The two CBR models will make a comeback with BS-IV compliance but the timeline for the same is a mystery at the moment
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has completely stopped the production of its two motorcycles namely CBR150R and CBR250R. The manufacturing of these two motorcycles halted altogether in April only and most of the stocks were cleared in March end during the BS-III sale.
The Honda CBR150R and CBR250R are likely to return to the dealerships but no exact timeline has been confirmed. A top honcho at Honda hinted that moving forward, the company has plans to make a comeback in this segment. However, he added that it will be a bit early to disclose the details of the same at the moment. Having said that, expect these CBR models to arrive back with a more number of features to keep up with the competition and of course, with BS-IV engines.
The Honda CBR150 and CBR250R were launched back in the year 2011 and gained the attention of the youngsters almost instantly. This was due to the simple reason that there was no fierce rival of these motorcycles at that time as manufacturers did not seem that much interested in the said segment. The Honda CBR250R also made its appearance in India as one of the first motorcycles to sport an ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System).
The reason behind the discontinuation of the two CBRs is the constant decline in sales. Last year, Honda managed to sell just 455 units of the CBR150R and 214 units of the CBR250R on an average per month. The BS-III sale saw the stocks getting almost cleared, thanks to Honda dealers that offered discounts of as high as Rs. 40,000 on the two bikes.
In other news, Honda is planning to add a motorcycle assembly line at its Gujarat factory soon. This is a part of the company’s strategy to become number one two-wheeler manufacturer by the year 2020 and beat Hero MotoCorp. The company has also expanded its presence in the country quite religiously in the last three years as it has risen the number of sales points from 2700 to 5500.