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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Ends FY 2024–25 on a High Note with 58.31 Lakh Units Sold

Mumbai, April 4, 2025: Ending the financial year on a positive note, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today announced its sales number for the month of March 2025.

The company’s total sales for March’25 stood at 4,27,448 units. This includes domestic sales of 4,01,411 units and 26,037 unit exports.

Noteworthy, the company sold 58,31,104 units during the FY’25, recording a 19% YoY growth. This includes domestic sales of 53,26,092 units and 5,05,012 units exports.

HMSI’s Key Highlights of FY’25:

• Electric Vehicles: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) stepped into the electric mobility segment with the introduction of ACTIVA e: and QC1. Bookings for the same began on
  January 1, 2025, and their deliveries commenced from March 2025 onwards.
• Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025: HMSI took the center stage at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, showcasing an exciting line-up of innovative and sustainable mobility solutions. The company announced the prices of the all-new ACTIVA e: and QC1. In addition, the CB300F flex-fuel, Honda’s portable electric scooter Motocompacto, Electric Racing Go-Kart and advanced battery swapping technology with the dedicated Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: were also on display.
• OBD2B Compliant Products: To further delight its customers, HMSI launched the OBD2B compliant models of Activa, Activa 125, Dio, Shine 100, Livo, Shine 125, SP125, Unicorn, SP160, Hornet 2.0 and NX200 with advanced features.

Honda’s Premium Motorcycle Business ‘BigWing’

• New Offerings: The company launched the all-new NX200 with OBD2B compliant engine and upgraded equipment. The company’s premium motorcycle portfolio has been further strengthened with the launch of latest editions of the CB650R and CBR650R.
• Flex-fuel vehicle: HMSI launched the new CB300F Flex-Fuel, marking a significant stride in the country’s transition to greener mobility solutions. The CB300F is India’s first 300cc flex-fuel motorcycle.

Business & Brand Milestones

• Business Milestones: Honda’s 125cc motorcycles ‘Shine & SP125’ crossed over 30 lakh customers in Eastern India and 10 lakh customers in Madhya Pradesh. The company also surpassed 2 crore sales in South India, highlighting its consistent growth and product appeal.

Road Safety

• To make Indian roads safer for all, HMSI organized road safety awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and government organizations for both kids & adults. The initiative was spread to more than 120 cities across the country.
• HMSI also organized ten Road Safety Conventions in various cities with school principals & teachers as a part of their ongoing project – Mindset Development for our Future Generation. With this, the company has cumulatively educated more than 97 lakh Indian citizens on importance of road safety.

Corporate Social Responsibility

• Projects for Socio-Economic Upliftment: Honda India Foundation (HIF) continued with its flagship program Project Pragati under which it provides theory, simulator & practical training to both new and existing GDAs. HIF along with the Mizoram Youth Commission (MYC) and Visan Foundation launched “Project Buniyaad – Aathmanirbharta Ka Aadhar” that aims at providing employment to the unemployed youth from the marginal sections of society. HIF also commenced its “Stree charioteer…steering her own path” women empowerment initiative and completed training female cab drivers at its Institute of Driving Training and Research, Karnal.
• World Environment Day: HMSI celebrated Environment Month coinciding with the World Environment Day on June 5th. As part of the Environment month celebrations, HMSI is setting an inspiring example by planting 1 lakh trees across various regions of India.
• Project Annadata: With the aim to support and strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Uttar Pradesh, Honda India Foundation signed the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Government of Uttar Pradesh for ‘Project Annadata- Sashakt Kisan, Samridh Rashtra.’

