[aravind.anand]

Originally Posted by nik_kapur

Very well said. You can be a Honda Lover but the 30Rs Price differential in fuels is a bit much now ! All those arguments about how u need to drive a certain amt of kms in a year to be able to justify a diesel car are out of the window to a great extent.

Exactly! the resale value of the diesel cars are never considered while calculating this aspect, I wonder why Even without all these calculations, the peace of mind the diesel car would give us while filling up every time at the fuel station is easily worth the money.

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by adimicra

But I still fail to understand how will they be able to price the cars competitively. The folks at Honda already know this and looking at their lack of response, it seems they do not have any answers. Something must be wrong in their strategy!

Spot on. Even I was wondering why are there no counter attacks from Honda's side even after their sales are steadily falling? But then, in hindsight, is there anything in their armour that they could try and use against the competition? Sadly nothing that can come immediately. Having positioned themselves as a premium brand, Honda can't reduce the prices of their models too. The only thing that can be done is to add the features on offer across all their models with no increase in price.

[Gooney]

Originally Posted by arvi86

is there anything in their armour that they could try and use against the competition? Sadly nothing that can come immediately. Having positioned themselves as a premium brand, Honda can't reduce the prices of their models too. The only thing that can be done is to add the features on offer across all their models with no increase in price.

Sir, Honda is a small company compared to its Japanese rivals, Toyota and Nissan. However, Honda is NOT a premium brand, they are just present in India because its an important market, without customizing or investing here to make products for the local market at reasonable costs.

You also have to keep in mind that Honda competes, and earns around 15 percent of its revenues, in the two-wheeler segment too. It is doing fairly well in relation to its competitors such as Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki. Do keep in mind that Suzuki has no presence in four-wheelers except India. Globally Suzuki is known more as a bike maker.

So, whenever you make comparisons, you have to keep the larger picture in mind. For Honda, the US is the biggest car market, still (and not China), and they have two-wheelers, marine products (engines), all-terrain vehicles, etc in their portfolio and they are doing pretty well overall...

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by Gooney

Sir, Honda is a small company compared to its Japanese rivals, Toyota and Nissan. However, Honda is NOT a premium brand,

and they have two-wheelers, marine products (engines), all-terrain vehicles, etc in their portfolio and they are doing pretty well overall...

Agreed. They are way smaller than Toyota and even Hyundai. Though Honda is not a premium brand outside India, they have positioned themselves as one in our country.

Regarding the list of what they make and sell, you have probably missed one thing - 'Jets'. Yes, they do manufacture Jets and its wierdly called 'Honda Jet'.

[Gooney]

Originally Posted by arvi86

Agreed.

Regarding the list of what they make and sell, you have probably missed one thing - 'Jets'. Yes, they do manufacture Jets and its wierdly called 'Honda Jet'.

No I did not Honda jets are covered under marine products as far as I remember. Which reminds me, anybody recall 'Siyaram Honda' power generators? I think that was Honda's first entry into the Indian market.

[blackasta]

Originally Posted by Gooney

No I did not Honda jets are covered under marine products as far as I remember. Which reminds me, anybody recall 'Siyaram Honda' power generators? I think that was Honda's first entry into the Indian market.

This does not look like a marine product:

http://hondajet.honda.com/default.aspx?bhcp=1

and I guess the gensets were from 'shriram honda' - now known as Honda Siel Power Products

Honda Gensets, Water Pump, Engines, Lawn Mowers & Brush Cutters

[aravind.anand]

I think its only our country where Honda is one of the highest respected brands, even higher than Toyota. Honda should make 'use' of this not 'exploit' customers by stretching this brand reputation they enjoy. If the Jazz or the City or the Civic were to have only a nominal price increase over their immediate rival in their respective segments, trust me, they wouldn't be doing the numbers they are doing every month.

