After having a decent presence in the 110cc scooter segment, most of the manufacturers has now shifted its focus to the 125cc scooter segment, except Bajaj, who says, they don’t have plans to make or sell scooters.TVS has confirmed to launch a new 125cc scooter this year. A few test mules have been spied around the Hosur factory in the last few months. Good sales and decent growth have made TVS develop the Honda Activa 125 and the Suzuki access rival. The engine on this upcoming scooter will be new, so will be the design. However, expect TVS to play safe with the overall design, just like it did with the Jupiter and not go all aggressive or sharp.
Hero MotoCorp will launch the Dare 125 this year too. It was first unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo and it managed to catch everyone’s attention. The big front apron, sharp styling and a trendy instrument cluster stole the show. According to our sources, one of the USPs of the Dare, the diamond-cut alloy-wheels, might not make it to the production version to help the company keep costs in check. Other than this, there will be no changes to the scooter cosmetically. The 125cc motor is all new and might have a revised power figures. Also, there are chances of Hero MotoCorp give the Dare 125cc a new identity at the time of official launch.
Piaggio has seen a rise in overall sales in the country, thanks to the stylish Aprilia SR150. But it looks like the Italian maker isn’t stopping there. The company is planning to launch a 125cc version of the Aprilia SR125 in order to widen its customer base. However, this scooter might not be positioned as a premium sporty scooter. It will rather be a heavily toned down scooter with focus towards everyday riding. The SR125 won’t get the racing decals or the sticky Vee Rubber tyres. The 125cc motor for this scooter will come from the Vespa VXL/SXL.
All three scooters are expected to be launched around the festive season. Currently, the Suzuki Access 125 is leading the segment because of its value for money proposition. TVS and Hero needs to offer something different in order to take away some sales from the Access 125. And knowing their stints in the 110cc segments, there’s a high chance of seeing something good from both the biggies.