Motorsports

• Honda India Talent Cup: Displaying exceptional racing prowess, Mohsin Paramban clinched the top position and won the 2024 IDEMITSU Honda Indian Talent Cup NSF250R.
• Asia Road Racing Championship: Making a significant mark on international soil, IDEMITSU Honda Racing India’s Kavin Quintal and Mohsin Paramban raced in the Asia Road Racing Championship finale. The IDEMITSU Honda Racing India team earned a total of 13 points for the season in the Asia Production 250cc (AP250) class.
• MotoGP: Repsol Honda Team rider Joan Mir attained the 21st position, while his teammate Luca Marini stood at 22nd position in the MotoGP 2024 championship.
• Dakar Rally: There was a double celebration in Saudi Arabia with a second consecutive Dakar Rally double podium for Monster Energy Honda HRC as Tosha Schareina and Adrien Van Beveren took 2nd and 3rd place at the 47th edition of this world-famous motorsport event.

NMDC Steel Ends FY 2024–25 on a High, Surpasses 2 Million Tonne Hot Metal Output

Nagarnar, 4th April 2025: NMDC Steel Limited’s (NSL) integrated steel plant at Nagarnar achieved a significant milestone in its stabilization journey, producing over two million tons of hot metal in the financial year 2024-2025, ending March 31, 2025. This milestone marks a 100% increase in hot metal production compared to the previous fiscal (2023-24), when the Plant produced 966,468 tons in its first seven and a half months of operation.

 Having attained 60% of its rated capacity in its second year, the Plant is well-positioned to reach its rated capacity of 3.3 million tons per annum (MTPA) of hot metal production in the current fiscal. Commissioned on 15th August 2023, NSL’s steel plant has been steadily progressing towards its rated capacity, demonstrating a strong growth trajectory and underscoring the company’s commitment to operational excellence.

 NSL has also made significant progress in consolidating its market presence. Despite navigating a challenging market landscape for most of the last fiscal, coupled with a twoweek production and dispatch disruption due to transporters protests at the Plant gates, NSL achieved the remarkable feat of marketing over 1.45 million tons of Hot Rolled (HR) Coils and Sheets during the last fiscal. This represents a substantial increase of over 300% in sales volume compared to the previous fiscal (2023-24), highlighting NSL’s expanding customer base and strengthening market position.

 NSL set another record by dispatching a record 2,29,874 tons of Hot Rolled Coils (HRC) in March 2025, marking the highest monthly dispatch since commencement of production. It was the strategic engagement of 4 Liberalized Special Freight Train Operator Rakes (LSFTO Rakes) which dispatched around 40,000 tons of HR coils in March 2025 that contributed to the significant surge in dispatch capacity. The March milestone represents a 63% increase from the previous monthly best of 1,41,207 tons achieved in February 2025.

 NMDC STEEL LIMITED: Registered Office: NMDC Iron & Steel Plant, Nagarnar, Bastar, Chattisgarh – 494001, India With plans to add more LSFTO Rakes, NSL is poised to further bolster HR coil dispatch capabilities, paving the way for enhanced efficiency, and thereby increased customer satisfaction.

 Buoyed by the team’s performance in a tough market, Shri Amitava Mukherjee, CMD, NMDC & NSL, also affirmed his confidence in NSL, “Our steel team is gaining in strength and crossing milestones with each passing day. I am confident that with their dedicated effort and enthusiasm we will soon reach rated capacity, even as we are inching towards becoming EBIDTA positive.”

 It has been a year of notable achievementsforNSL.Not content with obtaining 4 ISO Licenses and 7 BIS Certifications to cement its position in the domestic market, this fiscal NSL went on to obtain the prestigious “Conformite Europeenne”(CE) Certificate that opened up the European market for its’ produce.

 An elated Shri Joydeep Dasgupta, Director Production, NMDC & NSL said, “Team NSL has successfully surmounted several challenges to surge forward with greater confidence. Strategic moves meant to improve Systems and sustain the momentum have yielded results. This augurs well for NSL and is a harbinger of many more achievements by NSL”.

