Japanese car major Honda on Wednesday launched its first hybrid car in India, the Civic Hybrid, priced at Rs 21.5 lakh. Masahiro Takedagawa, president and CEO of Honda Siel Cars India told reporters, the high price tag was partially due to the 104% customs duty on the vehicle. The company is importing the Civic Hybrid from Japan as a completely built unit. Takedagawa said they have approached the government through SIAM to clip the import duty.
?In other countries government subsidises such eco-friendly cars. We are hopeful that the government will also look at lowering the import duty,? he said. Takedagawa ruled out the possibility of manufacturing the car in India saying it was difficult to import the technology of the car from Japan.
The car is powered by a 1.3 litre petrol engine and an electric motor that delivers 47% enhanced fuel efficiency than a regular 1.8 litre Civic automatic transmission. The Civic Hybrid was developed way back in 1999 and has sold over 2,60,000 units across the world and India is the thirty third country where the company has launched it. It will be available in two colours – exclusive premium white pearl and alabaster silver.
?This is yet another step to strengthen Honda Siel?s presence in India in line with our long-term goal of bringing eco-friendly vehicles,? Takedagawa said launching the vehicle. He said that the company was not looking at volumes from the car but perceived it is an opportunity to offer to customers the premium technology. ?It is a Honda statement to protect the environment.? The car company has a big manufacturing presence in India. It has sold 62,800 vehicles in last fiscal and this year the company is looking to push up to 1,00,000 units following the capacity expansion at its Greater Noida plant.
Takedagawa however ruled out the possibility of roping in a star to market the new car. He said the company has received over 100 inquiries from the 80 dealerships across the country, adding that bringing the car to India was a challenging task. The company plans to import 400 units in the next one year.
?We have to set an entirely new standard for testing and homologating this car in collaboration Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) as there were no regulations earlier,? he said. The company also introduced a new range of its sedan Civic –1.8 Executive, which is priced between Rs 10.8 lakh and Rs 12.66 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) targeted at corporate customers.
