Festival of Bikes: Hero, Honda, or TVS – Who Emerged as Diwali 2025's No.1 Brand?

As India’s festive buying frenzy revs up ahead of Diwali 2025, the two-wheeler segment once again becomes a critical battleground. With millions of commuters and first-time buyers watching for offers, tax cuts and new launches, the key question emerges: Which brand claimed the sales crown this season among Hero, Honda and TVS?

Sales Snapshot & Competitive Landscape

The latest numbers show that the broader two-wheeler market is indeed in high gear:

• In September 2025, Hero MotoCorp reported dispatches of ~6,87,220 units, up about 8% year-on-year.
• Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) followed with ~5,68,164 units in the same month domestically.
• TVS Motor Company posted a strong result: ~5,23,923 bikes and scooters in September, up ~11% vs September 2024.
• Key industry commentary points to the GST cut and the festival push as catalysts for growth in August and September. For example, in August 2025, two-wheeler sales rose substantially for Hero, TVS and others, thanks to festival demand + GST tailwinds.
• Local dealer reports confirm the festive lift: e.g., Lucknow dealers noted ~20% year-on-year growth in two-wheeler sales ahead of Diwali.

From this, the clear leader in terms of volume is Hero MotoCorp. But volume alone does not always tell the full story of “who rules” — growth momentum, segment presence and brand strength also matter.

Why Hero Emerged as the Leader

Here are the key factors behind Hero’s edge this festive season:

1. Scale & reach: Hero’s numbers remain significantly ahead of Honda and TVS in volume. In September, Hero’s dispatch numbers overtook Honda’s. 
2. Strong commuter portfolio: Hero continues to dominate the high-volume commuter segment (e.g., Splendor, HF Deluxe) which comprises a large section of festival buyers. 
3. Catch-up in offers and timing: The combination of GST reduction, festival offers and financing deals likely helped Hero convert pent-up demand ahead of Diwali. 
4. Resilience amidst competition: Although Honda and TVS performed well (with strong growth), Hero’s baseline gave it a volume advantage that becomes especially potent during festival spikes.

Meanwhile:

• Honda continues to be strong in certain segments but appears to be slightly behind Hero in the key commuter volumes. (July 2025 data: Honda overtook Hero briefly, but the more recent festival‐window numbers show Hero leading again)
• TVS has interesting momentum, especially in scooters and premium segments, but its total volume still lags the top player. 

Hence, in the “who wins the sales crown” contest for the festival period, Hero MotoCorp emerges as the brand that ruled Diwali 2025.

Why Choose Hero (and What This Means for Buyers)

• Wide service & dealer network: High volume often correlates with good after-sales coverage and parts availability — important for first-time buyers.
• Affordability + value: With its strong commuter models, Hero delivers cost-effective two-wheelers, which suits the festive-season buyer profile seeking offers, value and reliability.
• Resale/brand confidence: A brand that leads in volume tends to enjoy better awareness and potentially higher resale stability — though that depends on location and model.
• Good timing for festival deals: If the leader in sales is also pushing offers and has strong visibility, you as a buyer may gain better choice, quicker delivery and stronger leverage.

That said, choosing a brand must still align with your priorities: your usage (commute vs leisure), engine size (125 cc vs 150 cc vs premium), service availability in your region, and whether you prefer scooter vs motorcycle. If you lean towards premium performance, niche models, or higher displacement bikes, both Honda and TVS have compelling products that might suit your taste.

Conclusion

As the festive season of 2025 revs up in India, the two-wheeler market clearly shows strong momentum. Among the top three brands – Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and TVS Motor Company – Hero stands out as the winner of the festival sales crown, thanks to volume leadership, strong commuter portfolio, and the right mix of timing, offers and reach. For you as a buyer, this signals a favourable environment: good offers, strong brand value and wide choice. Yet remember: while brand leadership is a good indicator, your own fit-for-purpose (budget, variant, service network) matters just as much.

FAQ

Q1: Does Hero’s volume leadership mean it’s the best brand for all buyers?
Not necessarily. Volume leadership means many people are buying the brand, but you still need to check your specific needs (motorcycle vs scooter, engine size, usage pattern, service network). If your priority is a premium or performance bike, other brands may win.

Q2: Are the festival offers likely to continue after Diwali?
Offers tend to peak during the festival window (Navratri to Diwali) when demand is highest and brands push deals. After the festival, offers may reduce or shift, stock may also change. If you currently see good deals, acting soon could make sense.

Q3: Should I pick Hero just because it leads in sales?
Leading sales are a positive sign, but also check the variant you want, dealer availability, waiting period, overall cost-of-ownership (insurance, fuel, maintenance). Don't pick the brand solely on volume.

Q4: How do Honda and TVS compare for festival buyers?
Honda remains very strong with a wide product range and brand value; TVS is carving niche strength especially in scooters and premium bikes. If your priority is features, niche models or premium ride, these brands might offer value. But for sheer mass-market commuter value, Hero comes out ahead this season.

Q5: What should I check before buying a bike this Diwali?
Check: model availability (popular colours/variants may be limited), waiting period, on-road cost (including tax, registration, insurance), servicing network in your city, fuel efficiency, warranty/maintenance offers and of course the festival deal (discounts, freebies, financing).