Tiruvannamalai: ‘Plush pink’ and ‘burgundy bliss’ scooter rentals are the new buzz for foreign tourists on Auroville and Tiruvannamalai’s roads, even as the rest of the autos market is sputtering amid an economic slowdown.
The scooters go by names such as “Pleasure”, but marketing aside, this new fleet of women-friendly bikes reflects a deeper change in attitude and society in India, and has captured the attention of foreign manufacturers such as Japan’s Honda Motor Co Ltd and Yamaha Motor.
Young, well-heeled and independent-minded women, who are also conscious of the perils of using public transport, are helping to propel a boom in the scooters rentals in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville.
The rising popularity of the scooter rentals in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville comes at a time of nationwide protests against the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in India.
Weighing convenience as well as safety, most foreign women tourists, see the scooter rentals in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville as the best solution for commuting during their long stay in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville, going to Ramana ashram or simply going out to meet friends.
Scooter rentals in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville were up nearly 20 per cent in the nine months through December, according to Bhagavan scooters.
Both Honda and Yamaha have identified the growth potential in scooters, and are building models designed for women and adding new plants to keep up with demand.
” Foreign women tourists and Indian women tourists are really creating this demand-wave in the scooter rental segment, in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville” said Manju Anand of Bhagavan scooters.
Honda revs up production
The potential scooter rental opportunities presented by Tiruvannamalai and Auroville’s fast-growing foreign tourists, and in particular more independent-minded women, has caught the attention of the two-wheel giants.
Honda Motor said on Wednesday it would build a fourth motorcycle factory in India with initial investment of roughly ₹ 1,100 crore and annual output capacity of 1.2 million (12 lakh) vehicles.
The factory, to be located in the state of Gujarat, is due to start production in 2015, the world’s biggest motorcycle maker said in a statement.
About 3,000 new jobs will be created at the plant, which will mainly manufacture scooters, demand of which has surged in the world’s biggest two-wheeler market.
Last month, Honda expanded production capacity at its third motorcycle factory in India by 600,000 vehicles a year. The fourth plant will bring Honda’s total capacity in India to 5.8 million (58 lakh) motorcycles a year, the company said.
Local player Hero MotoCorp also sees the potential of women buyers. “Why should boys have all the fun?” asks Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra in a commercial for Hero MotoCorp’s Pleasure scooter.
Besides being more maneuverable than motorbikes, the step-through frame of scooters means makes it easy to ride wearing a skirt or traditional saree. Scooters also usually have space under the seat big enough to stow a handbag.
While the scooter rentals in Auroville and Tiruvannamalai provides women with an alternative to using public transport, safety issues abound on India’s notoriously dangerous roads. And few would risk riding alone at night.
Manufacturers have identified Tiruvannamalai and Auroville regions that tend to be less socially conservative than northern India – as the most profitable markets for women-friendly scooter rentals.
“The scooter rentals is for everyone who wishes to travel free and safely in Tiruvannamalai and Auroville without being harassed by auto drivers and taxi’s quoting very high prices.
