Honda begins work on 2nd small car; hikes capacity
Greater Noida (PTI): Japanese auto maker Honda, which plans to enter the Indian compact car market next year, has started working on a new global small car based on Indian requirements.
The company, which has hiked its production capacity to one lakh units at its facility here, is currently weighing options between the Jazz and an unnamed compact car on a new platform for introduction in India towards the end of next year.
"Internally, we have just started work on a global small car, which would be developed keeping in mind the requirements of the Indian market," Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) President and CEO Masahiro Takedagawa told reporters here.
He, however, said it would take "several years" for the car to be launched in India.
"While the development is based on Indian conditions, the majority of engineers working on it are Japanese," Takedagawa added.
HSCI is expected to launch its compact car by the end of next year, when its second plant at Tapukara in Rajasthan will go on stream. "Currently, we are weighing options between the Jazz and another compact one on a new platform for launch in India," HSCI Senior General Manager Jnaneswar Sen said.
The company will also be be expanding dealership network across 90 cities in the country in the next three years ahead of its planned foray into the compact car segment.
"In preparation for Honda's planned foray into the compact car segment, we are expanding our dealership network to 160 in 90 cities in the next three years," Takedagawa said.
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Print | posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 6:19 PM