Honda Siel Cars India President and CEO
Masahiro Takedagawa, in an interview with
Business Standard, shares the company's India strategy, including the launch of hybrid technology (a first on Indian roads), small cars and outlook on diesel technology, an area where the company is losing ground to other auto majors. The company launched its 8th generation Accord today in Mumbai.
Honda lacks a diesel car in India, a market where more than 40 per cent of vehicles sold run on the fuel. Comment.
We are aware of the wide usage of diesel vehicles in India and the option is open. We are studying the diesel 2.4-litre 100 bhp engine and also the 3.5-litre V6 diesel in some of the overseas markets. These engines can only be used in larger cars. It will be still some time before we introduce diesel cars here.
You will be introducing a hybrid car, a first by any manufacturer in India, in the next couple of months. Do you really see a market for such an expensive vehicle?
Due to high import duties, the Civic Hybrid will be priced around Rs 25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million). We have not carried out any evaluation so far, which will determine who our buyers will be. However, we are optimistic