Last year might have been a tough time for most of the auto makers in India, but by contrast it has been the best for the Japanese luxury car maker, Honda. The credit obviously goes to the Amaze compact sedan, its first diesel offering in India that took the market by storm post its launch in April, 2013.
To ensure its growing market share and astral success in the Indian auto industry, Honda has started expanding its product portfolio in the market beginning with the launch of the all new City along with its first time diesel variant.
The current year of 2014 is expected to be even more exciting and rewarding for Honda Cars India, as it will launch two more new products. The president & CEO at HCIL (Honda Cars India Limited), Hironori Kanayama revealed the company plans to the media in an interview.
When asked about Honda’s new product planning for India after the huge success of Amaze and the all new City, Kanayama said that the company is eyeing the very potential SUV segment of India and is contemplating a product.
About the introduction of a new compact sub 4-metre SUV and the time of its launch, Kanayama said that this will be definitely in consideration. He wishes to accelerate the process and is discussing the same with the company. However, the company doesn’t have a global product in this segment right now.
There have been a lot of speculations on the possibility of Honda launching its new Vezel compact SUV in India, and Kanayama said that the company is still studying the market for the feasibility of the product. He added, that could be one of the Vezel SUV offering in India from Honda, though not the sub-4 meter one that it is being considered. He also said that no timeframe can be mentioned at this moment.
Kanayama was also asked about Honda’s plans on expanding in the mass market and whether the popular Brio hatchback will continue to be the company’s entry-level car in India. On this, he said that Honda will be considering this part and has no specific plans currently. Honda will launch a new entry level car, but when he can’t say.
When asked about his opinion on the Indian car market’s situation in this year, Kanayama said that he does not think that anything will change to a far extent in this year, if the Indian government does not introduce any new measure post the general elections. Thus, the Indian auto industry’s present situation might not improve much as was expected.
Honda has 2 more new products to be launched in India this year. When asked about Honda’s target market share in India this year, Kanayama said that that the company does not target market share as it always varies. All depend on the actual market size. Thus, Honda Cars India doesn’t have any market share target but is simply working to grow further.
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I have been writing content for auto blogs for quite a long time now. My passion lies in this field and I love to picture cars as well.
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