Honda Cars India Limited , leading manufacturer of premium cars recorded a highest ever 400 per cent growth in car sales in Punjab against 83 per cent growth in the country during 2013=14 over previous year.
Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales told media persons during a round table conference that people in Punjab had fancy for diesel cars. He said that thanks to the success of Amaze and 4th generation Honda City, Honda Cars India Limited had received a phenomenal response from the customers in the financial year 2013-14 during which the company also posted its highest ever annual sales of 1, 34,339 units. It was during this year that the company forayed into the diesel segment in the Indian car market with the launch of the Amaze that marked Honda?s entry into the diesel segment in the country. The car has received an overwhelming success ever since its launch in April last year selling more than 80,000 units across the country in one year. The company also launched the all-new 4thGeneration Honda City developed as a global sedan which is available in both diesel and petrol fuel options. The company has sold 30,959 units of new City in the past four months and continues to dominate the sales in its segment.
Jnaneswar Sen said that the company started the production of cars from its Tapukara Plant in February 2014. Honda Amaze was the first car to roll out from the new plant. With a cumulative investment of Rs. 3526 crores, Tapukara plant currently employs about 3200 associates. He said that the capacity utilization at the Greater Noida unit was 100 per cent while the new unit in Rajasthan state was currently working on a single shift but would soon have cent per cent capacity utilisation. He said that the mid-sized Stylish 7 seater MPV Honda Mobilio and the all-new 3rd generation Honda Jazz will be launched during this financial year.
Sen said that the company plans to increase its dealer network by 35% in this year by reaching out to more tier 2 and tier 3 markets which will be instrumental for growth. The company currently has 170 facilities in 107 cities in its network and this will increase to 230 facilities in 150 cities.