growth Honda abb yeh study kar raha hai ki customers several years tak use karne ke baad electric two-wheelers ko kis tarah respond karte hai. especially jab first generation ke electric vehicles abb pre-owned market mein enter kar rahe hai. Is assessment mein battery replacement ki requirements ko bhi analyse kiya jaa raha hai, along with yeh understand karna ki electric two-wheelers apni operating life ke during kitni value retain kar paate hai. According to Autocar Professional, HMSI ke president, MD or CEO Tsutsumu Otani ne kaha ki company abb is baat ko analyse kar rahi hai ki vehicles ki residual value ko kaise improve kiya jaaye or time ke saath unki value ko kaise maintain rakha jaaye. Unke according, yeh ek key issue hai, because sirf new models launch karna hi improtant nahi hai, rather time ke saath vehicle ki value ko maintain karna bhi utna hi important hai. Used EV market ko assess karne ke timeline ke baare mein poocha gaya ki Honda India mein electric two-wheelers ko lekar apna approach or aggressive karne se pehle kitna time legi. Is par Otani ne kaha ki, "Perhaps next three years mein humein is market ko lekar ek clearer understanding mil jayegi" means Honda next three years mein used EV market ko or achhe se understand karne ke baad electric two-wheelers ko lekar apni future strategy par more clarity gain karna chahti hai. Unhone note kiya ki electric vehicles ki first wave around five years ago, means 2021 mein market mein enter hui thi, and abb Honda observe karna start kar raha hai ki customers used EVs ko kis tarah respond kar rahe hai. Otani ne kaha ki historically motorcycle customers apni bikes ko 10 years se bhi zyada time tak use karne ki expectation rakhte aaye hai. But electric vehicles ke case mein battery replacement or residual value jaise additional factors bhi consider karne padte hai. Honda yeh study karna chahti hai ki second-hand EV market time ke saath kaise develop hoti hai, because isse EV market ki growth ko continue rakhne mein help mil sakti hai. Unhone kaha ki Honda EV purchase karne ke baad customers ka reaction bhi study kar rahi hai. Other than this, jaise-jaise more EVs apne first ownership period ko complete karengi, waise-waise second hand EV market kaise develop hota hai, Honda is par bhi time to time watch karti rahegi. Otani ne confirm kiya hai ki used EV market par Honda work kar rahi hai, jismein battery condition assessment bhi include hai. Especially jab electric two-wheelers ab ek owner se doosre owner ke paas jaa rahe hai, so battery ki health check karna bhi kaafi important ho jaata hai. Jaise smartphone mein abb battery-health indicator diya jaata hai, waise hi EVs mein bhi battery ki condition check karne ke liye reliable methods ki need hogi. Isse buyers ko pata chal payega ki used electric vehicles ki battery kitni achhi condition mein hai. Unhone yeh bhi add kiya ki Honda study kar raha hai ki electric vehicle market mein bhi customers ka behaviour isi tarah develop ho sakta hai ya nahi. Other than this, battery ki condition or used electric vehicles ko customers kitna accept karte hai, yeh bhi kuch important areas hai jinpar abhi research chal rahi hai. India mein apne electric two-wheeler portfolio ko expand karne ke saath Honda bhi apne future electric products ko lekar assessment kar rahi hai. HMSI ne abb tak Activa e, QC1, or QC3 ko introduce kiya hai, jismein se latest QC3 ko September 2026 mein launch kiya gaya tha, jiski ex-showroom price Rs 1.35 lakh price ki gayi hai. QC3 ki initial rollout at present five cities mein cover karti hai. Other than this, Otani ne confirm kiya hai ki Honda or bhi electric products ko consider kar rahi hai, although unhone abhi tak in products ke names, numbers ya launch timelines ko specify nahi kiya hai. Unhone yeh bhi add kiya ki Honda ke paas or bhi products under consideration hai, but kaunse solutions customers ke liye suitable rahenge, iska decision customer requirements ko mind mein rakhkar hi liya jayega. Company ke battery-swapping business ki baat karein so, Otani ne bataya ki Honda B2B or private ownership, both segments ki requirements ko examine kar rahi hai. Unhone kaha ki B2B customers ke liye battery swapping kaafi useful ho sakta hai, because ismein battery charge hone ka wait nahi karna padta. Isse professional users ka working time waste nahi hota or woh apne vehicles ko bina charging ke liye long time tak wait karne ke instead, continuously use kar sakta hai. Private customers ke liye, Otani ne battery subscription ko ek or ownership option ke form par point out kiya hai. Is model mein battery ki ownership mein nahi hoti, rather service provider ki asset rehti hai. Isse buyers ko directly battery own karne ki need nahi hoti. Otani ke according, yeh arrangement un customers ke liye kaafi appealing ho sakta hai jo ownership se related risks or future mein uski residual value ko lekar concerned rehta hai. Honda ke electric scooters ko mil rahe response ke baare mein baat karte hue, Otani ne kaha ki in scooters ka adoption gradually grow kar raha hai. Ismein delivery or professional users bhi include hai. Unhone bataya ki battery swapping ka benefit in customers ko zyada mil sakta hai, because of their daily usage requirements. Otani ne India ke different markets mein EV adoption ko lekar bhi baat ki. Unke according large cities or urban centres mein EV adoption ki speed kaafi fast ho sakti hai, whereas smaller cities or rural areas mein biofuels or other energy sources ko more acceptance mil sakta hai. Unhone ye bhi kaha ki India ka future energy mix to some extent government ke objects, infrastructure ki availability or different regions ki requirements par depend karega. Yeh sab aise time par ho raha hai jab Indian two-wheeler market mein Honda ka market share abhi bhi competitors ke comparison mein kaafi low hai. VAHAN data ke according, July mein TVS ne 55,892 registrations ke saath market lead kiya, followed by Bajaj jiske 45,910 registrations rahe. After that Ather ke 30,704 registrations or Vida (Hero) ke 23,003 registrations record kiye gaye. Wahi agar Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) ki baat karein, so company July mein sirf 940 electric two-wheeler registrations hi record kar payi. That means 2.06 lakh units ke total electric two-wheeler segment mein Honda ka share sirf 0.5 percent raha. News Source: Autocar India