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Honda Cars India, on Friday, said India is among its top three global focus markets and confirmed that its first mass-market electric vehicle for the country will be built in India for both domestic sales and exports, including to Japan.
The company said the EV will be launched in the second half of the current financial year as part of a wider product expansion strategy for the Indian market.
Honda today launched the updated City hybrid sedan and unveiled the ZR-V hybrid SUV for the Indian market . The refreshed City and the ZR-V are among six launches planned by the company in the current financial year.
“This year is a landmark year for us with six strategic launches that will sharpen our competitive edge and reinforce our brand position in the market,” Nakajima said.
He added, “India is among the top three focus markets to realise Honda's future growth, which will be driven by a strong pipeline of new products and our efforts to achieve cost competitiveness.”
Honda said it expects “double digit” growth in India this year.
Honda Cars India President and CEO Takashi Nakajima said the automaker now plans to introduce more than 10 models in India by 2030 across compact and midsize vehicle categories.
“Recently we announced that we will be launching new models under two categories, that is, under 4 metres and the midsize category. Last time, in Japan, we mentioned ten (models) but currently, we are counting more than ten (models),” Nakajima said.
Honda had earlier announced plans to introduce India-focused products from 2028 as part of efforts to rebuild its automobile business globally. India, along with North America and Japan, has been identified as a priority market under the company’s future growth strategy.
SUVs take priority
Honda said its future India strategy will focus on the fast-growing sub-four-metre and midsize vehicle segments with a mix of internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
Company officials said Honda is not planning to re-enter the hatchback segment and its sub-four-metre offerings will mainly be compact SUVs. Nakajima said the company’s future portfolio will include both India-specific products and imported global models such as the ZR-V SUV.
The ZR-V will be brought to India as a completely built unit and positioned in the premium SUV segment. Honda said hybrid vehicles will continue to play an important role in India as EV adoption remains at an early stage.
Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing and Sales at Honda Cars India, earlier said EV penetration in India has risen from 2% to 4%, but added that “the journey is long.” He said hybrids would act as a transition before wider EV adoption.
The company said the EV will be launched in the second half of the current financial year as part of a wider product expansion strategy for the Indian market.
Honda today launched the updated City hybrid sedan and unveiled the ZR-V hybrid SUV for the Indian market . The refreshed City and the ZR-V are among six launches planned by the company in the current financial year.
“This year is a landmark year for us with six strategic launches that will sharpen our competitive edge and reinforce our brand position in the market,” Nakajima said.
He added, “India is among the top three focus markets to realise Honda's future growth, which will be driven by a strong pipeline of new products and our efforts to achieve cost competitiveness.”
Honda said it expects “double digit” growth in India this year.
10+
models planned
Honda Cars India President and CEO Takashi Nakajima said the automaker now plans to introduce more than 10 models in India by 2030 across compact and midsize vehicle categories.
“Recently we announced that we will be launching new models under two categories, that is, under 4 metres and the midsize category. Last time, in Japan, we mentioned ten (models) but currently, we are counting more than ten (models),” Nakajima said.
Honda had earlier announced plans to introduce India-focused products from 2028 as part of efforts to rebuild its automobile business globally. India, along with North America and Japan, has been identified as a priority market under the company’s future growth strategy.
SUVs take priority
Honda said its future India strategy will focus on the fast-growing sub-four-metre and midsize vehicle segments with a mix of internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
Company officials said Honda is not planning to re-enter the hatchback segment and its sub-four-metre offerings will mainly be compact SUVs. Nakajima said the company’s future portfolio will include both India-specific products and imported global models such as the ZR-V SUV.
The ZR-V will be brought to India as a completely built unit and positioned in the premium SUV segment. Honda said hybrid vehicles will continue to play an important role in India as EV adoption remains at an early stage.
Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing and Sales at Honda Cars India, earlier said EV penetration in India has risen from 2% to 4%, but added that “the journey is long.” He said hybrids would act as a transition before wider EV adoption.
