Kinetic Motor Company
Encyclopedia
Kinetic Engineering Limited is an automotive component manufacturer in India which formerly sold two-wheelers under the brand names Kinetic Honda
and later Kinetic. In 2008, it stopped selling two-wheelers after entering into a joint venture with Mahindra Automobiles
, where Mahindra held the major (80%) stakes. By this joint venture, Mahindra acquired the two-wheeler manufacturing facilities as well as the then selling brands of Kinetic.
The brand Kinetic-Honda is remembered for its legacy 2-stroke scooters, with variomatic
transmission and electric start, first in India when it was launched (in 1984) and the only in India until the late 1990s.
Part of the Firodia Group of Companies, a pioneer in the Indian automotive sector, Kinetic Engineering started its operations in the year 1972. It entered into a joint venture with Honda
in 1984 and started selling scooters under the brand name Kinetic Honda
. In 1998, the joint venture split and the company continued to sell scooters under the brand name Kinetic. Soon the company entered into the fastest growing motorcycle market but its endeavor failed and put the company into debt. With direct competition from the former ally Honda, which had now established itself as the leading scooter manufacturer (HMSI) in India, Kinetic lost its exclusive market foothold by the mid 2000s. Now having withdrawn from two-wheeler manufacturing, Kinetic Engineering continues to be a major player in the auto components manufacturing and exporting sector in India.
Kinetic Motors again started its operations from January 2011. Kinetic introduced its very popular brand Kinetic in 4 stroke version and going to launch 3 more new models to compete the market.
Kinetic Honda
Kinetic Honda was a joint venture between Kinetic Engineering Limited, India and Honda Motor Company, Japan. The JV operated during 1984 - 1998, manufacturing 2-stroke scooters in India...
and later Kinetic. In 2008, it stopped selling two-wheelers after entering into a joint venture with Mahindra Automobiles
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited is the flagship company of the Mahindra Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. The company was set up in 1945 in Ludhiana as Mahindra & Mohammed by brothers K.C. Mahindra and J.C. Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed...
, where Mahindra held the major (80%) stakes. By this joint venture, Mahindra acquired the two-wheeler manufacturing facilities as well as the then selling brands of Kinetic.
The brand Kinetic-Honda is remembered for its legacy 2-stroke scooters, with variomatic
Variomatic
Variomatic is the stepless, fully automatic transmission of the Dutch car manufacturer DAF, originally developed by Hub van Doorne: this consists of a "V" shaped drive belt and two pulleys, each of two cones, whose effective diameter can be changed so that the "V" belt runs nearer the spindle or...
transmission and electric start, first in India when it was launched (in 1984) and the only in India until the late 1990s.
Part of the Firodia Group of Companies, a pioneer in the Indian automotive sector, Kinetic Engineering started its operations in the year 1972. It entered into a joint venture with Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
in 1984 and started selling scooters under the brand name Kinetic Honda
Kinetic Honda
Kinetic Honda was a joint venture between Kinetic Engineering Limited, India and Honda Motor Company, Japan. The JV operated during 1984 - 1998, manufacturing 2-stroke scooters in India...
. In 1998, the joint venture split and the company continued to sell scooters under the brand name Kinetic. Soon the company entered into the fastest growing motorcycle market but its endeavor failed and put the company into debt. With direct competition from the former ally Honda, which had now established itself as the leading scooter manufacturer (HMSI) in India, Kinetic lost its exclusive market foothold by the mid 2000s. Now having withdrawn from two-wheeler manufacturing, Kinetic Engineering continues to be a major player in the auto components manufacturing and exporting sector in India.
Kinetic Motors again started its operations from January 2011. Kinetic introduced its very popular brand Kinetic in 4 stroke version and going to launch 3 more new models to compete the market.