Motorcycles and Scooters: Royal Enfield to Ola and Gogoro — 2026-09-02
Royal Enfield reported an 11% year-on-year sales surge in August 2026, reaching 1.26 lakh units, while TVS Motor overtook Hero and Honda to become India's top two-wheeler seller. The electric two-wheeler segment saw a significant shift, with TVS and Bajaj controlling over 50% of the market share, as Ola’s new S1Z scooter launches with a 301 km range. Meanwhile, Kawasaki announced the 2027 Ninja H2 SX SE for Japan, and Gogoro reported margin expansion in its Q2 earnings.
Motorcycles and Scooters: Royal Enfield to Ola and Gogoro — 2026-09-02
Top developments
TVS Motor Surges to Top Two-Wheeler Seller
TVS Motor Company has overtaken market leaders Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India to claim the top spot in August 2026 sales. This growth was largely driven by its electric vehicle division, which registered a 137% year-on-year increase with 59,453 units sold. This marks a significant strategic shift, with established OEMs like TVS and Bajaj now controlling more than half of India’s electric two-wheeler registrations, challenging the dominance of pure-play EV startups
Royal Enfield Posts Strong August Growth
Royal Enfield sold 1,26,479 motorcycles in August 2026, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Domestic sales rose by 11% to 1,14,204 units, while exports grew by 10% to 12,275 units. The performance was driven by strong demand for sub-350cc models, with the company also expanding its product lineup to maintain momentum
Honda India Records Robust Sales
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) recorded sales of 5.79 lakh units in August 2026, reflecting an 8% year-on-year growth. For the April-August period, HMSI’s total sales rose by 13% to 27.33 lakh units, demonstrating consistent recovery and demand across its scooter and motorcycle portfolio
Ola Launches S1Z Electric Scooter
Ola Electric has launched the S1Z electric scooter in India, featuring a claimed range of 301 km per charge. The scooter utilizes 46-series LFP battery technology developed at Ola’s battery innovation center. This launch comes amid a competitive EV landscape where Ola is striving to regain market share against rising incumbents like TVS and Bajaj
Kawasaki Announces 2027 Ninja H2 SX SE
Kawasaki Motors Japan announced that the 2027 model of the flagship tourer "Ninja H2 SX SE" will be released on October 1, 2026. The price remains at ¥3,135,000, with no changes to equipment or colors from the previous model. Additionally, Kawasaki revealed new color options for the "VULCAN S" cruiser, also launching on October 1
Local view
Hindi media outlets have heavily covered Royal Enfield's sales success, with News18 Hindi highlighting the "jaboradast uchhal" (massive jump) in sales, noting over 1.26 lakh bikes sold in a single month. News18 also reported on the launch of the Ather Konarc electric scooter, emphasizing its unique metal body and ₹99,999 starting price. Meanwhile, Prabhat Khabar noted that electric scooter sales crossed 10.38 lakh units in just eight months of 2026, with TVS, Bajaj, Ather, and Vida leading the charge
In Italy, Moto.it reported that while the overall two-wheeler market grew by 5.28% in August, motorcycles slowed down for the second consecutive month, whereas scooters continued to perform well with a 9.92% increase. The Italian press also noted that electric two-wheelers saw a significant percentage rise (+31.64%), though the absolute volume remained low at under 600 units
Context & numbers
- India Two-Wheeler Sales (Aug 2026): TVS Motor topped the charts. Royal Enfield sold 126,479 units (+11% YoY). Honda HMSI sold 579,000 units (+8% YoY)
- India EV Two-Wheeler Registrations: August 2026 registrations fell by 16.2% MoM to 1.72 lakh units. However, FY27 volumes have crossed 9 lakh units. TVS, Bajaj, Ather, and Hero accounted for 76.2% of August registrations
- Italy Two-Wheeler Market (Aug 2026): Total immatriculations grew by 5.28% to 17,038 vehicles. Scooters grew by 9.92%, while motorcycles declined by 3.9%
- Gogoro Financials: In its Q2 2026 earnings call, Gogoro reported margin expansion to a five-year high, driven by new scooter models
On the radar
- Royal Enfield Himalayan 440 Launch: The adventure bike is expected to be officially unveiled on September 4, 2026, in India
- Royal Enfield Motoverse 2026: Dates for the major rider festival have been announced for November 27-29 in Goa
- Kawasaki Model Releases: New colors for the Vulcan S and the 2027 Versys 650 are scheduled for release in Japan on October 1, 2026
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