Honda & Hero spar over Splendor's 102.5 kpl rating

The Indian two wheeler segment has seen the advent of many premium players, but fuel economy focused commuter models still reign supreme. Honda and Hero, former partners in the market - attribute the majority of their sales to small displacement, high fuel efficiency motorcycles and scooters. Now, the Hero Splendor iSmart’s claimed fuel economy of 102.5 kpl has become the bone of contention between the two, as Honda has labelled Hero’s claim as “misleading and far from reality”.

According to the report, Honda R&D Centre India (HRID) President & CEO Keiji Kasa voiced his doubts over Hero's claim, adding that the base engine of the motorcycle was developed by Honda – giving them the ability to realistically assess the motor’s performance and capabilities. He also stated that the claimed mileage could not be maintained on a sustained basis, even within a completely controlled environment.

Hero MotoCorp responded by saying that the stated fuel economy was certified by International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT) and that Honda was essentially questioning the standards and regulations established by the Government of India. Kasa responded by stating that while Honda abides by iCAT’s assessment, the manufacturer stated figures must be filtered down and relevant to everyday conditions.

A Hero spokesperson added that factors such as weight reduction, the introduction of lean burn technology and the idle start / stop system help improve fuel efficiency greatly. Honda refuted Hero’s defence, and retorted that even with additions like the start / stop tech, it would be unlikely that users would be able to achieve the claimed fuel economy figure.

In India, Hero is currently the leader in the motorcycle segment, while Honda is the leader in the scooter segment. While Honda’s argument may hold some substance, many would argue that every manufacturer quotes figures that are difficult or realistically unachievable under real world conditions.

Source: ET Auto