 Shri MNVS Prabhakar, Executive Director & Head of NSL Steel Plant, Nagarnar was appreciative of his team’s accomplishments; he asserted, “We are committed to producing the best quality Hot Rolled steel for our discerning customers. We are also firm in our resolve to further consolidate our position and contribute to the national goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

Innovating with Empathy: How ICICI Prudential and Axis Max Life are Shaping Customer Experience in Insurance

National, April 4, 2025: Hansa Research has released its 5th edition of the Insurance CuES report that tracks the experience, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviour of consumers in India, with a particular focus on life insurance.

Based on customer experience, the report ranks the top life insurance companies in India and has captured feedback from more than 3600 customers across 13 life insurance brands in the country. The 2025 Life Insurance CuES report provides important insights that can help companies prioritize and better position their business strategies and investments in the year to come.

In a shift from 2024, the life insurance industry has witnessed a significant leap in customer experience, marking a notable departure from last year’s stagnation, particularly in communication, customer support, and the initial purchase and on boarding journey. Hansa Research’s latest Life Insurance CuES 2025 report reveals that customers are associating life insurance brands more positively, especially in aspects like ‘trust and transparency,’ ‘innovation,’ and being ‘customer-oriented.’ This improvement has resulted in a significant increase in the industry’s Net Promoter Score from 54% to 58%.

Over the past five years, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) for the insurance industry has seen a remarkable increase of 20 points, rising from 38% in 2021 to 58% in 2025. This improvement can be attributed to insurers effectively meeting customer expectations in key areas such as operational efficiency, transparency, and post-sales service support. Additionally, there has been a notable shift in customer expectations, evolving from mere transactional interactions to fostering deeper relationships with their insurers.

Furthermore, a significant trend observed over this five-year period is the narrowing gap in NPS between leading and lesser-performing brands. In 2021, the difference in NPS between the top quartile and the bottom quartile brands was 17 points; by 2025, this gap has decreased to just 10 points. This trend suggests an overall improvement in service quality across the industry and underscores the importance of continuous enhancements in customer engagement strategies. As brands strive to enhance their offerings, it is evident that companies are increasingly prioritizing customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately benefiting consumers with improved service experiences.

Sharing some insights on the Hansa Research, Life Insurance CuES report, Praveen Nijhara, CEO, Hansa Research said, “The Life Insurance companies have consistently demonstrated strong performance over the last five years. However, differentiation in customer experience is diminishing, making the next few years crucial for establishing brand leadership. Delivering experiences and products tailored to the diverse needs, preferences and communication styles of India’s fragmented demographics especially customers in non-metros, millennials and women will drive leadership.”

Key Highlights

• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and Axis Max Life Insurance have achieved impressive Net Promoter Scores (NPS) of 65% and 64%, respectively, significantly exceeding the industry average of 58%. Both brands are recognized as innovators, delivering exceptional brand and customer experiences.
• Tata AIA and Kotak Life Insurance have tied for the third spot alongside HDFC Life Insurance, displaying an improvement in their customer experience offerings.
• SBI Life Insurance has also made significant strides improving its NPS, and ranking high on trust and affordability. Additionally, LIC, SBI Life Insurance and HDFC Life Insurance continue to lead in brand awareness among non-life policyholders. image.png

Piyali Chatterjee, Executive Vice President, CX, Hansa Research said, “To thrive in the future, brands must focus on addressing financial literacy, behavioural biases, and simplifying product complexity. Success lies in aligning products with customer needs and profiles while delivering seamless, personalized experiences. Over recent years, customer expectations have shifted from purely transactional interactions to relationship-driven engagement—a trend that continues to strengthen and shape the industry’s evolution.”

In 2025, five key trends emerge, which will play a fundamental role in shaping the industry.

1. Economic Influence on Financial Investment Decisions: Consumers are increasingly influenced by economic factors when making financial investments. However, concerns about lack of information and transparency, as well as the difficulty in understanding financial products, persist. Our findings from the study show that simple-to-understand products and plans are critical for both acquisition and customer retention. Infact, 40% of respondents (non-life policyholders) in the survey mentioned that they did not find it easy to understand the features, terms and conditions of life insurance product & policies.

