Civic Hybrid to be only available as a direct company import, not through showrooms.

[sidindica]

article here:

Honda Civic Hybrid to go off showrooms- Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

[sary]

One more tight slap on Government of India !

[srishiva]

Does Honda have a plan to bring the Insight into India? Hybrids will be costly and un-affordable until government can extend some concessions. Or hope companies can start manufacturing in low cost countries to make to cheaper for all.

[Ardy]

Sad that Hybrid Civic would not be available freely and the longer waiting period to procure through the company directly would hamper prospective customer's enthusiasm.

I guess, both Honda and Govt have got it wrong with the hybrid cars. Govt. should seriously think about providing some sops to companys wanting to promote cleaner technology.

[madhukar_n]

forget hybrids, if Govt of India gives more concession to our very own Reva, there are many people who will buy it. all the navaratna oil companies will go for a toss if that happens.

hybrids are expensive in US too..many people bought them when the gas price was $4 +

[asr245]

Originally Posted by sary

One more tight slap on Government of India !

I think it's more of a tight slap on Honda who were hoping for people to buy their overpriced Hybrid on matter the cost (which ofcourse was high due to the import duty).

If Honda did indeed manage to sell the remaining hybrids in 10 days (albeit the huge discount) then they surely can sell a decent amount to manufacture it locally.

[nanopano]

I thought that the company is planning to stop the import of Civic Hybrid completely. So, now the company wont import and sell the car to dealers and those who want to buy it have to directly contact the company.

[GTO]

Good news for hotels! They could (and probably will) import the Hybrid at a mouth-watering price, thanks to EPCG duty concessions. Remember how they play the "green" trick by asking you to re-use towels? This can be yet another feather in their environment-friendly cap.

As for Honda blaming the government and import duties, they can take a hike! Import duties are in place for very valid reasons. If they want to save on that, build the car LOCALLY.

[diabloo]

Along with Honda, Toyota too “are also looking for a government initiative as the import duty on the eco-friendly car is much higher here than in other countries” and they are "eager to bring its fuel-efficient hybrid sedan Prius to the Indian market, but wants the high import tariff (105 percent) on such cars to be lowered".

Toyota awaits duty relief to bring hybrid Prius to India

Originally Posted by GTO

As for Honda blaming the government and import duties, they can take a hike! Import duties are in place for very valid reasons. If they want to save on that, build the car LOCALLY.

[sgiitk]

I think at this point in time all hybrids are more of a Lifestyle Statement than a financially sound investment.

[Gagan.js]

Oil companies always use their resources to deter green cars. They have every right to do so too.
The civic at 21L was a no brainer, too expensive but the Reva really isn't that expensive.
I feel our government should allow concessions for the Reva, it's brilliant that it has survived all these years and the new one to be released does look decent. Our very own Reva..India's first electric car, if only it had more support for the brand to grow.

Sadly before India ever goes green, we need to first remove those red paan stains. [/bad joke!]

[amulu10]

i seriously don't understand the policy of the government. agreed
import duties are there to develop local industries and provide employment
but then why does the government not help companies like REVA. Its a irony that Reva company is the largest electric car manufacture by selling in a foreign country while it is barely managing to survive here.

OT:Thats the problem with India in all fields.
The governments wants factories to be set up but they always help multinational companies to set up with a lot of sops! but when a Indian entrepreneur tries to set up a factory he faces more problem let alone receive sops

[abhinav.gupta88]

I heard that the guys who paid 21.xx lakh were given some 7.xx lakhs return.

[StarScream]

Of course, with oil having eased off its highs and a global recession to boot, the raison d'etre for the hybrid is much weaker.

[csnanjappa]

Bangalore: Honda Siel Cars India (HSCIL), which stopped selling its hybrid car 'Civic Hybrid' from last November immediately after six month of its launch in June 2008, is likely to bring back its hybrid version to India after the Central budget as the company believes that the Union government would bring down the import duty on motor vehicles.
"We are watching the Budget. If the import duty is reduced, we may consider to restart selling Civic Hybrids in India," said Tatsuya Natsume, director-marketing of HSCIL, the Indian subsidiary of Japanese car giant Honda Motor.

Honda likely to relaunch Civic’s hybrid version - The Financial Express