Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has announced an investment of ₹920 crore (approximately $108 million) to establish a fourth production line at its Vithalapur manufacturing facility in Gujarat. The expansion aims to cater to the increasing demand in India, the world’s largest two-wheeler market.
The announcement was made during a special event at the Vithalapur plant near Ahmedabad, celebrating Honda’s global milestone of producing 500 million two-wheelers. The new production line is expected to become operational in the first half of 2027.
With the addition of this line, the Vithalapur facility’s annual production capacity will increase from 1.96 million to 2.61 million units, positioning it among the largest two-wheeler manufacturing hubs globally.
HMSI currently operates four plants across India:
- Manesar, Haryana – 38,000 units
- Tapukara, Rajasthan – 1.3 million units
- Narsapura, Karnataka – 2.5 million units
- Vithalapur, Gujarat – 1.96 million units (before expansion)
The upcoming expansion will add 650,000 units to the Vithalapur plant’s capacity, raising HMSI’s total annual production capability in India to approximately 7 million units by 2027.
In a significant step towards electrification and expansion, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has announced plans to set up a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) plant within its existing Vithalapur facility in Gujarat. The EV plant is slated to begin operations in 2028 and forms part of Honda’s broader global strategy to launch at least one electric model every year.
Positioning India as a key export hub, the Japanese automaker aims to tap into global markets from its Indian base. HMSI President, CEO, and Managing Director Tsutsumu Otani highlighted the strategic importance of this investment in meeting the surging domestic demand while boosting exports to over 62 countries, including markets in Central and South America.
The latest expansion at Vithalapur is also expected to generate 1,800 new jobs, further contributing to local economic development. This move aligns with HMSI’s ambition to challenge Hero MotoCorp’s dominance and become India’s top two-wheeler manufacturer. Otani has reaffirmed Honda’s focus on leveraging automation, enhancing local supplier networks, and increasing manufacturing efficiency to capture market leadership.
The announcement coincided with HMSI’s 25th anniversary in India and a major local production milestone—70 million two-wheelers manufactured to date. Known for its best-selling Activa scooter, the company also reiterated its global commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and eliminating traffic-related emissions across its motorcycles and cars by 2050.
As part of its ongoing community engagement, HMSI donated 50 Quick Response Team vehicles to the Gujarat Police. The company claims its social impact initiatives—focused on water conservation, healthcare, agriculture, and workforce diversity—have touched 3.2 million lives across Gujarat.
Together, the expansion and new EV facility underscore Honda’s long-term commitment to the Indian market and its strategic vision of becoming a global leader in sustainable mobility.
