While the Splendor iSmart 110, as per the company, is the first-ever grounds-up motorcycle developed by the engineers in-house, it becomes the first-ever Splendor model in the 110cc segment, a currently Honda-dominated turf.
The Splendor iSmart 110, which is slated to be launched tomorrow, will also be the second model from Hero’s stable to be equipped with iSmart (start-stop) technology.
The first model was the 97.2cc Splendor iSmart, which was launched in March 2014. As per SIAM’s industry data for FY2015-16, India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp commands an impressively dominating 72 percent market share in the mass commuter motorcycle segment upto 110cc engine displacement. Interestingly, while Hero rides the market in this segment on the back of its popular Splendor, Passion and HF Deluxe brands, it has only a single model in the 110cc class, which is the 109cc Passion X Pro.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), on the other hand, competes in this segment with slightly higher engine displacement of 110cc.
It stood as the third largest player in the commuter motorcycle market upto 110cc in FY2015-16 (Bajaj Auto stood second, thanks to CT100).
Honda sells an average of around 50,000 units per month with Dream series variants and Livo models contributing to the same.
While this makes Honda the largest selling bike maker particularly in the 110cc engine displacement, it currently competes with TVS Motor’s and Yamaha’s 110cc rivals such as Victor, Star City and Saluto RX respectively.
Notably, Bajaj Auto does not sell any model in the said engine displacement league. It is this growing space that Hero MotoCorp clearly aims to explore with the incoming all-new Splendor iSmart 110.