New Delhi, September 8, 2004 --- Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (Private) Ltd. (HMSI), Honda's wholly owned subsidiary in India, today introduced its first motorcycle model - Unicorn - with an air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 150cc engine. HMSI also announced that production of the Unicorn has begun on a new second production line dedicated to motorcycles.

Unicorn is a sporty motorcycle with excellent driving stability due to its mono suspension. Unicorn's newly developed engine achieves top level fuel efficiency in the 150cc motorcycle class - 60km per liter^*1. In addition, Unicorn has unique features to achieve excellent usability such as "tough up tube" that helps prevent flat tires. The Unicorn will go on sale in October 7, at a price of 52,950 rupee (approximately ¥127,000 yen^*2). HMSI plans to sell 110,000 units per year.

The second production line dedicated to motorcycle production - the MC line - is located in a new building adjacent to the existing first line which is dedicated to scooter production. Production of the Unicorn began September 1, 2004. The 2nd line's annual production capacity for the 1st year is 150,000 units, with an initial investment of approximately 1.6 billion rupee (approximately ¥3.8 billion yen).

The total market size for motorcycles and scooters in India has reached 5.3 million units in 2003 (a 7% increase from the previous year), with motorcycles accounting for 4.1 million units (a 12% increase from the previous year). Motorcycles have been the driving force of market expansion in India.

HMSI began production of scooters in May, to start sales in June 2001, and has become the leading scooter manufacturer in the country. The company began exports of the 100cc scooter, LEAD, to European markets in 2003. By adding its first motorcycle model, Unicorn, HMSI will enhance the product lineup to better meet the diversifying needs of the market.

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