India (Commonwealth) _Honda Motor is kicking off its global electrification effort on Saturday by announcing that it would start selling electric two-wheelers in India for the upcoming fiscal year. By 2030, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India hopes to produce one million electric two-wheelers annually.
According to HMSI President Atsushi Ogata, during a press conference on Wednesday, HSMI would begin with an annual capacity of about 600,000 units and ramp this up dependent on market demand. He also mentioned that output is anticipated to commence in March 2024.
Honda Motor hopes to increase yearly sales of electric motorcycles to 3.5 million units globally by the year 2030. In the southern Indian state of Karnataka, two variants with interchangeable batteries will be produced. HSMI will collaborate with Honda Power Pack Energy India, which started a battery-sharing program in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in 2022. It intends to provide the service to further cities.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers reports that in fiscal 2021, more than 13 million two-wheelers were sold in India. Hero MotoCorp led the industry with 4.64 million units and over 30% of the market, followed by HMSI with 3.46 million. During the first 11 months of fiscal 2022, total sales exceeded 14.5 million, indicating that the market is beginning to recover from the epidemic.
A significant step in realizing Honda’s 2030 Vision, which is to provide people all over the globe with the delight of realizing their full potential in life, is the electrification of bikes and cars. Honda reaffirmed its direction in boosting electrification and its future goals at the April 26 news conference. These are a few of the news conference’s standout moments.
Honda’s EV Objectives
Honda plans to launch 10 or more electric motorbike models by 2025, with 3.5 million units sold annually, or around 15% of the company’s total sales, by 2030.
Alongside the three-wheeled GYRO e: the BENLY e: is already in use in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and other nations for postal and delivery services. Additionally, there are plans to offer electric versions for a wider audience. The EM1 e: which has a swappable battery system and a peak speed of 45 km/h and a range of more than 40 km on a single charge, is the first model in this series. The EM1 e: may be ridden without waiting for its battery to recharge by swapping out the battery for a pre-charged Mobile Power Pack. By late 2023, the EM1 e: is expected to be introduced in Europe, Indonesia, and Japan.
With ambitions to produce more than 2 million EVs annually globally by 2030, Honda is also stepping up efforts to meet its goal of having EVs and FCEVs account for 100% of its global automotive sales by 2040.
In North America, General Motors (GM) and Honda collaborated to create the PROLOGUE and ZDX models, which will be introduced by Honda and Acura in 2024. Honda plans to introduce a mid- to large-size electric vehicle (EV) in 2025 that uses a new E&E design built on its own EV platform. Honda intends to introduce two small EVs, including an SUV model, in 2026, an N-ONE-based EV in 2025, and an N-VAN-based light commercial EV in 2024 in Japan.
Honda intends to introduce the e:NS2 and e:NP2 in China at the beginning of 2024, along with a mass-production vehicle based on the e:N SUV concept model that was presented at this month’s Shanghai Motor Show, in 2024. Honda wants to launch ten electric vehicles by 2027 and reach a 100% EV sales ratio ahead of other areas by 2035.
Value Chain
Honda will keep sourcing batteries from outside sources for the foreseeable future. By the end of 2023, GM will provide Honda with “Ultium” lithium-ion batteries in North America, and the two companies will form a production joint venture. Honda plans to expand its cooperation with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the largest automotive battery maker globally, in China. Additionally, Honda will be sourcing light commercial EV batteries from Envision AESC in Japan.
Honda will boost both its internal research and development as well as external procurement starting in the late 2020s. Honda will introduce an all-solid-state battery test line in addition to working with GS Yuasa to produce high-capacity, high-power lithium-ion batteries for EVs.
