Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is looking to make operational its new facility at Gujarat around January – February of 2016.

According to Keita Muramatsu, President and CEO of HMSI, the new plant will add 1.2 million units and cater to scooter manufacturing only. Honda is the market leader in the scooter segment with a 55 per cent market share.

The Gujarat unit will be the company’s fourth facility in the country. The three units – one each at Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka – have an annual capacity of 4.6 million amongst them.

“While the fourth unit will cater only to scooters, we have a flexi-line at the other facilities which can be used to manufacture both scooters and motor-cycles,” he told reporters during a press conference.

New Launch

Muramatsu was in the city for the launch of Honda’s motorcycle, CB Unicorn 160 here.

This incidentally will be the company’s first offering in the youth segment, that accounts for approximately 56 per cent of the motorcycle sales between the 150cc and 180 cc categories.

Honda enjoys a market share of over 26 per cent in the motorcycle segment with Hero being the market leader with a share of just over 40 per cent.

In 2015, Honda is expected to have 15 new launches of which seven (scooter and motor cycle put together) will be brand new; while eight would be refresh of existing models.

“We hope to maintain a market share of 28-29 per cent in FY-15,” he added.

During the current fiscal, the two-wheeler maker intends to sell 45 lakh units, an increase of 8 lakh from the 37 lakh it sold last fiscal.

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