It is transformational time for Honda Cars India and we are seeing some much awaited developments at the Japanese camp. After being continuously battered for not providing the Indian masses with a good diesel option, finally things are looking brighter.
After giving a small media preview of the Honda Amaze diesel sedan to a select media journalists, Honda India has also announced a new greenfield diesel engine factory in Tapukara, Rajasthan. The plant will be responsible for manufacturing the 1.5 Liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engine that will be in-charge of turning Honda India’s fortunes.
The new plant will give Honda India the high level of localization that it needs to introduce the Amaze diesel sedan at a very aggressive price point. The sub 4 meter Honda Amaze sedan will take on industry stalwarts such as the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Mahindra Verito, Tata Indigo etc. TheEconomicTimes reports that the Amaze would be launched in the price bracket of 5-8 lakhs.
Honda India couldn’t have timed the diesel engine plant at a much better time. This engine will find its way under the bonnet of the next generation versions of the Jazz hatchback and the City sedan which are due in 2013-14. But the Japanese giant has made it clear that the diesel engine would not be fitted to the higher end models such as the Civic, Accord and CR-V models in India.
Considering the diesel engine is based on the same EarthDreams technology that is implemented in Honda’s higher capacity diesels sold in UK, Honda India would also supply some of the engine components from the Rajasthan plant to its UK subsidiary.
[Source: articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com, Image Courtesy: Paultan.org]
