The collaborative partnership between Honda and Kumamon (くまモン) the bear has spawned numerous themed vehicles and adorably amusing promotional activities. After all, Kumamon is known worldwide as an enthusiastic motorcycle rider, and he’s the official “yuru-chara” (ゆるキャラ, Japanese mascot character), Director of Happiness, and Sales Manager of Kumamoto Prefecture where Honda’s famed Kumamoto plant has resided since the ‘70s. Honda has already built a Kumamon Cross Cub and 50th Anniversary Kumamon Monkey. The latest two-wheeled Honda to receive the Kumamon treatment is the Scoopy i scooter.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Scoopy i sales in Thailand, a Kumamon-themed scooter was launched by AP Honda for the Thai market. The Honda Scoopy i Kumamon Special Edition is, naturally, painted in the bear’s recognizable black and red colors. His likeness is plastered all over the scooter for his signature cute-yet-badass effect. The officially licensed scooter will be limited to 5,000 units and the first 30 buyers have the chance to win a trip to visit Kumamon in Kumamoto, Japan — as long as they purchase one by March 31, 2020. It is already for sale at the price of TH฿54,200.
Kumamon has earned the love of not only his neighbors in Kumamoto and his Japanese countrymen, but also people around the world. In fact, his own business has expanded overseas. Kumamon has his own Thailand shop and its Facebook page has more than 47,800 Thai followers. It makes sense that Honda is gifting Kumamon’s Thai fans with the Scoopy i Kumamon Special Edition as an awesome show of Japanese cultural goodwill for the holidays.
The Scoopy has seen success, accumulating more than 2.2 million units. The current model is powered by a 110 cc single-cylinder PGM-FI engine boasting fast response, excellent fuel efficiency, and Honda Smart Technology. It comes with a Combi Brake system (CBS), Idling Stop System, an AC charging socket for mobile devices, and a 15.4 L storage U BOX.
“On the 10th anniversary of the Honda Scoopy i in Thailand, we have the idea to deliver specialness to Thai people through the making of a special edition model, starting with the delivery of the Honda Scoopy i Line Friends to the market last July and received good response. We thank the customers all over the country who like them and this time, we would like to present a fun new chapter that comes with an interesting story, the New Honda Scoopy i Kumamon Special Edition that has been specially designed by incorporating the distinctive elements of Kumamon bears together. The classic Scoopy i style perfectly for teenagers and Kumamon lovers in Thailand,” said Shigeto Kimura, President of AP Honda Co., Ltd.
"The origin of the New Honda Scoopy i Kumamon Special Edition comes from the resemblance to the origin of both the Scoopy i and Kumamon, all of which originated in the same city. The Scoopy Series was first produced and sold in 2001 at Kumamoto, Japan, under the name CREA Scoopy, before Honda introduced this model to the Thai market in 2009 under the name Scoopy i, while Kumamon was born in 2010 as Kumamoto city mascot. To promote tourism in Kumamoto, with an official position as the Director of Happiness in Kumamoto Prefecture, the character that is cute, mischievous and always happy makes Kumamon famous throughout Japan and around the world."
