BMW bikes could get new camera-assisted radar tech Apkmusk

With each passing day, manufacturers are working on making their bikes increasingly safe with electronic safety features such as radar-assisted cruise control, blind-spot detection and intelligent ABS. Now, in a bid to enhance safety even further, BMW has begun working on a new camera-assisted radar system for its bikes.

BMW camera-assisted radar system for bikes: details

The patent shows a camera placed on each mirror of the bike (a K 1600 variant in this case), both of which are used to detect oncoming traffic as well as lane markings and prominent road signs. Additionally, this system also has an effect on the LED headlight of the bike, wherein if it senses that the beam is in the field of vision of an oncoming vehicle, it will automatically dip that section of the LED matrix beam.

These features are not only aimed at increasing safety of the rider onboard, but also of the vehicle and its passengers. A similar feature is seen on the updated 2023 Kawasaki H2 SX, where the bike’s headlight would dim automatically using a single camera tucked in behind the fairing.

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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, the country’s second-largest two-wheeler maker, is readying an ambitious plan of introducing 10 electric two-wheelers in the coming decade that will cater to the entire spectrum of zero-emission vehicles in the future. 

1. First Honda EV will be the Activa electric
2. 1.5 lakh production targeted for next year
3. Export to international markets from India in due course

Upcoming Honda electric vehicles: details

According to several people in the know, the plan is to offer multiple powertrains, speed categories and body types. Honda’s EV plan has been defined after an exhaustive study for over two years. The products developed will be available in both fixed and swappable alternatives.

The first EV from Honda Motorcycle will hit the roads in March 2024 (likely to be the Activa electric), followed by another model in September 2024. Both these models have been developed with a potential of half a million units cumulatively over three years. As more models are introduced till 2026-2027, the company hopes to take up the volume close to a million units, our sister publication Autocar Professional quoted a source as saying on Honda’s EV strategy.

In the first year, Honda has planned for a production of 1-1.5 lakh units between both models. For the mainstream market, the company is eyeing a strong double-digit growth in FY24 to about 5 million units.

To support swappable battery alternatives, Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited (HEID) has already established a base in Bengaluru. The swappable solutions are currently offered to the three-wheeler industry, eventually in-house Power pack business will aid the expansion of Honda’s EV business. Honda was, in fact, open to alliances in the last-mile mobility space.

Set up in November 2021, the battery swapping service was started by Honda to support electric auto rickshaws. HEID started with a network of 23 swapping stations in Bengaluru, which is planned to be expanded to other cities.

While the immediate focus for Honda is to carve a space for itself in a domestic market, eventually the company intends to ship EVs to the global markets too.

The game plan was formulated under the president of Honda Motorcycle & Scooters India, Atsushi Ogata, who over the last three years has defined a roadmap to expand the addressable market for the Japanese two-wheeler major.

Having started addressing the premium end of the market in FY21 and FY22 with BigWing motorcycles, Ogata brought in its first 100cc motorcycle, the Shine 100, just a few days ago and now he is putting the third and perhaps the most critical pillar for the future, by venturing into the EV space.

In a recent interview, Ogata said he expects the penetration of EVs to be in the range of 15-25 percent by the end of the decade and Honda has defined its roadmap based on these forecasts. The electric vehicle penetration has already crossed 5-7 percent of the overall two-wheeler market led by new-age start-ups and seasoned players alike.

Would you go for Honda’s EVs over the other offerings in the market? Let us know in the comments section below. 

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