Honda?s small car, scheduled for launch in 2011, will have around 80% components made in India. Honda will make India the lead country and the cars will be exported to just Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan to start with. ?We do not have plans to export the cars to other countries,? Honda Siel India?s vice-president (marketing) Jnaneshwar Sen told FE.
The company also said it expects the small car to sell as many as its best selling model ‘City’. ?Honda has been in India for over a decade and still remains one of the most aspirational car brands. Likwise, in the new small car, all global attributes like comfort and safety standards would be maintained. The small car would follow the footsteps of City, which has remained the most desirable car in its 11 year of existence in India.,? Sen added.
Honda has developed the small car taking into view the needs of a typical Indian customer.
The company has studied the needs of a small car owner in the country for last two years before arriving at the arodynamic design shown at the Auto Expo. So much so, that the company has analysed how a typical Indian saree-clad woman gets in and out of a small car. For this, ladies draped in sarees were flown from India to Honda?s global design centre in Japan. Likewise, the company has also started studying Indian customers? behaviour and usage patterns ? weekend trend, shopping habits ? to design stylish cars with modern looks and pack them with ergonomics features.
The company had unveiled the concept of the small car on the first day of the Expo. The car will be rolled out from the company?s plant at Greater Noida.
The company is also looking to increase the use of local components of its existing models in India to around the same percentage. While its City and Jazz cars have around 75% localisation of components, the Civic has 71% and the Accord 28%.
Honda is also spucing up its dealership and workshop network across India in a big way ahead of the small car launch. In one year, the company plans to increase its facilities from exiting 66 to 166 by entering newer cities. ?Before the 2011 festive season, we plan to put up 25 more dealerships and enter 20 new cities,? Sen added.