Honda Two-Wheeler Sales Jan 2026: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) reported total dispatches of 5,19,579 units in January 2026, marking a year-on-year growth of nearly 29 per cent compared to 4,02,977 units in the same month last year.
The performance highlights strong demand recovery in key mass segments, while also revealing changing trends in buyer preferences across scooters, commuters and premium motorcycles.
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Activa Remains the Backbone of Honda’s Volumes
The Activa continues to dominate Honda’s portfolio by a wide margin. With 2,71,924 units sold, the scooter alone accounted for more than half of the company’s total monthly volumes and recorded a robust 63 per cent YoY growth.
This trend reinforces the continued strength of the urban mobility and family scooter segment, where reliability, resale value and low running costs remain key purchase drivers. The Activa’s performance also underlines the resilience of the scooter market despite rising competition and increasing electrification options.
For Honda, the dependence on a single high-volume product remains both a strength and a strategic risk, as any shift in this segment could significantly impact overall sales.
Commuter Segment Faces Mixed Momentum
The Shine 125, Honda’s second-highest selling model, recorded 1,35,076 units but saw an 11 per cent decline year-on-year. The drop indicates intensifying competition in the 125cc commuter space, where multiple brands are expanding feature offerings and fuel-efficiency claims.
However, the standard Shine showed a contrasting trend, growing 55 per cent YoY to 26,148 units, suggesting that demand remains strong in value-focused commuter categories.
The CB Unicorn 160, with 35,710 units, emerged as the third-best seller, reflecting continued demand for reliable mid-commuter motorcycles among daily riders.
Overall, the commuter segment remains volume-heavy but increasingly competitive, forcing manufacturers to balance pricing, features and fuel economy more aggressively.
Scooter Portfolio Shows Divergence
While the Activa performed strongly, Honda’s other scooters delivered mixed results. The Dio declined sharply by 44 per cent to 13,855 units, indicating a possible shift in buyer preference toward either more practical family scooters or entry-level electric alternatives.
The Dio 125, however, registered 11,607 units, suggesting that buyers in the sporty scooter category are gradually moving toward higher-displacement variants rather than entry-level models.
This shift reflects a broader trend where younger buyers are seeking a balance between style and performance, rather than purely entry-level mobility.
Premium Motorcycles Show Early Growth Signals
One of the standout performers in January was the CB350, which recorded a significant 224 per cent YoY growth to 5,500 units. This highlights growing traction in the mid-capacity retro and premium motorcycle segment, where lifestyle positioning and brand experience are becoming key purchase factors.
The H’ness CB350 remained largely stable at 2,302 units, while models such as the CB200X showed modest growth and the Hornet 2.0 recorded a slight decline.
Although volumes in this segment remain relatively small, the high growth rate indicates an opportunity for Honda to strengthen its premium strategy in India, especially as buyers increasingly upgrade from commuter motorcycles.
Entry-Level and Niche Models Under Pressure
Several commuter and lower-volume models showed weak performance. The Livo declined by 9 per cent, while the SP160 dropped significantly by 51 per cent.
At the lower end of the portfolio, models such as the Dream, CB Unicorn 150, and CB500 recorded zero dispatches in January, indicating portfolio rationalisation or declining demand.
This suggests that Honda may gradually streamline its lineup to focus on high-demand segments and more profitable categories.
Electric Push Yet to Gain Traction
Honda’s early electric efforts remain limited in scale. The Activa E registered just 224 units, indicating cautious market acceptance. With strong competition from established electric scooter players and pricing sensitivity in the mass segment, Honda’s EV strategy is still in its early stages.
For buyers, this signals that the company is likely to take a gradual approach to electrification rather than aggressive volume expansion in the near term.
What This Means for the Market
The Honda Two-Wheeler Sales Jan 2026 performance highlights three key trends:
- Scooters remain the primary growth engine, especially family-oriented models.
- Commuter motorcycles are becoming more competitive, with pressure on traditional volume leaders.
- Premium motorcycles are emerging as a growth opportunity, though from a low base.
Honda’s strong overall growth also brought it closer to the industry leadership position, indicating improved momentum after a relatively stable period.
Honda Two-Wheeler Sales Jan 2026
| Model | Jan 2026 | Jan 2025 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activa | 2,71,924 | 1,66,739 | +63% |
| Shine 125 | 1,35,076 | 1,51,439 | −11% |
| CB Unicorn 160 | 35,710 | — | — |
| Shine | 26,148 | 16,851 | +55% |
| Dio | 13,855 | 24,882 | −44% |
| Dio 125 | 11,607 | — | — |
| CB350 | 5,500 | 1,699 | +224% |
| Livo | 4,433 | 4,853 | −9% |
| SP160 | 2,474 | 5,019 | −51% |
Outlook- Honda Two-Wheeler Sales Jan 2026
Honda Two-Wheeler Sales Jan 2026 results show a portfolio that is heavily dependent on mass-market scooters, while premium motorcycles are beginning to show promising growth. The key challenge ahead will be balancing this volume-driven strategy with expansion in premium and electric segments.
If the company can strengthen its EV offerings and sustain momentum in higher-capacity motorcycles while maintaining its leadership in scooters, it will be better positioned to navigate India’s evolving two-wheeler market over the coming years.
Disclaimer: Sales figures are based on company-reported wholesale dispatch data. Actual retail numbers may vary by region and dealership inventory levels.
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Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he has over four years of experience covering car and bike launches, EV updates, price changes, and key developments in the Indian automobile industry.
