Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the completely owned division of Japan-based Honda Motor Company, is looking ahead to introduce a minimum of four new models in the Indian auto market every year. The decision is backed by the auto maker’s first integrated R&D centre, which is anticipated to function as the company’s worldwide innovation hub.
The two-wheeler maker is also planning to recruit around 2000 individuals at its yet-to-start 3rd production plant in Karnataka in fiscal 2014. The Chief Operating Officer and President of HMSI, Keita Muramatsu said, “Our plan is to launch at least four products every year from this R&D centre. As India becomes a global innovation hub for Honda, customers can look forward to new products faster.”
Along with its new Research & Development (R&D) centre, the company’s technical hub has a total of strength of 200 developers and engineers. Further expressing the company’s future plans, the company’s Vice President (Sales and Marketing), Yadvinder S Guleria quoted, “Currently, we are developing four new products from this R&D Centre. The first of these products will hit the roads during the 2013-14 financial year.”
As a part of its launch strategy, the auto maker introduced the reworked versions of its three scooters, Aviator, Activa and Dio, which are all now packed with HET engines. The new Aviator has priced between Rs 48000 and Rs 54,000, whereas Activa and Dio are offered with a tag of around Rs. 47000 and Rs 45000, respectively.
Honda India currently has two production plants, based at Manesar (Haryana) and Tapukara (Rajasthan), which have an annual production capacity of 16 lakh units and 12 lakh units, respectively. Speaking on the third production plant in Karnataka, Muramatsu said, “The third plant will start production during first quarter next fiscal with full capacity. Our total output would be 40 lakh per annum from all the plants.”
