Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has confirmed plans to manufacture the engine powering its new CB500 motorcycle locally. The Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer is also evaluating opportunities to localise other motorcycles from its global portfolio. Customer demand and domestic supply chain capabilities will guide decisions on which models are considered for local production.
- CB500 localisation adds to the CB350, already made and exported from India
- CEO Tsutsumu Otani said Honda’s wide international portfolio could be adapted for us
- HMSI is also increasing manufacturing capacity from a yearly 62.5 lakh to 80 lakh by 2028
Honda’s future plans include further localisation and new launches
The CB500 is being evaluated for exports from India
In an exclusive interaction with Autocar Professional, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters president and CEO Tsutsumu Otani confirmed these intentions, but did not elaborate any further about which motorcycles could get launched in India. Honda already manufactures engines for its CB350 range in India, with 349cc displacement. The 501cc engine would extend that into a higher-displacement category. However, Otani did not specify the manufacturing location, production schedule or localisation content of the CB500 engine.
When asked if the localisation will extend to other models in Honda’s portfolio, like the NX500, Otani said that the company will decide based on customer demand and supply chain, but expressed a strong alignment with the Make in India principle. He added that Honda has a wide international product line-up that could be adapted to India. Speaking of which, he also confirmed that there will be new Honda models next year, but did not elaborate on what those models will be, and how many are being planned.
The Honda CB500 was among the ten two-wheelers showcased first in July, and one of the brand-new launches for India. It’s powered by a 501cc, single-cylinder engine making 28hp and 43.3Nm and comes in three variants. Ex-showroom prices start at Rs 2.75 lakh (lower than the new Triumph Bonneville T40) for the alloy wheel variant, and tops out at Rs 3.02 lakh for the tubeless spokes variant with stripes. Honda’s website says CB500 deliveries will start with the alloy variant in the last quarter of 2026 (Oct-Dec), with deliveries for the other two variants starting in the first quarter of 2027 (Jan-Mar).
Additionally, Honda had recently announced plans to increase annual manufacturing capacity from 62.5 lakh to 80 lakh by 2028. The Japanese manufacturer plans to achieve this with additional production lines at its existing manufacturing facilities, to support local demand and exports. Speaking of exports, the India-made CB500 is also being evaluated for overseas markets, although the company hasn’t announced a final plan for the same. The CB350 is already available as the GB350 in overseas markets like the UK and Japan, and has found quite the success.
With inputs from Mukul Yadhuveer Singh and Stephen Raj Antony.