Archive · 4 Oct 2026
India’s 200–250cc Motorcycle Sales Nearly Double, Hero Declines
More people in India bought motorcycles with engines between 200cc and 250cc in the first five months of FY27.
Sales in this group were almost twice as high as in the same period a year earlier.
Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor sold many more bikes in the category.
Suzuki also increased its sales, while Kawasaki more than tripled its sales from a small starting number.
Hero MotoCorp went the other way, selling fewer bikes in this group.
The article says Hero has premium motorcycles but did not launch a new model in this category during the period.
Its Karizma XMR 250 was still awaiting launch.
Experts say one new model may not be enough to catch up with rivals that already sell several popular bikes.
Sales in India’s 200–250cc motorcycle segment rose 91.8% to 130,739 units in April–August FY27, according to SIAM data.
Bajaj Auto sales in the category increased 93.7% to 73,223 units, while TVS Motor sales rose 91.4% to 51,036.
Suzuki Motorcycle India recorded a 135.8% increase to 4,312 units, and Kawasaki more than tripled sales from a small base.
Hero MotoCorp’s sales in the segment fell 18.2% to 1,318 units, despite its focus on expanding its premium motorcycle portfolio.
The article says Hero’s upcoming Karizma XMR 250 could help, but experts argue the company needs a sustained product pipeline to compete with established rivals.
- Who
- Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, Suzuki Motorcycle India, Kawasaki, and Hero MotoCorp.
- What
- India’s 200–250cc motorcycle sales nearly doubled, while Hero MotoCorp’s sales in the segment declined.
- When
- April–August FY27, compared with the same period in FY26.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The article attributes broader two-wheeler demand to a boost following a GST rate reduction and says buyers are increasingly moving toward higher-capacity motorcycles.
Market opportunity
Competitive challenge
Growth prospects for the segment
Market opportunity
Sector experts say the 200–250cc category may grow as consumers move beyond entry-level motorcycles; it offers a balance of performance, features, and affordability.
Competitive challenge
The article says rivals already have established products and customer bases, making it difficult for Hero MotoCorp to gain ground.
Hero’s product strategy
Market opportunity
Hero has identified premium motorcycles as a priority and plans new models in the 150–350cc range; its upcoming Karizma XMR 250 could strengthen its presence.
Competitive challenge
Experts say Hero needs a sustained stream of products and that a single new model or facelift may not be enough to close the gap.
- Segment sales
- 130,739 units in April–August FY27, up 91.8% from 68,166 a year earlier.
- Bajaj Auto
- 73,223 units, up 93.7% from 37,796.
- TVS Motor
- 51,036 units, up 91.4% from 26,670.
- Suzuki Motorcycle India
- 4,312 units, up 135.8% from 1,829.
- Hero MotoCorp
- 1,318 units, down 18.2% from 1,611.
- TVS Ronin
- The article says it accounted for more than 35% of the 200–250cc segment.
- Hero’s upcoming model
- The Karizma XMR 250 was awaiting launch during the period.