Top 10 Bike Brands in India
SUMMARY
India’s two-wheeler market is the largest in the world — and it is not slowing down. Combined sales of the major manufacturers run into the tens of lakhs of units every month, with the industry consistently posting healthy year-on-year growth.
Rural India drives volume through commuter bikes. Urban India drives aspiration through performance motorcycles and premium cruisers. And a fast-growing EV segment is rewriting the category entirely, with electric scooters now regularly appearing in top-10 monthly bestseller charts alongside century-old ICE brands.
Three dynamics are reshaping the market simultaneously: the Hero-Honda domestic battle remains one of the closest in decades, TVS Motor has grown into one of the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers by volume, and Royal Enfield’s Flying Flea electric motorcycle has bridged India’s premium EV gap.
Here are the top 10 bike brands in India — who started them, who owns them, and what they make.
Quick Comparison
| Rank | Brand | Owner | India Operations | HQ (India) | Approx. Market Share |
| 1 | Hero MotoCorp | Munjal family (listed) | 1984 | New Delhi | Highest overall |
| 2 | Honda HMSI | Honda Motor Co., Japan | 1999 | Manesar, Haryana | Close second |
| 3 | TVS Motor | TVS Group (Venu Srinivasan) | 1979 | Hosur, Tamil Nadu | Strong third |
| 4 | Bajaj Auto | Bajaj family (listed) | 1945 | Pune, Maharashtra | Leading exporter |
| 5 | Royal Enfield | Eicher Motors Ltd | 1955 (India) | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Premium segment leader |
| 6 | Suzuki Motorcycle India | Suzuki Motor Corp., Japan | 2006 | Gurugram, Haryana | Mid-range/scooter niche |
| 7 | Yamaha Motor India | Yamaha Motor Co., Japan | 1985 | Faridabad, Haryana | Performance/scooter niche |
| 8 | Ather Energy | Hero MotoCorp (majority) | 2013 | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Premium EV leader |
| 9 | Ola Electric | ANI Technologies (Bhavish Aggarwal) | 2017 | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Major EV player |
| 10 | KTM India | Bajaj Auto (~48% of KTM AG, Austria) | 2012 | Pune, Maharashtra | Premium performance niche |
1. Hero MotoCorp—The World’s Largest Two-Wheeler Company
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded in India | 1984 (as Hero Honda Motors Ltd.; rebranded Hero MotoCorp in 2011) |
| Owner | Munjal family (listed on BSE/NSE); Chairman & MD: Pawan Munjal |
| HQ | New Delhi |
Hero MotoCorp is the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volume and has been so for over two decades. Founded in 1984 as a joint venture between the Munjal family’s Hero Group and Honda Motor Company, Japan, it rebranded as Hero MotoCorp in 2011, when the JV was dissolved.
Hero MotoCorp typically takes the largest market share in India, with a wide range of scooters and motorcycles for mass and premium segments. The company recently announced the launch of its electric vehicle unit—Vida—and is currently one of the most popular electric vehicle brands in India.
What It Does: Manufacturing commuter motorcycles, premium motorcycles, scooters, and electric two-wheelers.
Popular Models & Services: Splendor Plus, HF Deluxe (commuter); Passion, Glamour, Super Splendor (mid-size); Xtreme 125R, Xtreme 160R, Xpulse 200 (premium); Vida V2 (electric); True Hero (used motorcycles); Hero Care (service plans).
2. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) – The Fastest Closing In
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded in India | 1999 |
| Owner | Honda Motor Company, Japan (100% owned subsidiary) |
| HQ | Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana |
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India was formed in 1999 as a subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, Japan—and entered the Indian market six years after its joint venture with the Hero Group (Hero Honda).
HMSI owns several manufacturing units in India with an annual combined production capacity of several million motorcycles. HMSI is one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in India by domestic sales, with robust double-digit growth—driven by the best-selling Activa scooter.
What It Does: Designing, manufacturing, and marketing scooters, commuter motorcycles, and mid-size motorcycles in India.
