Kinetic Honda

Kinetic Honda was a joint venture between Kinetic Engineering Limited, India and Honda Motor Company, Japan. Kinetic was the first company to have a joint venture with HMSI. The partnership operated from 1984 to 1998, manufacturing two-stroke scooters in India. In 1998, the joint venture was terminated after which Kinetic Engineering continued to sell the models under the brand name Kinetic until 2008 when the interests were sold to Mahindra. Mahindra later wound up their two wheeler business, owing to poor sales.[1]

Kinetic Honda
IndustryAutomobile
Founded1984 (1984)
FounderH. K. Firodia
Defunct2008 (2008)
FateDefunct
SuccessorMahindra & Mahindra Limited
HeadquartersPune,
India
Area served
India, USA, UK etc.
Key people
H. K. Firodia, Arun Firodia, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Ajinkya Firodia
ProductsScooters, motorcycles
OwnerArun Firodia
ParentKinetic Engineering Limited (Firodia Group)

The brand Kinetic Honda is remembered for its legacy two-stroke scooters which were in fact based on the Honda NH series, with continuously variable transmission and electric start, first in India when it was launched (in 1984), and the only in India until the late 1990s.

Model history
  • 1984: Kinetic DX — 98cc, two-stroke, single mirror, black plastic finish
  • 1984: Kinetic EX — 98cc, two-stroke, single mirror, black plastic finish, no indicators (replaced by black blocks), limited colour versions
  • 1994: Kinetic ZX — 98cc, two-stroke, double mirror, wind shield, more graphical stickers, grey plastic finish
  • 1995: Kinetic Marvel — 99cc, two-stroke, double mirror, wide shield, more graphical stickers, red, white and blackish blue plastic finish and with pure Honda 2 stroke Engine (Awarded Scooter Of The Year)
  • 2000: Kinetic Y2K
  • 2001: Kinetic ZX Zoom — 110cc, two-stroke; otherwise as the ZX
  • 2002: Kinetic Nova
  • 2005: Kinetic 4s — 111.5cc, four-stroke
  • 2006: Kinetic Kine
  • 2008: Kinetic Jupiter and Kinetic Blaze

Notes
  1. International Business Times, 31 July 2008, "Mahindra & Mahindra buys Kinetic Motor for Rs.110 crore, forays into two-wheeler market" by Surojit Chatterjee.

References
  • Bam, Dilip, "Kinetic 4S Road Test", Indiabike.com, archived from the original on July 20, 2011
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