Brands
Honda crosses 1 million sales mark in Q1
MUMBAI: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has sold 348,793 units of its two wheelers in June 2015 against 323,136 units in the corresponding month of 2014. Continuing its positive momentum, Honda two-wheeler growth was 8 per cent (Domestic + Export) versus 6 per cent of the industry in June 2015.
The domestic two wheeler sales of the company reached 331,782 units, registering a 7 per cent growth in June 2015. Also, the Q1, FY’15-16 was closed with 6 per cent growth in sales Y-o-Y for both Domestic and Domestic + Export.
Honda two-wheeler exports grew 23.6 per cent, from 13,762 units to 17,011 units in June 2015.
Honda products continued to witness encouraging response with 27 per cent rise in scooter sales to 219, 650 units in June 2015 versus 166, 592 units in June 2014.
Honda motorcycle sales stood at 112,132 units in June 2015 to 142,782 units last year 2014.
In the month of June 2015, Honda grew at 7 per cent in domestic market which is more than double the domestic industry growth of 3 per cent. Also, the company added a phenomenal 60,677 units in Q1 gaining 2 per cent market share, while domestic two-wheeler industry declined by 1,337 units.
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