Popular Models & Services: Activa (best-selling scooter in India), SP125, Shine, Unicorn, Hornet 2.0, CB350RS, CB500X; ADV160 (maxi-scooter); Honda Care (service plans); Honda Extended Warranty.
3. TVS Motor Company—Among the World’s Largest Motorcycle Manufacturers
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1979 |
| Owner | TVS Group; Chairman: Venu Srinivasan |
| HQ | Hosur, Tamil Nadu |
TVS Motor Company—part of the century-old TVS Group, founded by T.V. Sundaram Iyengar—began its journey in 1979 and currently ranks among the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers.
It has traditionally been one of the fastest-growing motorcycle manufacturers in India (along with Bajaj Auto). TVS leads the Indian electric motorcycle/scooter market, with separate sales figures for its iQube, Orbiter, and X brands.
What It Does: Manufacturing and marketing of motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, and electric vehicles—for budget, mid-size, and premium segments—with a strong focus on exports to Africa and Latin America.
Popular Models & Services: Jupiter, Ntorq 125 (scooters); Raider 125, Apache RTR series, Ronin, Zeppelin R (motorcycles); iQube, iQube ST, Orbiter, X (electric vehicles); TVS Tyres; TVS Credit; pan-India service network.
4. Bajaj Auto—India’s Largest Two-Wheeler Exporter
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1945 |
| Owner | Bajaj family; Chairman: Niraj Bajaj; MD & CEO: Rajiv Bajaj |
| HQ | Pune, Maharashtra; Listed on BSE/NSE |
Bajaj Auto traces its roots to 1945, when it was founded by Jamnalal Bajaj—initially focusing on importing Vespa scooters, it began manufacturing its own two-wheelers soon enough.
The company has since grown to become one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in India, with a significant foothold in the export market. In addition to manufacturing its own motorcycles and scooters for the Indian and global markets, Bajaj Auto owns a stake in KTM AG Austria and manufactures sub-400cc Triumph and KTM motorcycles at its Chakan plant.
What It Does: Manufacturing and marketing of commuter motorcycles, performance motorcycles, and electric scooters—under the Bajaj brand. Distribution of KTM and Triumph (sub-400cc two-wheelers) in India and abroad.
Popular Models & Services: CT100, Platina (entry-level motorcycles); Pulsar NS, RS, N series (performance); Avenger (cruiser); Dominar 400 (adventure); Chetak (electric scooter); KTM Duke/RC/Adventure; Triumph Speed 400, Speed Triple 400; Bajaj Finance.
5. Royal Enfield—Premium Motorcycles Cult Brand
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded in India | 1955 (Enfield India Ltd.; rebranded Royal Enfield after Eicher Motors acquisition) |
| Owner | Eicher Motors Limited; MD & CEO: Siddhartha Lal |
| HQ | Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Listed on BSE/NSE |
Royal Enfield traces its roots to 1901—when it was founded in England—and officially began its journey in India in 1955, under the umbrella of Enfield India Ltd. Following its acquisition by Eicher Motors—which rebranded the brand as Royal Enfield—the company focused its efforts on manufacturing motorcycles exclusively.
Currently, Royal Enfield is one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in India in terms of domestic sales—with robust double-digit sales growth. It leads India’s premium (mid-size) motorcycle segment and has recently announced its foray into the electric motorcycle market with the ‘Flying Flea’.
What It Does: Designing, manufacturing, and marketing of premium motorcycles in the 350cc–650cc segment.
Popular Models & Services: Classic 350, Bullet 350, Meteor 350, Hunter 350, Himalayan, Guerrilla 450, Shotgun 650, Thunderbird (touring); Flying Flea C6 (roadster) and S6 (scrambler); Royal Enfield Accessories; Tripper navigation; Royal Enfield Stores (experiential retail).
6. Suzuki Motorcycle India—Premium Scooter Manufacturer
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded in India | 2006 |
| Owner | Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan |
| HQ | Gurugram, Haryana |
Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Ltd was incorporated in India in 2006—as a 100% owned subsidiary of Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corporation. It has a manufacturing plant in Kherki Daula, Gurugram.
