Honda 2Wheelers India have announced that they have crossed the 2.5 crore unit sales mark for their bestseller, the Activa. This momentous milestone was reached 20 years into the launch of the first-generation Activa that launched back in 2001. With 2.5 crore units sold, it’s by far and large the best-selling scooter on the planet.
The Honda Activa soon after its launch became a household favorite and the benchmark for commuter scooters. The journey began back in 2001 when Honda launched the first-gen 100cc Activa in a market that was dominated by commuter motorcycles like Hero CD100 and Passion. Okay, there were alternatives like the Bajaj Saffire and the Kinetic Honda, but the Honda struck gold with the Activa as it soon became a segment benchmark thanks to its refinement and reliability.
The first Activa launched in 2011 crossed 55,000 sales within the first year. This generation continued with minor updates till the bigger 110cc engine Activa was launched in 2008. The second generation introduced the combi-brake system, a safety feature that became mandatory for two-wheelers 2018 onwards. By this time, the Activa was raging among the masses and Honda was selling around 55,000 units per month. In 2013-14, the Activa received HET (Honda Eco technology), which Honda claimed, improved the mileage to 60kmpl.
In the years to follow, the Activa range was expanded to multiple models and variants, becoming a sort of brand by itself. We’ve seen the likes of the compact Activa i, Activa 3G, 4G and so on. When the 125cc scooter segment began gaining momentum with the likes of the Suzuki Access 125, Honda launched a rival in the form of the Activa 125 that is now quite a popular model and the segment benchmark in terms of sheer refinement. The Activa 5G brought in key modern-day features like LED headlamps, USB charging port and a 4-in-lock to the table. The Activa 125, yet again was the first Honda scooter to receive BS6 compliance followed by its 110cc siblings.
Commenting on the occasion, Atushi Ogata, MD and CEO, HMSI Pvt. Ltd said, “Since its launch in 2001, be it the 100-110cc engine or the new more powerful 125cc engine, the secret of success of Activa family is Leadership that builds Trust. For 20 years, Activa has been at the forefront of technological innovation, sometimes even decades before it became the industry norm. Be it the Honda patented tuff-up tube and CLiC mechanism in 2001, Honda’s Combi-brake system with Equalizer in 2009, revolutionary Honda Eco Technology (HET) for 10% mileage up in 2013, or even the smarter HET PGM-Fi engine powered by eSP and World First Tumble flow in BS-VI era; every generation of Activa brand continued to evolve, revolutionize the scooter segment and Activate India. We are happy to see that India’s love for the legendary Activa continues to reign supreme.”
With 25 million units sold, Honda has reached a milestone unlike any other with its popular scooter. All models put together, the Activa is expected to continue its glorious journey. If there’s one area that Honda hasn’t explored till date with the Activa is electrification and it would be interesting to see Honda’s approach towards EVs in India going forward.