India’s two-wheeler market continues to be a driving force in the automotive sector, with OEMs dispatching 16.56 million units in the first 10 months of FY2025, marking a 10.7% year-on-year increase. Motorcycles lead the market with a 63% share, followed by scooters at 35%, while mopeds have also registered growth.
Shifting Trends in India’s Motorcycle Market
The 100-110cc category remains the top-selling segment, while the 110-150cc range is witnessing rapid expansion. However, a notable shift is occurring as buyers increasingly favor premium 200-300cc motorcycles, leading to a decline in the 150-200cc segment.
According to SIAM data, nearly every motorcycle sub-segment has grown except for the 150-200cc category, which is struggling despite the broader industry’s upward trajectory.
Segment-Wise Breakdown
- 100-110cc: 4.83 million units sold (+2% YoY), capturing 46% market share.
- 110-125cc: 3.05 million units sold (+15% YoY), holding 29% of the market.
- 125-150cc: 607,721 units sold (+42% YoY), accounting for 6% market share.
- 150-200cc: 932,332 units sold (-8% YoY), representing 9% of the market.
The 150-200cc segment, once a key volume driver, has seen a decline of 78,658 units compared to last year, primarily due to weaker performances from major brands like Bajaj Auto, Honda, Hero MotoCorp, and Suzuki.
Brand-Wise Performance: TVS and Yamaha Shine, Others Struggle
TVS Motor Company
TVS leads the 150-200cc segment with its Apache RTR series, selling 364,050 units in the first 10 months of FY2025. This marks an 18% year-on-year growth, giving TVS a commanding 39% share of the category. However, the TVS Raider witnessed a 14% decline, with 340,699 units sold.
India Yamaha Motor
Yamaha recorded a 6% YoY growth, selling 200,185 units and securing a 21% market share. The MT-15 V2.0 experienced nearly 50% growth, while the YZF R15 saw a slowdown.
Bajaj Auto
Bajaj Auto faced an 18% decline, selling 188,754 units—42,620 fewer than last year. Despite offering nine models in this category, including six Pulsars, the Avenger 160 Street, and two KTM 200s, sales of the Pulsar range dropped by 20%, while KTM models remained stable.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI)
Honda suffered a 36% decline, selling 134,778 units—down 75,653 units from last year. The Unicorn 160, SP160, Hornet 2.0, and CB200X (now NX200) all saw declining sales, though recent updates, including OBD2B compliance and TFT dashboards, may help boost demand.
Hero MotoCorp
Hero sold 32,141 units in the 150-200cc segment, registering a 39% drop. The Xpulse 200 4V showed stronger demand, especially after its latest update, but the Xtreme 160R struggled.
Suzuki Motorcycle India
Suzuki sold just 11,761 units of its 155cc Gixxer and Gixxer SF, reflecting a sharp 36% decline.
India Kawasaki Motor
Kawasaki sold 663 units of the 177cc W175 Street in this segment.
Are 150-200cc Buyers Moving to Other Segments?
The 150-200cc commuter segment is under pressure as buyers gravitate toward both the 125-150cc and higher 200-350cc categories. The 125-150cc segment saw a significant 42% growth, indicating a shift toward more fuel-efficient and affordable motorcycles.
Meanwhile, the 200-250cc (+17% YoY, 110,297 units) and 250-350cc (+3% YoY, 703,475 units) categories are gaining popularity. This trend is driven by narrowing price gaps and increasing consumer preference for premium, feature-rich motorcycles.
With the Union Budget’s focus on increasing disposable income, the market dynamics may shift further, potentially reshaping demand across segments. The coming months will determine whether the 150-200cc segment can recover or if its buyers have permanently moved to other categories.
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