Unlike its competitors, Honda and Yamaha, which have been manufacturing motorcycles in India since the early 90s, Suzuki arrived comparatively late—in 2006. The brand is best known for its Access 125 maxi-scooter—India’s best-selling scooter—and Gixxer series of performance motorcycles.
What It Does: Manufacturing and marketing of scooters and performance motorcycles—for mid-size and premium segments.
Popular Models & Services: Access 125, Avenis 125 (scooters); Gixxer 150, Gixxer 250, Gixxer SF 250 (performance motorcycles); Burgman Street (maxi-scooter); GSX-S1000, Hayabusa (superbikes); Suzuki Genuine Accessories; Extended Warranty.
7. Yamaha Motor India—Performance Motorcycles & Scooters
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded in India | 1985 (Indo Yamaha Motor; re-branded India Yamaha Motor) |
| Owner | Yamaha Motor Company, Japan |
| HQ | Surajpur, Greater Noida, UP |
Yamaha entered the Indian two-wheeler market in 1985—as a joint venture with Escorts Group—and was later rebranded as India Yamaha Motor. The company is known for its sportier and more aspirational performance motorcycles—typically appealing to a younger buyer.
Yamaha has been registering robust sales growth in recent years—driven by its FZ series and YZF-R15.
What It Does: Manufacturing and marketing of scooters, commuter motorcycles, and performance motorcycles in India.
Popular Models & Services: Fascino 125, RayZR 125 (scooters); YZF-R15 V4 (super sports); FZ series, MT-15 V2 (naked bikes); Aerox 155 (maxi-scooter); Yamaha Revs Your Heart After-Sales; Yamaha Finance.
8. Ather Energy—India’s Fastest Growing Premium EV Two-Wheeler Brand
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Tarun Mehta & Swapnil Jain (IIT Madras) |
| Owner | Hero MotoCorp (majority) |
| HQ | Bengaluru, Karnataka; Listed on BSE/NSE |
Ather Energy was founded in 2013 by two IIT Madras graduates who wanted to create the best possible electric scooter—and quickly became one of the most popular electric vehicle startups in India.
Ather Energy is a major player in India’s premium electric scooter market and has announced ambitious expansion plans for the coming years. The company went public in 2022 (listed on BSE/NSE), with Hero MotoCorp owning a majority stake in the scooter manufacturer.
What It Does: Designing, manufacturing, and servicing premium electric scooters—with connected technology.
Popular Models & Services: Ather 450S, 450X, 450 Apex, Rizta (family scooter); Ather Grid—fast-charging network; AtherStack—connected technology; Ather One—subscription service; connected app platform.
9. Ola Electric—Disruptive New-Age EV Brand
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder/CEO | Bhavish Aggarwal |
| Owner | ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Bhavish Aggarwal); Listed on BSE/NSE |
| HQ | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
Ola Electric—the electric vehicle venture of Ola Cabs—was founded in 2017 and began operations with the creation of the Futurefactory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu—one of the largest two-wheeler manufacturing facilities in the world.
Ola Electric’s scooters have been receiving mixed reviews from critics—with many highlighting initial quality control and customer care issues—but the company has registered strong sales numbers nonetheless.
What It Does: Manufacturing and marketing of disruptive electric scooters and motorcycles, targeting India’s two-wheeler market.
Popular Models & Services: S1 Air, S1 X, S1 X+, S1 Pro (electric scooters); Roadster X, Roadster Pro (electric motorcycles); OlaElectric.com (direct sales); Ola HyperCharger (fast charging network); over-the-air updates (software).
10. KTM India—Performance Motorcycles Cult Brand
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded globally | 1934 (Austria); India operations – 2012 |
| Owner | Bajaj Auto (significant stake in KTM AG, Austria); KTM India manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant |
| HQ | Pune, Maharashtra (India) |
KTM—or Kromerif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen—is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer with a rich motorsports heritage. It was acquired by Bajaj Auto in 2007—and some KTM motorcycles (Duke, RC, and Adventure series) are also manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant.
