Its legendary status was never in doubt, but the mighty Honda Activa has taken another step towards cementing itself among the all-time greats, reaching the 3 crore sales milestone. This landmark occasion arrives 22 years since it first made its debut, and taking a look back at the scooter’s journey highlights the unwavering popularity it has enjoyed for over two decades.
The Activa first arrived as a 102cc scooter in 2001, and the convenience of a CVT coupled with the clean-running nature of a four-stroke engine immediately grabbed the attention of buyers. The unisex looks helped too, and the Activa sold a respectable 55,000 units in its first year on sale.
With a lack of direct competitors, the Activa carried on fairly unchallenged. It became the market leader in the scooter segment in 2004-05 and reached the 10 lakh sales milestone the following year, 55 months since its launch. It wasn’t until 2008-09 that engine displacement grew to 110cc, while simultaneously giving a claimed 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency. By this point, monthly sales were also at the 50,000 mark, which, as mentioned previously, was the annual figure at the time of its launch.
The following period was one of intense activity, with the new Activa 3G arriving in 2014-15, along with the very first Activa 125. The larger model range and evergreen popularity meant that 1 crore sales were accomplished in 2016, and the Activa was not just the bestselling scooter, but the bestselling two-wheeler in India at this point.
The exponential growth of the Activa is evidenced by the fact that the next 2 crore sales were added in half the time – just 7 years. The 2 crore total sales mark came up in 2018, and despite the setbacks of the pandemic, Honda has achieved 3 crore sales in 2023.
That was the past. In the present, the Honda Activa recently received an H-smart keyless system for added convenience. And as for the future, there is a high chance that we could see the Activa appear in an electric guise.
Ved Janve
Dinshaw Magol