2. Evolution of Life Insurance needs: While ensuring ‘financial protection for the family’ was the key motivator for purchasing life insurance among the current policyholders (34%), there is an increased focus on savings and retirement among the customers. Insurers need to start aligning their products to meet the evolving needs of the customers, especially with the impending demographic shift towards maturity in the near future in India. Brands can fine-tune their marketing and communication plan by targeting specific products towards existing customers. Infact, when asked about their primary reason for purchase, twice as many customers aged over 40yrs mentioned a need related to their children’s education.

3. Millennial Expectations: The millennial customer is emerging as the most ‘at risk’ in terms of brand stickiness and is more likely to explore alternative options. They prioritize experiences over brand reputation and rank aspects such as affordability, easy access, 24/7 customer support, frequent advisor

engagement and seamless digital solutions for purchasing and managing their policies – high on their list of expectations.

4. What Women Want: Women are driving growth in the industry, highlighting the need for tailored products that emphasize affordability, seamless on boarding, and effective communication. Their need for interaction and engagement with the advisor before and after purchase is higher than that of men. Their product needs differ from those of men. While protection remains a key motivator, their needs gravitate largely towards ‘savings/ income for future/ retirement’ and ‘child plans/ savings safety net for your kids’ future’.

5. Digital Services: Interestingly while digital services and support in life insurance continues its wide, spread adoption among customers especially those in Metros, its role as a differentiating factor between brands is reducing as it is becoming a standard expectation rather than a unique selling point. Brands need to move beyond using digital services and support options for efficiency and instead leverage it for building value for customers.

Residential prices surge 16% YoY: Knight Frank India

Bengaluru, April 4, 2024: Knight Frank India in its latest report, India Real Estate: Residential and Office (January – March 2025) Bengaluru witnessed an exceptional office transaction volume of 12.7 million square feet (mn sq ft) in Q1 2025, with pre-commitments accounting for 7.4 mn sq ft. This unprecedented surge positioned the city as the leader among India’s top eight[2] office markets. Marking its strongest quarterly performance to date, Bengaluru recorded a staggering 259% year-on-year (YoY) growth from 3.5 mn sq ft in Q1 2024. The city contributed 45% of total office transactions across major Indian markets, reaffirming its status as a dominant commercial hub.

All India Office Transaction and New Completion (Q1 2025)

End-User CategoriesBengaluru’s office market witnessed a surge in demand, primarily driven by Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which contributed to 65% of all transactions. The city recorded a remarkable 345% YoY growth in GCC transactions, underscoring its appeal as a key destination for Global Capability Centres.

Viral Desai, Senior Executive Director, Occupier Strategy & Solutions, Industrial & Logistics, Capital Markets and Retail Agency, Knight Frank India, said “Bengaluru’s commercial real estate market continues to thrive, supported by strong occupier demand, expansion by technology firms, and a growing footprint of GCCs. The city has reinforced its position as a preferred destination for corporate occupiers, particularly in flex office spaces, which have seen unprecedented growth. Moreover, the strong pre-commitment activity in upcoming Grade A developments reflects forward-looking confidence in Bengaluru’s long-term potential. On the residential front, premium and mid-segment properties are seeing strong traction, driven by improving affordability and a growing preference for larger homes.”

Residential Market Update: January – March 2025

The residential market experienced marginal decline of 5% YoY in sales, with 12,504 units sold in Q1 2025 compared to 13,135 units in Q1 2024. Despite this, average residential prices soared to INR 7,116 per sq ft—the highest since Q1 2018—reflecting a 16% YoY increase. The quarter also witnessed the launch of 16,524 new units, reflecting sustained developer confidence in Bengaluru’s housing market.

