Honda has sold 5,445 units of the Activa e: and QC1 electric scooters in the 12 months between February 2025 and January 2026. The company manufactured 11,168 units during this period but has not produced either model since August 2025 due to high inventory levels at dealerships.
- 11,168 units produced, 5,445 dispatched to dealers, 3,723 delivered to customers
- Production halted since August 2025 due to inventory build-up
- QC1 outsells Activa e due to home-charging convenience
Honda electric scooter sales
Tepid market response in first year
Deliveries of the Activa e: and QC1 commenced in March 2025, which also saw the highest monthly production at 4,570 units and highest wholesales at 2,102 units. Production dropped to 1,800 units in April, then to around 1,200 units in May and June, and further to 536 units in July. Between August 2025 and January 2026, production has remained at zero, likely due to high inventory at dealerships.
Retail sales data from the Vahan portal shows that Honda delivered 3,723 units to customers over the 12-month period, with a peak of 411 units in July 2025. The QC1 is the higher selling model, primarily due to its home-charging convenience. The Activa e: relies on Honda’s battery-swapping network and cannot be charged at home.
Additionally, the QC1 has wider availability, while the Activa e is limited to cities with Honda’s swapping infrastructure. Honda currently has over 80 battery-swapping stations in Bengaluru, with the network expanding to Delhi and Mumbai.
We recently learned that Honda is working on an all-new electric scooter for the Indian market, aimed at addressing the shortcomings of the Activa e: and QC1. The new model, based on the J1H platform, is expected to be ready by the end of 2026 and will feature comparable range and features to market leaders like the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, and Ather Rizta. The scooter will be heavily localized to keep pricing competitive and is expected to feature home-charging capability and a competitive equipment list. If it delivers on those fronts, it could fare better than the Activa e and QC1 when it arrives.