KTM has a passionate customer base in India—with its Duke and RC series being some of the most popular performance motorcycles on Indian roads.
What It Does: Manufacturing and marketing of performance motorcycles in India.
Popular Models & Services: KTM 125 Duke, 200 Duke, 250 Duke, 390 Duke; RC 125, RC 390 (super sports); 390 Adventure, 390 SMC R; KTM PowerParts accessories; KTM Race Experience.
Key Market Snapshot
| Brand | Typical Annual Volume Trend | Growth Trend |
| Hero MotoCorp | Highest overall volumes | Steady growth |
| Honda HMSI | Close second, growing fast | Strong growth |
| TVS Motor | Rapidly scaling | Highest growth among majors |
| Bajaj Auto | Strong domestic + export volumes | Steady growth |
| Royal Enfield | Leading premium segment | Strong growth |
| Yamaha | Consistent niche performer | Healthy growth |
FAQs
1. What is the No. 1 bike brand in India?
Hero MotoCorp is consistently India’s largest motorcycle manufacturer in terms of domestic volumes—and is the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer.
2. What is the fastest-growing bike brand in India?
TVS Motor Company typically records the highest growth rates among the largest motorcycle manufacturers in India and has rapidly scaled its way to becoming one of the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers.
3. Which is India’s largest two-wheeler exporter?
Bajaj Auto is consistently India’s largest two-wheeler exporter, followed by TVS Motor.
4. Which bike brand is best for premium motorcycles in India?
Royal Enfield is India’s largest premium (mid-size) motorcycle brand, while KTM’s Duke and RC series represent the most desirable entry-level sport bikes. For touring and adventure, the Royal Enfield Himalayan and Bajaj Dominar 400 are popular choices.
5. Which is the best electric two-wheeler brand in India?
Ather Energy leads India’s premium electric two-wheeler market—while TVS iQube is the best-selling electric scooter in India—and Ola Electric is a significant entrant in the electric vehicle space.
6. When was Hero MotoCorp founded?
Hero Honda Motors Ltd. (Earlier Hero MotoCorp) was founded in 1984 as a joint venture between the Munjal family and Honda Motor Company, Japan. When the venture was dissolved in 2011, the company was rebranded as Hero MotoCorp. The original Hero Cycle Group was founded in 1956 by the Munjal family.
7. Is Royal Enfield an Indian brand?
Royal Enfield was founded in England in 1901—and officially launched in India in 1955 under Enfield India Ltd. It is currently owned by Eicher Motors—a publicly listed Indian company.
8. Which bike brand has the best after-sales service in India?
Hero MotoCorp has the most extensive service network in India—covering both rural and urban areas. Honda HMSI typically provides the best after-sales service in urban areas, while Royal Enfield’s branded studios have seen improved customer service in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
9. Is KTM manufactured in India?
Yes, KTM two-wheelers in India are manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant in Pune, Maharashtra—under a partnership between KTM AG, Austria, and Bajaj Auto. The motorcycles are also exported to other countries.
10. How big is India’s two-wheeler market?
India’s two-wheeler market is the largest in the world in terms of volume—and is in the tens of millions of units. The market covers motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, and a rising electric segment.
Conclusion
India’s two-wheeler market tells a story of simultaneous battles: Hero and Honda remain locked in one of the tightest domestic contests in decades. TVS has become a global manufacturing giant while quietly dominating India’s EV scooter segment.
Bajaj exports more bikes than almost anyone else on earth while manufacturing KTMs and Triumphs at the same plant as its Platina commuters. And Royal Enfield has finally gone electric with the Flying Flea, opening a chapter that India’s premium two-wheeler community has been waiting for.
The one constant in all of it: India’s affection for two-wheelers is generational, cultural, and deeply economic. For a country where the two-wheeler is still the primary family vehicle in hundreds of millions of homes, these ten brands are not just selling products—they are building mobility infrastructure.
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