Honda Motor Co., the world's top motorcycle manufacturer, is strengthening operations in India by stepping up research and development and expanding its sales network.

"Our global and Indian R&D teams are working together to strengthen our product portfolio for the Indian market which has become the No. 1 market for Honda's two-wheeler business worldwide," accounting for 32 percent of overall two-wheeler sales, said Atsushi Ogata, general manager of the business planning division for Honda's motorcycle operations.

At a recent news conference in Mumbai for the launch of the Grazia, Honda's new advanced urban scooter, Ogata said the company will form a specialized team of experts to reinforce its intellectual property rights in India.