IAB has learnt that Honda will launch the Mobilio MPV in June this year. Honda had already announced that it would be launched in the coming financial year, along with the Jazz.
During the unveiling of the Mobilio in India for the first time at the recently concluded Auto Expo 2014, Honda's officials had mentioned in passing that the company's second manufacturing facility in Rajasthan will go on stream by the end of this month.
Given that the company would also launch the Jazz in the next financial year, it makes sense that the Mobilio is set for a June launch. It also suggests that Honda is looking to create a good buffer of Mobilio stock from the start of production till its launch in June, after ironing out teething issues at a new plant.
To put this into perspective, Honda's first market for the Mobilio, Indonesia, began producing the MPV on 15th January and deliveries began on January 25th. This, after Honda got over 5,000 bookings for the Mobilio shortly after it was unveiled at IIMS 2013 last September.
The Mobilio is a seven-seater MPV that will go head to head with the Maruti Ertiga and Chevrolet Enjoy. This could be the next hot segment as Toyota has been reported to develop a competitor as well.
