
Honda outpaces Hero in July two-wheeler sales, takes No.1 spot in market
The sharp turnaround comes despite Hero maintaining a decent lead over Honda in June 2025 when its dispatches stood at 525,136 units in the domestic market against HMSI's 388,812 units.
The lead by HMSI comes as it ramps up its footprint in the high-volume commuter motorcycle segment to challenge Hero, the dominant market leader. HMSI launched two new motorcycles -- the Shine 100 Deluxe and the CB125 Hornet -- last month. On Friday, the company revealed the prices of these two models and said that their deliveries will commence from mid-August 2025.

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The Hindu
5 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Australia to buy 11 advanced warships from Japan
Australia will upgrade its navy with 11 Mogami-class frigates built by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday (August 5, 2025). Billed as one of Japan's biggest defence export deals since World War II, Australia will pay U.S.$6 billion (Aus$10 billion) over the next 10 years to acquire the fleet of stealth frigates. Australia is in the midst of a major military restructure, bolstering its navy with long-range firepower in an effort to deter China. It is striving to expand its fleet of major warships from 11 to 26 over the next decade. 'This is clearly the biggest defence-industry agreement that has ever been struck between Japan and Australia,' Mr. Marles said, touting the deal. 'This decision was made based on what was the best capability for Australia,' he added. 'We do have a very close strategic alignment with Japan,' he said. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was awarded the tender over Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Mogami-class warships are advanced stealth frigates equipped with a potent array of weapons. Mr. Marles said they would replace Australia's ageing fleet of Anzac-class vessels, with the first Mogami-class ship to be on the water by 2030. 'The Mogami-class frigate is the best frigate for Australia,' said Mr. Marles. 'It is a next-generation vessel. It is stealthy. It has 32 vertical launch cells capable of launching long-range missiles,' he added. The deal further cements a burgeoning security partnership between Australia and Japan. Japan is deepening cooperation with U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region that, like Tokyo, are involved in territorial disputes with China. Both Japan and Australia are members of the 'Quad' group alongside India and the United States. Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tuesday (August 5, 2025) the deal was 'proof of trust in our nation's high-level technology and the importance of interoperability between Japan's self-defence forces and the Australian military.' It was also a 'big step toward elevating the national security cooperation with Australia, which is our special strategic partner', Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. 'More lethal' Japan's pacifist constitution restricts it from exporting weapons – but Tokyo has in recent years loosened arms export controls to boost sales abroad. 'This is Japan's largest defence export deal since 1945 with a non-U.S. partner,' said Yee Kuang Heng from the University of Tokyo's Security Studies Unit. 'And only the second since Tokyo loosened its guidelines on defence exports in 2014, which led to exports of air surveillance radar to the Philippines,' he said. Mr. Heng said the deal was a 'massive shot in the arm' for Japan as it sought to strengthen its defence manufacturing industry. Australian defence industry minister Pat Conroy said the Mogami-class frigates were capable of launching long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. 'The acquisition of these stealth frigates will make our navy a bigger navy, and a more lethal navy,' he said. 'The first three Mogami-class frigates will be built overseas,' Mr. Conroy said, with shipbuilding yards in Western Australia expected to produce the rest. Australia announced a deal to acquire U.S.-designed nuclear-powered submarines in 2021, scrapping a years-long plan to develop non-nuclear subs from France. Under the tripartite AUK-U.S. pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, the Australian navy plans to acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines within 15 years. The AUK-U.S. submarine programme alone could cost the country up to U.S.$235 billion over the next 30 years, according to Australian government forecasts, a price tag that has stoked criticism. Major defence projects in Australia have long suffered from cost overruns, government U-turns, policy changes and project plans that make more sense for local job creation than defence. Australia plans to gradually increase its defence spending to 2.4% of gross domestic product – above the 2% target set by its NATO allies, but well short of U.S. demands for 3.5%.


Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
Japan's Akazawa to Visit US to Press on Car Levy Cut Timing
Japan's top trade negotiator is set to leave for the US on Tuesday as Tokyo aims to urge Washington to proceed with a cut to tariffs on cars as promised in last month's trade deal. Ryosei Akazawa's trip to Washington will be his first following the announcement of the trade agreement. The deal, reached after his eighth visit to the US capital since April, resulted in a pledge by the US to assess a 15% tariff on most imports of Japanese goods. The deal allowed Japan to avoid a worst-case scenario of a 25% levy as threatened previously by President Donald Trump, but the universal levies will rise from the 10% rate imposed in recent months. The new rate is set to kick in on Aug. 7. Car tariffs are set to decline, but it remains unclear when that reduction will start. 'What we are asking for is very simple,' Akazawa told reporters before his departure. 'We'll continue to strongly urge the US to take steps to implement the agreement swiftly and steadily, including the reduction of tariffs on cars and car parts.' With automobile tariffs currently at 27.5%, including a newly applied 25% this year and a previous 2.5% rate, the impact on Japan's economy is expected to be large. The sector accounts for the biggest component of exports to the US and serves as a pillar of employment and a trend setter for wage growth. With assistance from Akemi Terukina. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Tata AutoComp and Ichikoh to Form JV for Automotive Lighting in India
Pune, 5 August 2025: Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (Tata AutoComp), a leading Indian auto-component manufacturer, has announced plans to partner with Japan's Ichikoh Industries Limited in a joint venture aimed at the automotive lighting market in India. The proposed partnership involves the acquisition of Valeo's lighting business in India—Valeo Lighting Systems (VLS), currently operated under Valeo India Private Limited. The acquisition will be executed through a newly formed 50:50 joint venture company (JVC) between Tata AutoComp and Ichikoh Industries. Ichikoh is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market and is 61.2% owned by global automotive supplier Valeo. The definitive agreements for the formation of the JVC and the acquisition of the VLS business are currently being finalised and will remain subject to the necessary statutory and regulatory approvals. *Strategic Partnership for Indian OEMs* Mr Arvind Goel, Vice Chairman of Tata AutoComp, commented: 'This joint venture marks another significant step in Tata AutoComp's commitment to bringing advanced and contemporary technologies to Indian automotive OEMs. We are delighted to partner with Ichikoh and the Valeo Group, combining their lighting expertise with our market reach to deliver innovative lighting solutions.' Mr Manoj Kolhatkar, Managing Director and CEO of Tata AutoComp, added: 'The JV will strengthen our position in the Indian automotive sector and enable us to serve a wider range of OEMs. It reflects Tata AutoComp's ongoing journey to offer a comprehensive portfolio of cutting-edge auto-component products.' Mr Christophe Vilatte, Representative Director, President, and CEO of Ichikoh, said: 'Backed by over 120 years of technological excellence, Ichikoh is proud to collaborate with Tata AutoComp, a respected name in the Indian automotive industry. Our combined strengths will allow us to meet the growing demand for advanced lighting solutions in India's rapidly expanding automotive market.' *About the Companies* *Ichikoh Industries Limited* is a major Japanese supplier of automotive lighting, with global clientele and a turnover of JPY 124 billion in FY2024. The company is majority-owned by Valeo, a leading French automotive supplier. *Tata AutoComp Systems Limited*, established in 1995 and part of the Tata Group, serves global OEMs across a wide range of vehicle categories. With over 20,000 employees and 68 manufacturing facilities worldwide, the company operates 20 business units, including ten joint ventures with global partners. This joint venture is expected to bolster India's domestic automotive lighting capabilities and support the industry's transition towards more advanced and efficient technologies.