The Hindu Business Line : Honda Siel begins work on small car

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New Delhi Jan. 29 Honda Siel Cars India on Monday said it has already begun work for its proposed small car, slated for launch by 2009-10. "Our engineers from Japan have already started work in India. They are studying the conditions here to collect various data so as to incorporate it while developing a new platform for the small car," the Honda Siel Cars India President and CEO, Mr Masahiro Takedagawa, said.

The new platform would be a global one, developed keeping in mind the Indian conditions, he said. "We may introduce the product globally next year...although its introduction in India would be later," Mr Takedagawa said.

He said the delayed introduction of the car was mainly on account of the capacity constraints the company was facing currently. Honda is currently in the process of setting up its second plant in Rajasthan.

Refreshing models

Mr Takedagawa added the company would be `refreshing' its existing models in the next 12 months by bringing in new features. "Right from City to Civic to Accord and CRV, we will refresh the portfolio so as to keep pace with the requirements of our customers," he said.

Meanwhile, Honda, after earlier appearing critical of the Hero Group's intended foray into four wheelers, today said that it had no problems if its Indian two-wheeler venture partner made cars.

Mr Takedagawa told reporters here that Honda has not officially heard from the Indian partner about their four-wheeler foray. "So far no one from the Munjals has informed us about their plans to foray into four-wheeler segment. Even if they plan, it is not a problem with us," he said.

Mr Takedagawa said as per the joint-venture agreement with the Munjals for Hero-Honda, the non-compete clause was only for two and three-wheelers.