The eagerly awaited Honda Activa Electric is making progress toward its production and launch with some fresh details emerging about the company's preparations and timelines.
Production Expansion and Timeline
Honda is reportedly expanding its manufacturing capabilities to support the launch of its electric vehicles, including the Activa Electric. The company is adding two new production lines at its facilities in Gujarat and Karnataka, with the Karnataka plant set to start production of the Activa Electric (codenamed K4BA) by December 2024. Initially projected for an early 2024 launch, the release of the Honda Activa Electric has now been pushed to early 2025. This update comes following a statement from Atsushi Ogata, MD and CEO of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSCI), last year.
Platform and Design Innovations
The Activa Electric will debut on Honda’s newly developed ‘Platform-E’. Insights into its design, derived from patent drawings released earlier show that the scooter will feature a swingarm-mounted motor. In order to make maintenance tasks like replacing a punctured rear wheel easier, this design decision tries to streamline the production process.
Pricing and Market Position
Expected to be priced around Rs 1.10 lakh (ex-showroom, including subsidy), the Honda Activa Electric will enter a competitive market segment. It will contend with established electric scooters like the Ather Rizta, TVS iQube, Hero Vida V1 Pro, Ola S1 Air, and the Bajaj Chetak. To meet the growing need for sustainable urban mobility options Honda has taken a major step forward by entering the electric scooter industry with a model based on its best-selling Activa brand.