Bengaluru Residential Market Summary

Home Price Ticket Categories

Bengaluru’s higher ticket-size residential segment INR 50–100 mn recorded the highest YoY growth in sales in Q1 2025, surging 133% from 80 units in Q1 2024 to 187 units in Q1 2025. The INR 10–20 mn category remained the dominant segment, accounting for 36% of the city’s total transactions. A total of 4,507 units were sold in this bracket, marking a 3% YoY increase.

Ticket-Size Split of Sales

Shantanu Mazumder, Executive Director Bengaluru, Knight Frank India, said “The residential market in Q1 2025 experienced a slight dip in YoY sales volume. However, the average residential price soared with a significant 16% YoY increase reflecting healthy market dynamics. This reflects a robust demand despite the slight decline in overall YoY sales.”

Healthcare Innovation Gets a Boost as AIC T-Hub Launches 5th Startup Cohort

4th April 2025, India – T-Hub, one of the world’s leading startup incubators, in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has today announced the launch of the 5th cohort of AIC T-Hub Healthcare Program. The program has selected 20 promising startups from a competitive pool of over 209 applications.

This three-month hybrid program is designed to accelerate innovation in MedTech, digital health, and healthcare accessibility by providing startups with mentorship, market access, investor engagement, and regulatory guidance. Among the selected startups are Artyem Care, Bioscafil, Chqup, Cloud Palliative Care, Dag2IL, Epirelief, Dr. DICOM (GLOCAL DIGITAL), Kashi Medicos, Nahush Pharma, Oui Medical, Planytics, Reyansh Technologies, Sigma Mozak, Signel Biomedical, Skinska, Tap Health, thebabyland, TurocratesAI, 365Veda, and Warkas. These startups were selected based on their proof-of-concept readiness, technological innovation, regulatory compliance preparedness, market potential, and the strength of their founding teams.

Throughout the program, they will benefit from one-on-one mentorship with industry veterans, strategic introductions to hospitals and corporates, and exclusive investor networking opportunities to help secure funding and business collaborations. Through this program, startups will gain access to leading hospitals and healthcare institutions for real-world validation and pilot studies, ensuring their solutions are market-ready and clinically viable. They will also receive expert guidance on navigating domestic and international healthcare regulations, which is critical for scaling in a highly regulated industry.

Additionally, by engaging with venture capitalists, healthcare firms, and policymakers, startups will have opportunities to forge strategic partnerships and secure funding. Market access will be a key focus, with curated introductions to hospitals, corporates, and healthcare organizations that can facilitate growth and adoption of innovative solutions.

Speaking on the launch, Rajesh Adla, CEO of AIC T-Hub Foundation, said, “At AIC T-Hub, we are committed to driving healthcare innovation by equipping startups with the resources they need to scale and succeed. The 5th cohort of our Healthcare Program is a testament to our ongoing efforts to build a thriving healthcare ecosystem in India. By fostering innovation, we aim to improve healthcare accessibility, affordability, and efficiency.”

Since its inception, AIC T-Hub has successfully supported 53 healthcare startups across four previous cohorts in MedTech, digital health, and healthcare accessibility. These startups have collectively raised over ₹60.46 crore in funding from investors and grants, facilitated more than 180 market access opportunities with hospitals, corporates, and healthcare institutions, and participated in global healthcare conferences that have significantly boosted their visibility and industry connections. Through initiatives like Doctors & Hospitals Roundtables, startups have been able to showcase their products to key stakeholders, further enabling collaboration and adoption.

Looking ahead, AIC T-Hub is strengthening clinical validation opportunities through collaborations with hospitals, research labs, and pharmaceutical companies. The program also aims to onboard one or two international startups to introduce them to India’s healthcare ecosystem, fostering cross-border innovation. Additionally, AIC T-Hub is building a robust network of doctors, hospitals, and sector-focused investors to support startup success. The program will conclude with a Demo Day & Investor Connect in June 2025, where participating startups will present their solutions to industry leaders and potential investors.