[Gooney]

Originally Posted by blackasta

This does not look like a marine product:

http://hondajet.honda.com/default.aspx?bhcp=1

and I guess the gensets were from 'shriram honda' - now known as Honda Siel Power Products

Honda Gensets, Water Pump, Engines, Lawn Mowers & Brush Cutters

Mea culpa. Yes it was indeed Shriram Honda. The original JV partners still have a stake in Honda Siel, I beileve.

[bharatbs]

There are rumours that the current Honda City will get a facelift and other minor interior upgrades and the new version will be launched in October/November 2011 in time for Diwali.

Looks like a mid life upgrade (considering the ANHC was introduced in late 2008)

Sources:

• Honda to launch new City by 2012? | Burnyourfuel - India
• Honda City Facelift Appears in October 2011 | Info Highlight

New Features:

Exterior:

• new set of front and rear bumpers
• new alloys
• new head- and tail-lamps
• grille should get minor changes

Interior:

• new instrumental panel,
• new interior trim,
• a new CD players

Is this true? Anyone heard More?

[bluevolt]

Originally Posted by bharatbs

Is this true? Anyone heard More?

No it’s not true. Check out the source of this info i.e. carscoop http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/10...in-sydney.html.
The article was published on October 09, 2008 and they (burnyourfuel, automotiveinfo) are just doing this to spread rumors. The picture is taken from the Sydney motor show way back in oct 2008.

[SR-71]

@bharat, The pictures in the links don't look like a face lift, Check this out - All About Cars: November 2008, these pictures were shot way back in 2008. Sad that the links you posted are trying seem to be misleading people.

[RemingtonSteele]

Guys there seems to be some truth in facelift news.
Checkout this facebook update from Honda India.

This is the special news for our Followers:-
Our New Honda City will get a Facelift expect a generation leap, New Front & Rear Lights, Bumpers, New Alloys, New Front Grille, new instrument panel, new interior trim, DVD player with USB and AUX. Current 1.5L i-Vtec Engine and transmission will remain untouched or slightly for more Power.

-TEAM HONDA INDIA-
June 6 at 12:39pm

Honda India ‎@Amogh Kudalkar
no no its not coming in Q4 2012 its actually the time when will Launch a New Diesel Engine for our Cars. Specially City, Jazz and Brio. We are in making a Diesel Engine of 2.2L for Accord. Our New Honda City will Debut in India near Diwali or November this year.
June 7 at 12:21am

Source: Walls posted on facebook "Honda India"
Log In | Facebook

[bluevolt]

Originally Posted by bluevolt

No it’s not true.

Originally Posted by RemingtonSteele

Guys there seems to be some truth in facelift news.
Checkout this facebook update from Honda India.

Ok, Honda has to refresh the model because of the new players in the market. By refreshing the model their car will remain 'fresh' in front of other competitors. This time one can even expect some cut in the price.

BTW I guess a company never announces its future launch as this will hit the sales of current model even more.

PS - there are number of Honda car India pages on Facebook, is this a genuine one?

[bharatbs]

Guys I also beleive there is some truth about this rumoured launch. Multiple sites across countries including Thailand, Malaysia and India are reporting this.

Yes the photos are 2008 but they are just being used to give an idea and the same has been mentioned on those blogs.

I think Honda PR has purposely provided these tidbits so that people postpone purchase of their competitors petrol offerings (which provide so much more features).

Looks like Honda is waking up!

[bkbkr1212]

Originally Posted by arvi86

As much as we all love Honda cars and their technology, I think Hyundai has now effectively put a full stop to this comment. A Korean Car is no longer a Korean Car that we used to associate, say, a decade or half back. The New Verna is simply brilliant and the best all-rounder in its segment and quite deservedly outsells the City.

As much as you would like to believe it, let us admit that Hyundai is nowhere near it's Jap counterparts. Not even Suzuki, let alone Honda and Toyota.
There are lots of bells and whistles in their i20 and now in ANHV.
But people wouldn't (shouldn't) base their purchase decision just on that.
The only thing I like about ANHV are all 4 disc brakes and 6 airbags and other safety features.
The ANHV doesn't even feel like a 126 bhp car.