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Premium carmaker Honda Cars India will launch a full-hybrid car in the next three years as a mass product in the Indian market, as hybrid is more practical than a fully electric vehicle, a top official said here on Tuesday.
The company is right now working on the product and is trying to localise as much as possible for the domestic market. Honda Cars expects the new hybrid model to be a successful mass market product such as its City, Amaze, Jazz and WR-V.
“The key factors are infrastructure, technology and price for the electric vehicles right now and therefore, hybrid is a practical thinking for the Indian market right now. In three years, we will launch a mass model — affordable product in the hybrid range — not like Accord hybrid, with a few numbers,” Gaku Nakanishi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Honda Cars India, told reporters here on the sidelines of the new CR-V launch here.
Line-up of launches
However, this will not be part of Honda’s plan to launch six models in the next three years in India. Starting this year, the company has already launched two products — second generation Amaze and the all new CRV — out of those six models to be launched. The company will launch the all new Civic next year.
The company had launched the Accord hybrid in October 2016, which is a completely built unit and Honda has managed to sell around 84 units till now. It was priced at ₹37 lakh (ex-showroom) during launch and is now at ₹43.21 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) post-GST.
“The company has to think of customers’ needs and the products should be launched depending on the market demand. But, it is tough to localise 100 per cent for every product here, like we do for the City and Amaze with around 95 per cent localisation,” Nakanishi said.
Speaking on the technologies and localisation, Rajesh Goel, Senior Vice-President and Director, Sales and Marketing, HCIL, said “Honda will never bring a short-cut product, whatever we as to match the market. Whether it is hybrid or semi-hybrid, we would like to first test the market.”
Fifth gen CR-V
Meanwhile, the company launched the fifth generation all-new CR-V priced between ₹28.15 lakh and ₹32.75 lakh (ex-showroom). This is the first time that Honda CR-V is introduced with a diesel engine option too.
The new CR-V boasts a comprehensive range of advanced and luxurious features such as panoramic sunroof, LED DRLs and lighting system, segment-first full size driver information interface and advanced standard safety equipment that takes SUV standards to the next level.
Complemented by a bold, dynamic and sophisticated exterior styling that matches its luxurious and comfortable interior, the all-new CR-V aims to provide an exceptional driving performance and ride quality, the company said.
It has new interior design with 5+2 seating option in a three-row configuration (in diesel) and air-conditioning system for both second and third row of seating (in diesel).
The all-new Honda CR-V builds on its legacy of spacious and versatile interiors and offers the roomiest CR-V cabin yet, said Gaku Nakanishi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Honda Cars India.
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