Japanese automobile giant Honda
announced on September 21st that it will be launching very first
diesel-driven car in the country by March 2014. The Honda diesel engine
for this will be produced locally at a plant which will be established
in Rajasthan
“In India, an all-new diesel engine will be adopted sequentially to
new models starting in FY14 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2014),” Honda
Motor Co Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito said.
“In addition to the high fuel efficiency, the cost competitiveness of
the all-new diesel engine will be enhanced through local sourcing and
local production to make new diesel models more affordable for
customers,” Ito said.
Although, the CEO did not disclosed any details such as the new Honda
diesel engine capacities which are in the company’s plans that will be
developed by its subsidiary Honda Cars India. A source revealed that the
diesel engine will first be featured in a Brio platform based new entry
level Sedan which is under development in present.
“In Asia, in order to compete in and win in highly competitive
low-price markets and fulfill the diverse needs of customers, in
addition to the all-new Fit Series, Honda will add sedan-type and
utility-type models utilising the platform of the Brio,” Ito said.
Its further revealed the company’s plans to empower its position in
the far eastern auto markets. Ito added, “The Company will further try
to increase sales and growth in Asia by strengthening its “mutually
complementary structure in the region, especially among Thailand,
Indonesia, India and Malaysia.”
Honda Cars India has been facing tough time as its competitors as it doesn’t has a diesel
model in its portfolio. The competitors are benefiting from their
Diesel model cars from huge price gap between petrol and diesel are
continuing to exist and are likely to worsen with time as petrol prices
are fluctuating frequently. Honda’s absence in the diesel car section is
making it lag behind its competitors. Other auto makers having diesel
models are gaining more shares in the market.
Honda Cars India sales during 2011-12 dropped to 8.47 percent to
54,427 units against the earlier figure of 59,463 units sold 2011’s
fiscal.
source;
http://www.gaadi.com/blog/honda-diesel-cars-to-be-out-by-march-2014
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