New Delhi: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has overtaken Hero MotoCorp in February 2025.
During the month, HMSI dispatched 3.83 lakh units to its dealers, while Hero MotoCorp reported sales of 3.57 lakh units. This marks the third instance in the ongoing fiscal year, following similar leads in July and August thereby marking a significant shift in the two-wheeler market in the country.
ETAuto reported how Honda zipped past Hero during the cumulative April-July period this year.
However, it may be noted that both the OEMs reported a year-on-year drop when compared to their sales in the corresponding month of last year.
Meanwhile, when considering overall sales, including domestic and exports, Honda is still leading with 54.04 lakh units during YTD FY25, largely driven by its exports, compared to Hero, which stands at 53.49 lakh units.
However, Hero MotoCorp is taking a lead as it has recorded 51.01 lakh units in the domestic market during the April-February period, compared to 49.25 lakh units of HMSI, reflecting a difference of about 1.76 lakh units.
Experts suggest that the competition could intensify as electric vehicles (EVs) from both the companies enter the picture.
Hero MotoCorp has been the market leader in the domestic two-wheeler industry in terms of wholesales since the separation of Hero Honda, the joint venture between India’s Munjal family and Japan’s Hero Motor Corp, in 2010-11.
With a widespread retail network and a stronghold in entry-level commuter motorcycles like Splendor and Passion, Hero continues to dominate, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. However, with the growing trend of premiumisation, sales in this segment have been declining across the industry.
On the other hand, HMSI is well-known for its Activa scooters, a category that has been its core and has gained significant traction in recent years.
