Honda’s compact car Jazz launch likely by 2009 end

The much talked-about Jazz, Honda’s compact car, is likely to be launched in India only by the end of 2009. Honda Siel Cars India is planning to produce Jazz in its upcoming plant at Takapura in Rajasthan. Although the engine components and stamping at Takapura plant will begin in September this year, it will take at least one and a half years for the assembly unit to be ready, indicated top officials of the company.

Honda has launched this highly successful premium hatchback in Europe, North America, Latin America and some parts of Asia including Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. However, the company has no plans to launch it this year in India. This is mainly because the company wants to ensure high localisation in Jazz in order to market it at a competitive price. “In all our cars, we are looking for a high level of localisation. That is the case with Jazz too. Our objective is 70-80 per cent localisation,” Masahiro Takedagawa, President and CEO of Honda Siel India, told Business Line.

Jazz is pitched against Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Getz. Takedagawa indicated that Honda has greater plans at the global level in the area of sustainable motoring solutions. He said that the company is keenly looking at the market response to Civic Hybrid to introduce ‘cleaner and greener’ cars to India. “Let’s see what the response to Civic Hybrid is. And then we will decide on other varieties. We will go step by step,” he said. Honda has begun limited marketing of its hydrogen fuel cell-run FCX Clarity in US and Japan.

Honda is importing Civic Hybrid as completely built unit (CBU). Therefore, notwithstanding the 10 per cent excise duty cut, Civic Hybrid will attract the import duty of 104 per cent and will be priced around Rs 20 lakh. The gasoline-electric Civic Hybrid will be 60 per cent more fuel efficient than its existing variants which have the best fuel efficiency in its segment, according to Takedagawa. “Civic Hybrid is the first hybrid car that is commercially available in India. We want to spread the message of green cars through this model. All our 80 dealer shops will showcase a model of Civic Hybrid to familiarise people with the car,” he said.

He said that the company has serious plans on the hybrid technology front. “We have worked closely with Automotive Research Association of India to set hybrid regulations in the country,” he said. Honda launched the eighth generation Accord in Mumbai on Wednesday. The company officials said that the latest edition of Honda Accord was launched in India eight months after its global launch.

Interview with Mr. Masahiro Takedagawa, President & CEO, Honda India

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) President and CEO Masahiro Takedagawa, in an interview with Swaraj Baggonkar, 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. We have not carried out any evaluation so far, which will determine who our buyers will be. However, we are optimistic about its demand from India. The car will be available at all the 80 dealers across the country.

How many small cars will you bring to India in the next few years?

At present, we are working on two new platforms which will be launched subsequently. The choice will be made between the new Jazz platform or a completely new platform to be launched in 2009. The other platform, which will be built to suit Indian needs, will be launched after four to five years.

How does India stack up against other emerging markets around the world?

We are not driven by sales numbers and are more interested in satisfying customer needs. We are the most profitable foreign company in India. We have been in India for a long time and, though just 65,000 units were sold last year out of the 4 million sold worldwide, it is still one of the fastest growing markets for us.

What steps did the company undertake to raise component sourcing from India?

We source our components from about 100 suppliers in India. We are looking to gain from the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and other Asean countries. We can integrate our sourcing from the Asian countries through the FTA.

The all-new 2008 Honda Accord - An Overview

The all-new 2008 Accord Sedan has more style, more comfort and more sophistication than ever. A bold and aggressive look, strokes connoting power and a striking presence with its sheer size make this the most commanding sedan. A roomier cabin with separate air-conditioning vents in the rear makes it the most comfortable ever. Great efforts have gone in ensuring good driving visibility, the thin front pillars maintain sufficient rigidity to position the dashboard forward and lower and flat placement of wipers makes it easier for the driver to see what lies ahead of a corner. The new Honda Accord has been completely redesigned, with a larger wheel-base and Advanced & Powerful new exterior styling. The car has spacious interiors, with upscale luxury features. The overall length and width of the car has increased by 80 mm and 25 mm respectively, making its dimensions best in the class. Although the size of car becomes bigger, there has been no compromise on driving pleasure and fuel economy. At the heart of the Honda Accord is Honda’s advanced 2.4 litre i-VTEC engine that delivers class-leading power of 180 ps which is more than the outgoing Accord and fuel efficiency has been improved by 8%. The engine also delivers outstanding environmental performance and meets Euro-IV emission levels and is E-10 (10% ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol) compatible.

Performance

The new Honda Accord has been completely redesigned, with a larger wheel-base and Advanced & Powerful new exterior styling. The car has spacious interiors, with upscale luxury features. The overall length and width of the car has increased by 80 mm and 25 mm respectively, making its dimensions best in the class. Although the size of car becomes bigger, there has been no compromise on driving pleasure and fuel economy. At the heart of the Honda Accord is Honda’s advanced 2.4 litre i-VTEC engine that delivers class-leading power of 180 ps which is more than the outgoing Accord and fuel efficiency has been improved by 8%. The engine also delivers outstanding environmental performance and meets Euro-IV emission levels and is E-10 (10% ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol) compatible.

