New Delhi, India – HERE Technologies released new findings from its regional study Inside the Two‑Wheeler Landscape in APAC: Key Trends and Rider Behaviors, revealing that two‑wheeler riders in India rely heavily on navigation to manage unpredictable traffic, protect earnings and maintain day‑to‑day mobility efficiency. Surveyed riders in India place strong emphasis on real‑time traffic alerts, accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA) and reliable routing, reflecting the pressures of navigating some of the world’s most congested and dynamic road environments.
Commissioned by HERE Technologies and conducted by Point Consulting, an independent strategy and insights firm, the study surveyed more than 2,400 riders across China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, including 404 respondents from India. The findings highlight India’s uniquely high navigation dependency and the rising needs of gig‑economy workers who rely on precise, real‑world routing intelligence.
Navigation serves as an everyday necessity in India’s high‑pressure mobility landscape
India stands out as a market where navigation is deeply integrated into everyday riding. According to the study:
- 61% of surveyed riders in India use navigation “often” or “always,” one of the highest usage rates in APAC
- Riders evaluate navigation systems based on how well they reflect real roads, real traffic conditions and real constraints
- Real‑time traffic alerts, full‑screen map views and turn‑by‑turn voice directions rank among the most valued features
Surveyed Indian riders rely on navigation as both a productivity tool and a stress‑reduction mechanism, using it to make fast decisions, avoid delays and maintain flow through unpredictable congestion.
Efficiency, real‑time awareness and ETA accuracy shape rider priorities
Surveyed riders in India consistently prioritize features that reduce uncertainty and support continuous momentum through dense traffic. Key requirements include:
- Real‑time traffic alerts (61%) to anticipate congestion and avoid time‑consuming bottlenecks
- Route optimization to minimize delays and maintain predictable travel times
- Clear visual guidance, including full screen map layouts and lane‑level awareness
Riders also value performance supporting features such as ride tracking, hazard alerts and environment‑aware guidance, reflecting the need for holistic navigation support in complex operating conditions.
Gig and delivery riders rely on navigation as income infrastructure
With India’s gig economy rapidly expanding, delivery riders represent one of the most navigation‑dependent groups in the region. Their top challenges include:
- Delays caused by poor routing
- Inaccurate travel time estimates, affecting customer satisfaction and workflow
- Shortcut suggestions that riders associate with higher risk and reduced efficiency
Surveyed delivery riders identify three features as especially critical for sustaining earnings:
- Route suggestions that support safer riding efforts (36%)
- Best multi‑stop routing (20%)
- Instant diversion during congestion or unexpected delays (19%)
Navigation affects workers’ productivity, ratings and income, so accuracy and reliability are essential.
Growing importance of physical infrastructure and algorithmic guidance to boost rider confidence
India’s road environment often requires split second decision‑making amid mixed traffic, inconsistent visibility and informal road cues. Surveyed riders in India therefore place high value on safety‑oriented features such as:
- Alerts for potholes or damaged surfaces
- Accident‑prone area warnings
- “Most visible/well‑lit route” options at night
- Sharp‑curve warnings
These features strengthen situational awareness in environments where riders frequently encounter unpredictable risks.
HERE Technologies: India’s riders judge navigation by real‑world relevance
“Riders in India judge navigation by how well it understands real roads, real traffic and real constraints,” said Shyam Shankar Raman, Business Segment Head for Two‑Wheelers, Asia Pacific at HERE Technologies. “Riders expect systems that keep pace with conditions that change quickly on the ground. In India where navigation is tightly linked to daily productivity – real‑time accuracy, routing that supports safety awareness and dependable ETAs play a critical role in helping riders move with confidence.”
The study positions India as a market where navigation is mission‑critical, supporting earnings, daily efficiency and rider safety awareness. As urban congestion intensifies and gig‑work expands, expectations for real‑time intelligence, high‑integrity map data, and two‑wheeler‑specific routing will continue to accelerate.
