Honda clocks 500m global two-wheelers, bets big on India with Rs 920 cr expansion

Honda has reached a major global milestone with its total production of motorcycles and scooters crossing the 500 million mark. This achievement comes 76 years after the company began mass production in 1949. Fast forward to 2025, the 500 millionth unit rolled off the line in Honda’s largest market, India, and it was none other than the local hero - Activa.

HMSI’s production capacity expansion
Honda has an annual production capacity of over 20 million units spread across 23 countries and regions with 37 production facilities. As for India, the company currently operates four factories with a total annual production capacity of 6.14 million.


To further scale its production, the manufacturer will build a fourth assembly line at its fourth factory located in Vithalapur in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This new line is scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2027 and will add an annual capacity of 6.5 lakh units. With this, the total capacity at the Vithalapur plant will increase to 2.61 million units per year, making it the largest two wheeler manufacturing facility for Honda anywhere in the world. Interestingly, this very facility is also the largest scooter-only manufacturing plant in the world and produces one Activa every 20 seconds.

Honda will be investing around Rs 9.20 crore for this expansion. With the addition of the new line, Honda’s total two wheeler production capacity in India will rise to around 7 million units per year by 2027.

India to play a key role in EV, export expansion
India has been one of Honda’s strongest markets. The company began local production in 2001 with the Activa scooter, which has gone on to become the country’s best seller. It now sells around 2.5 million units of the Activa every year. Last month, the company also reached another milestone by producing 70 million units in India over the past 25 years.

Looking ahead, Honda is also betting big on electric two wheelers. The company plans to launch at least one new electric model globally every year. It is working on modular electric vehicles that will be developed and produced in India from 2028. Besides that, the company is also planning to locally manufacture batteries and motors at its third plant in Karnataka. A new EV focused plant will also be built within the Narsapura campus with plans to begin operations in 2028.

At present, Honda has a strong 40 percent share of the global two wheeler market which stands at about 50 million units. It exports to 62 countries and regions including South Asia, Central and Latin America and several developed markets.