'Honda may be late in diesel, but will make up for lost time'

Of the total bookings Honda Cars India has received for the new City, around 70 per cent is for the diesel version

Honda Cars India Ltd may have been the last in line to offer the diesel option to the Indian consumers, but the company is confident that it can make up for the lost time. In an interview with Mihir Mishra and Anil Sasi, Honda Cars’ Sr Vice President–Marketing & Sales, Jnaneswar Sen was categorical in his assertion that when it comes to India, it is never too late. Excerpts.

You have launched the diesel versions of your car at a time when the demand for diesel cars is declining. Do you think an earlier entry into the diesel segment would have given you more volumes?
It’s never too late for India, at least in my lifetime. In fact, we are the last (to come up with a diesel), but that was because our research and development (R&D) guys worked to offer a new product in the diesel segment.
That is now yielding fruit and our diesel cars have the best power and mileage among competitors.
Of the total bookings we have received for the new City, around 70 per cent is for the diesel version. The Amaze, when it was launched in April last year, got 82 per cent booking for diesel and it’s 60 per cent even now.

Will some amount of clarity from the government on the diesel pricing front help?
Yes, It certainly will.
The diesel demand is shrinking because of a lack of clarity. They are increasing diesel prices every month but there is no clarity on where it is headed.
Assuming that the gap between diesel and petrol price narrows down substantially, customers will then buy cars according to their needs and we are now offering a choice of both to the consumers.

You’re planning to launch the new-generation Jazz in the next fiscal. The last time around, Honda failed to get big numbers, with pricing being an issue. Will you be doing a course correction in terms of price?
Frankly, the market in India was not ready for Jazz when we launched it. The car was ahead of its times.
Our R&D is consistently working on reducing prices through localisation and we have achieved 90 per cent localisation in the new City. Our top priority over the past four years has been localisation and it is bearing results now.


India is a primarily a small car market. Does Honda have any car in its product portfolio that could drive up volumes for the company and does the company have plans to become a volume player in India?
It (India) will always be a small car market... but preferences are gradually changing. Sitting here, as of today, we have no plans to launch small cars. We are expanding the number of segments to get volumes.

Source;
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/honda-may-be-late-in-diesel-but-will-make-up-for-lost-time/1222932/2

New 2014 Honda City launched at Rs 7.42 lakh (Not for North America)

The New City will be powered by a diesel engine for the first time. Bookings frenzy expected

(To those of us in North America wondering what a Honda City is, think a Honda Fit in a sedan).

by Anand Mohan of www.zigwheels.com 

Honda has finally launched the much awaited new 2014 City at a starting price of Rs 7.42 lakh for the petrol model. The new Honda City diesel’s prices start from Rs 8.62 lakh and the new Honda City Automatic will cost Rs 9.49 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.

This fourth generation City’s design is an evolution over the outgoing model rather than a revolution. But in its latest avatar, Honda has upped the game by making it a lot more upmarket. The car looks more premium, the quality of materials are better and there’s more space for the occupants. The Japanese carmaker has also focused on the rear seat, which now is plusher and gets more legroom. The new City also gets more features than before.

The most significant addition to the new City though is the diesel engine under its hood. After three generations of the petrol-only Honda City, this new car will cater to a wider customer base. The engine is the identical 1.5-litre i-DTEC block from the Amaze and delivers the same 100PS of power and 200Nm of torque but is mated to a new six speed gearbox. It promises to be one of the most fuel efficient sedans in the country with an ARAI certified economy score of 26Kmpl.

The petrol engine is the i-VTEC mill carried forward from the old City which delivers 119PS of power, one more than the last generation car. This petrol engine has two choices of gearboxes, a 5-speed manual and a CVT. The CVT is more efficient than the manual achieving an ARAI certified figure of 18Kmpl compared to 17.9Kmpl on the manual.

The new City will be available in five trims - E, S, SV, V and VX for the petrol manual transmission and diesel models and in the SV and VX trims for the CVT City. You will get a choice of six colours - Golden Brown, Carnelian Red Pearl, Urban Titanium, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black and Taffeta White. Honda is offering a 2 year or 40,000km warranty on the new City.

The new City will be sold through 159 dealerships across the country and Honda has plans to open 11 more till March 2014.

Source;
http://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/recent-launches/new-2014-honda-city-launched-at-rs-742-lakh/17624/