In April-June 2025, the Indian two-wheeler industry registered wholesales of 4.98 million units, up 20 percent YoY. And what's interesting is that the humble moped, positioned at the lowest end of the two-wheeler pyramid, continues to significantly contribute to the overall industry numbers.

TVS XL100, sales figures details

As per SIAM wholesales data for Q1 FY2025 (April-June 2024), TVS despatched 1,22,715 XL100s, a 16.58 percent increase from Q1 FY2024 (1,05,261 units). That averages to 1,348 mopeds sold daily during the 91-day period. The reason for the moped's popularity is its affordability quotient, good efficiency, and ability to carry heavy loads, especially in rural India. Most of the demand originates from South India, Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

From the base Heavy-Duty (Rs 44,999) to the top-end Comfort i-Touchstart (Rs 60,905), the XL100 is currently sold in five variants.

TVS Motor Co. currently offers just one moped for sale: the TVS XL100. It comes in five variants (as shown above), priced from Rs 44,999 for the base 'Heavy-Duty' XL100 to Rs 60,905 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end Comfort i-Touchstart variant. The XL100 is powered by a BS VI-compliant four-stroke, single-cylinder 99.7cc petrol engine that produces 4.3hp at 6,000rpm and of 6.5Nm at 3,500rpm. It has a kerb weight of 89kg.

A deep dive into 15-year wholesales data reveals that mopeds, which held a 41 percent share (5,46,584 units) of TVS two-wheelers (1.35 million units) in FY2010, currently account for 15 percent of total TVS volumes, with 1,22,715 units sold in Q1 FY2025 out of 8,28,323 two-wheelers.

Cumulative sales of 1,22,715 XL100s in April-June 2024 were a 16 percent YoY increase and translate into 1,348 mopeds sold every day in Q1 FY2025.

In FY2010, TVS sold a total of 13,56,338 two-wheelers, which included 2,99,396 scooters and 4,92,358 motorcycles. Mopeds led the sales chart then, followed by motorcycles (36.30 percent) and scooters (22.07 percent). Fast forward 15 fiscal years to FY2024, and the market dynamics have shifted dramatically. Out of TVS's total sales of 31,57,050 two-wheelers in FY2024, scooters dominated with 14,51,409 units and a 46 percent share, followed by motorcycles (12,23,838 units / 39 percent share) and mopeds (4,81,803 units / 15 percent share).

In FY2010, TVS offered a range of around a dozen two-wheelers, including five scooters (Teenz, Pep, Pep+, Streak, Wego), 11 motorcycles (Max/Max 4R, Victor GX/GLX, Jive, Star City/Star City 125, Sport, Flame, Phoenix, Apache), and 75cc mopeds. Today, TVS maintains a similar-sized product line-up with five scooters (Scooty Pep+, Scooty Zest, Jupiter, NTorq, iQube electric), six motorcycles (Sport, Star City Plus, Radeon, Raider, Ronin, Apache), and one moped (XL100). 

Moped sales hit their highest in FY2017 when 8,90,518 units were sold and accounted for 5 percent of India Auto Inc's two-wheeler sales of 17.58 million units.

Moped sales in India and for TVS hit their highest level in FY2017 (8,90,518 units, up 23 percent YoY) and in FY2019 (8,80,234 units, up 2 percent). However, as consumers shifed loyalty to gearless scooters like the TVS Jupiter (launched in FY2014) and the company’s first 125cc scooter NTorq (introduced in FY2018), along with rider-friendly motorcycles, moped sales began to decline. Despite advancements such as the shift to a four-stroke engine, 100cc power, and electric-start options, the pivotal decline came in April 2020 with the mandatory upgrade from BS IV to BS VI emissions standards. This upgrade significantly increased the price of BS VI-compliant mopeds, which were previously priced between Rs 29,000 and Rs 38,000.

April 2020 was also when the pandemic brought the country and manufacturing to a standstill. Moped sales fell sharply by 27 percent in FY2020 to 6,36,812 units, followed by a 3 percent decline in FY2021 and a further drop of 23 percent to 4,73,150 units in FY2022. However, FY2024 showed signs of recovery with 4,81,803 units sold (up 9 percent), and Q1 FY2025 continued this trend with 1,22,715 units (up 16 percent YoY). Despite these improvements, figures remain significantly below the levels of FY2019.

Price differential between the TVS XL100 (left) at Rs 45,000 and the latest moped in town – the Kinetic E-Luna – priced at Rs 79,990 remains large.

Over the years, there were other mopeds like the Hero Puch, Mopeds India’s Suvega and the BSA Bond but they all bit the dust and the TVS XL100 proved to be the last moped standing. That is until the e-Luna, the electric avatar of the Kinetic Luna, was launched in February 2024 at an introductory price of Rs 69,990 and currently has an ex-showroom price of Rs 79,990. That’s Rs 34,991 costlier than the base Heavy Duty TVS XL (Rs 44,999) and Rs 19,085 more than the top-end variant, the Comfort i-Touchstart (Rs 60,905). The sizeable price difference between the Kinetic e-Luna and the TVS XL100 means India’s sole petrol-engined moped will continue to ride the demand which comes its way.

Will the TVS moped go electric?

There’s no confirmation on that front yet but given the company’s strong success with its first electric scooter, the iQube, which has sold over 3,50,000 units since launch in January 2020, it would not be wrong to surmise that TVS could expand its two-wheeled EV portfolio.

Earlier this year, we reported that TVS has trademarked two names bearing the ‘XL’ moniker. Are these clues to a new battery-powered XL moped? We’ll have to wait to know more.