Thanks for initiating a healthy debate
Every company may have its own marketing strategy in place with respect to its product portfolio. All of us can make a guess what we feel and our views could vary from person to person depending upon what products or companies each one of us like. However, Ultimately, it is the customers who decides the winners and losers. we need to see who finally wins. which time only could say.
If I go by last 6 months cumulative sales data from 1st link 2nd slide, Honda is leading the pack with overall 29.8% market share with a gain of massive 4.65% wrt previous year at the cost of all other players.
Segment wise :
100 CC category from slide 3, Honda gains at the cost of others by 2.44%
125 CC – from slide 4, Honda gains by a massive 7.72% at the cost of others.
125-250 CC – from slide 5, Honda gains by 7.11% at the cost of all other players
250 CC & above -from slide 6, Honda loses by 0.65%
What would be the future ? None of us can predict accurately , customer preference could change.
However , every one of us can make a qualified guess.
India is a mass market with 1400 million people and 75% are poor or lower middle class. How many of these people can buy a 250 CC plus premium motorcycle ??? If the mass market grows due to rural demand, It is the entry level which should grow logically.
And in Energy transition , the 250 CC plus bike after EV transition would further go up by 2 times Every player has a iconic brand in 250CC and above catagory- and strong competition for fewer volumes!
That is why entry level would see massive growth as rural consumption grows.
My submission is that we are in the verge of energy transition – where EV is coming in a big way to replace conventional petrol diesel vehicles- carbon foot print reduction is the main goal world over. Added to this India has another problem – we import 85% of Petroleum, we have to depend upon other nations. Crude price is highly volatile. So for us EV is a sure-way forward. on both count – to reduce carbon and to reduce import bill.
That is the reason why entry level EV 2 wheeler is the pocket where the buck lies where every player is focussing.
With my 37 years of professional work experience in Auto Industry and with my limited knowledge on current /emerging trends , I may be wrong in my assessment.