Honda's Doctor Activa takes doorstep service to two wheels

Penetrating the rural and semi urban parts of India is proving to be Japanese two wheeler giant Honda's big challenge. Honda has been making big ticket moves such as expanding its dealership and after-sales service chain in a big way, apart from adding Akshay Kumar, a movie star with big rustic appeal, as its brand ambassador forming the face of its marketing material. The latest initiative from Honda, to improve after sales service in rural and semi urban parts of India, involves the Honda Activa. 

Note: Honda Activa 110 image used in this report is illustrative in nature. 

While Honda already has mobile service vans fanning out to areas not serviced by regular service centers, an Activa based mobile service unit promises to bolster the two wheeler giant's last mile service network. The Activa based mobile service unit will consist of a specially kitted out Activa automatic scooter that will contain all the equipment and spares that are necessary to carry out routine service on Honda two wheelers. 

The Activa-based mobile service unit will be dispatched to the customer's doorstep with a technician astride it. For bigger repairs, the customer will still need to approach the service center. Dubbed the "Doctor Activa", this unique initiative from Honda will cater to both urban and rural areas of India. The Doctor Activa service will be rolled out next month. All Honda service centers across the country will feature the Doctor Activa service. 

The Activa is an automatic scooter that is the best selling scooter in India. In its second generation, the Activa is now larger and has a bigger 110 cc four stroke engine powering it. A unisex scooter, the Activa got a recent update in the form of Honda Eco Technology (HET). The HET involves lowering the friction in the engine to boost fuel efficiency. The Activa, equipped with HET, is touted to deliver 60 Kmpl, a notable figure for a mileage obsessed nation.  

Source LiveMint