Hero MotoCorp’s which currently enjoys a 70 percent market share of India’s two wheeler market is likely to get lots tougher.

According to a Business Standard report, Hero MotoCorp’s friend-turned-foe, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is planning to take on the country’s top scooter maker in its home turf, the entry level segment.

Honda is eying  the 70 percent market share Hero currently enjoys in the entry level segment. Honda is planning to roll out a scooter priced between £355 to £470 (Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000), the report said. The competition in this £355 to £600 (Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000) segment has been heating up.

This will be the cheapest product from Honda. Currently the Honda Dream Yuga priced at about £520 (Rs 44,000) is its cheapest model.

Bajaj Auto earlier this month launched the Discover 100T, a new 100 cc model, in direct competition with with the Honda Dream Yuga and the Hero Passion Pro. The Discover 100T is priced around £600 (Rs 50,000).

As rivals eye the mass market segment, Hero’s fight to remain the most popular brand in India is getting tougher. The company has been under pressure after its split with Honda.

The split with Honda has created uncertainty over Hero’s research and development capabilities and the company has to now spend more on marketing products and in brand building, a Firstpost article had earlier said.