Technology

Renowned for their technology, Honda made further improvements to come out with an advanced 2.4ltr i-VTEC engine that drives more power and optimizes fuel efficiency with cleaner emissions. The new Accord aims at providing one- class above performance in all basic car functions – driving, turning and stopping. It lets the driver experience performance that is beyond specifications. Besides this, the Accord is a thrill to drive with innovative features like Paddle Shift gears and an extremely responsive Drive-by-Wire throttle. The All-new Accord comes with 5-speed Manual Transmission and 5-speed Automatic transmission with Paddle shift, to give the exhilarating experience of F-1 racing. The AT now has Shift Holding System which avoids unnecessary gear shifting on winding roads and helps in hassle free drive. The handling is another key improvement in 8th Generation Accord. The chassis and the body have been renewed by introducing Honda’s latest technology to achieve best in class handling. Together with Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering, the new Accord becomes quicker and more agile despite its big size. The new Multi – Link Rear suspension aids in stable driving.

Safety

The all-new Accord is by all measures, an extremely safe car. Both active and passive enhanced protection systems right from the build of the car, plus features like six airbags, ABS, EBD and a G-CON body have helped to achieve a standard of safety that’s commendable. Safety of passengers and pedestrians is a top priority for Honda. The new Accord is equipped with the best of safety technologies, with intelligent six airbags, including side curtain air bags, Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body and G-FORCE Control Technology (G-CON) for enhanced safety of the vehicle occupants during a collision. The use of high-tensile steel has been considerably increased improving torsional rigidity, while also achieving major weight savings.

Comfort

The Eighth Generation Accord is the largest Accord ever. With its large proportions in luxury, comfort and performance you truly enter a class above. It’s got a roomier cabin, there’s more space between the seats in the front, there’s more space and legroom in the rear with separate vents for the air-conditioner as well. The instrument panel is now positioned lower for better visibility. The area around it emphasizes a feeling of width using design that emphasizes horizontal expanse. The wide high quality console adds to the feeling of comfort & luxury inside the cabin.

Honda launches new Accord

Honda Siel Cars India today announced the launch of its 8th generation Accord in India. The new Honda Accord will be available in three types - Accord 2.4, Accord 2.4 Elegance and Accord 2.4 Inspire.

The price of the vehicles start from Rs 16.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and go up to Rs 18.14 lakh. Redesigned with larger wheel base advanced and powerful engine the length and the width of the Accord has been increased by 80 mm and 25 mm. The heart of the Honda Accord is the advanced 2.4l i-VTEC engine that delivers a power of 180 PS which is more than the outgoing Accord.

The fuel efficiency of the car has been improved by 8% and the engine meets Euro IV emission limits. The new Accord is E10 (10% ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol) compatible.

Honda Accord is the only car in its segment to be equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and manual transmission with a unique 'paddle shift' option which could be operated using F1-racing inspired paddle switches. The chassis and body of the car have been renewed by introduction of the latest Honda technology to achieve best in class handling. Together with variable gear ratio steering the new Accord becomes quicker and more agile despite its big size.

For safety, the car has 6 air bags with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body and G-Force Controlled (G-CON) technology for enhanced safety of the vehicle occupants in the event of a collision.

The interior design includes 8 way power seat adjustments with lumbar support, tilt and telescopic steering wheels, an advanced audio system, with a central multi selector USV port.

News : Honda Siel expects approval for Civic Hybrid soon

Mr T. Oyama, President & CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co, and Mr M. Takedagawa, President & CEO, Honda Siel Cars India (right), at Honda’s new production facility at Greater Noida on Monday.

Honda Siel Cars India on Monday said that it expects to receive homologation for its Civic Hybrid from the Automotive Research Association of India within the next 10 days.

The company also said that while it did not expect much volumes from the hybrid car, it was primarily to showcase its technological competitiveness.

“Even if we sell 300-500 units of Civic Hybrid, it is okay. Our purpose is to show the technology which has been present in other countries,” said Mr Masahiro Takedagawa, President and CEO, Honda Siel Cars India, at the inauguration of its facility in Greater Noida.

Mr Takedagawa said that the company planned to sell 90,000 units next fiscal, a growth of 35 per cent compared to the current fiscal. Its new sports utility vehicle CR-V, sedans Accord and Civic Hybrid would contribute to increased sales. Honda is also looking at expanding its dealership network over the next three years to establish its presence in newer cities.

“By the end of March, we would have 80 dealerships in 51 cities. In the next three years, we would double our dealerships to 160 by adding 39 new cities,” said Mr Jnaneswar Sen, Senior General Manager, Sales.

Honda has expanded its capacity at its plant in Greater Noida to one lakh units from 50,000 units. Besides this, the company’s second plant which is being commissioned at Rajasthan could also be scaled to over 2.5 lakh units per annum from its initial capacity of 60,000 units.

The company plans to use its Greater Noida facility to manufacture its current range of products and the second plant in Rajasthan for compact cars. This includes Jazz, a premium hatchback, which is being considered, and another small car for which the company has begun work and expects to roll out in three- four years time.

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