Honda planning affordable product range to increase market share

Aditya · 19th December 2014, 15:39

Japanese two-wheeler major Honda is the second largest player in the Indian two-wheeler market, which is led by the company's former collaborator, Hero MotoCorp. Honda's market share grew from 14% to 26% in the current fiscal, but the company is not satisfied. It has plans to displace Hero as the market leader and for that it plans to introduce a range of low-cost two-wheelers in the market.

Honda has some low-cost products developed in China which it sells in South Africa. However, it is not going to source the technology from that range. The new range of affordable bikes is being developed at its Manesar-based Research and Development facility, which houses more than 200 engineers. These products are expected to go on sale in the next 2-3 years.

However, Honda is facing capacity constraints. Its current installed capacity of 4.6 million units is almost fully used up and the company has a booking backlog of 1 lakh units. Until the upcoming facility in Gujarat is functional (FY 2016), Honda will not have any free production lines to aid in expansion. The new plant will be the world's largest scooter-only plant and will have an installed capacity of 1.2 million units.

Source: Economic Times

StepUP! · 19th December 2014, 18:18

Hero get ready to be displaced/ dethrone!
I see in India only Suzuki can challenge Honda in terms of brand recall, quality, engine smoothness, refinement etc. But they don't seem ambitious as of now.

Nithesh_M · 19th December 2014, 20:40

Next in the lineup after the 160cc Unicorn launch is their 125cc Stunner/Shine replacement model that was launched globally.

19th December 2014, 15:39	#1
Aditya Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 17,841 Thanked: 77,069 Times View My Garage	Honda planning affordable product range to increase market share Japanese two-wheeler major Honda is the second largest player in the Indian two-wheeler market, which is led by the company's former collaborator, Hero MotoCorp. Honda's market share grew from 14% to 26% in the current fiscal, but the company is not satisfied. It has plans to displace Hero as the market leader and for that it plans to introduce a range of low-cost two-wheelers in the market. Honda has some low-cost products developed in China which it sells in South Africa. However, it is not going to source the technology from that range. The new range of affordable bikes is being developed at its Manesar-based Research and Development facility, which houses more than 200 engineers. These products are expected to go on sale in the next 2-3 years. However, Honda is facing capacity constraints. Its current installed capacity of 4.6 million units is almost fully used up and the company has a booking backlog of 1 lakh units. Until the upcoming facility in Gujarat is functional (FY 2016), Honda will not have any free production lines to aid in expansion. The new plant will be the world's largest scooter-only plant and will have an installed capacity of 1.2 million units. Source: Economic Times
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19th December 2014, 18:18	#2
StepUP! BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Pune Posts: 426 Thanked: 1,332 Times	re: Honda planning affordable product range to increase market share Hero get ready to be displaced/ dethrone! I see in India only Suzuki can challenge Honda in terms of brand recall, quality, engine smoothness, refinement etc. But they don't seem ambitious as of now. Last edited by GTO : 20th December 2014 at 15:10. Reason: Typo
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19th December 2014, 20:40	#3
Nithesh_M Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mangalore Posts: 1,227 Thanked: 3,245 Times	re: Honda planning affordable product range to increase market share Next in the lineup after the 160cc Unicorn launch is their 125cc Stunner/Shine replacement model that was launched globally.
	(1) Thanks