Honda will have a designed for Indian market product
Post the launch of the Honda Vezel in Tokyo, we got an opportunity to meet the top management of Honda Asia. This included Mr Takanobu ITO President,CEO and Representative Director; Mr Hiroshima Kobayashi, Managing Officer; and Mr Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Managing Officer. The Vezel will come to India in 2015 mostly and it will be made available with a 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre Diesel engine options.
Where is the base production for Vezel and concentration market?
TI:
I think Vezel is a very good car and I think you agree. We are currently considering to make in plants in Japan and other countries.
HK: there are several markets in Asia and it isn't possible to manufacture it in all countries, but we will try and ensure that it is made in several of our Asian plants. This kind of vehicle is growing in demand and we will consider to introduce in many markets.
Any particular plans for Indian market in 2015?
YM:
When we talk about India specifically, SUVs with three rows in the car and at the same time have an affordable price tag is the kind of car Indian consumers need.
TI: The man who just spoke designed the first-generation Jazz and his works speaks for him. Today we showcased the third generation Jazz and it is one of the high selling and well expected models.
Any plans to develop a small car for the Indian car market in particular, just for our market in particular? As India will be a large market for small cars.
YM:
Yes, we agree that India will have a large market for small cars and we will want have a share in it. However, it is a bit too early for us as we don't have the production level. We can consider the part when we approach to making the next generation Brio or the Jazz. We will have to do a lot more research and get our infrastructure ready.
What is your take on Honda's market share in India?
YM:
India is an important car market globally a nod it is considered to be one of the fastest growing one. We ares regions about the market and we have the new Honda Amaze that was launched in April with a Diesel engine and soon we will have three more products with diesel engines. We shave invested Rs 25 billion to double its market share.
Being born and brought up in a family that has been a part of the Automotive industry for over seven decades, Rachit has cars in his blood. Four wheelers are his childhood love, and he has grown up playing with bolts and spanners. To add more value to this passion, he studied automobile engineering and even karted at National level competitions.
Soon after that, he got into motoring journalism- where began the process of testing and evaluating cars. He has driven a wide range of cars beginning from Tata Nano to the Aston Martins, most of the cars that are currently sold in the Indian car market. Apart from this, he has also done many long road trips, and shall continue to do so. Rachit was one of the first journalists to take a Nano across the Golden Quadrilateral.
