Acknowledging the importance of the small car segment in the
domestic automobile sector, Japanese car major Honda Siel Cars India
(HSCI) has decided to advance the launch of its maiden small car Jazz
to the middle of next year. Honda was planning to launch the car from
its upcoming Tapukara plant but has now decided to roll it out from its
mother plant in Greater Noida.
“In view of the importance of small cars in Indian market and the
enthusiastic response which we got for the Jazz when it was showcased
at the Auto Expo in New Delhi this year, it has been decided to
pre-pone the launch of the car to the middle of next year,” said Takeo
Fukui, president and CEO, Honda Motor Corp, while inaugurating the
first phase of the Tapukara plant. “The initial roll out will be done
from the current plant at Greater Noida.”
The Tapukara plant, which will have a capacity of 60,000 units per
annum, is expected to be operational by 2009 end. Jazz was scheduled
for an exclusive launch from this plant but the company changed it due
to aid market conditions.
“We are not going slow on the construction of this plant and
everything is on track here,” said Masahiro Takedagawa, president and
CEO, HSCI. “The pre-ponement of Jazz launch is because of greater
demand for small cars here.”
“Due to the taxation structure today, small cars are in great demand
and we want to fulfill that. Rather than launching it later in the
year, we want to cash in on the most productive period of the year-the
festive season which would not be possible if we were to roll out the
car from the new plant,” he said.
The company produces the flagship City, Civic and Accord sedans from
its Greater Noida plant whose capacity was recently increased to 1 lakh
units per annum. Takedagawa said that it would produce the City and the
Jazz in a 60-40 ratio from the plant.
Though the company refused to divulge anything on the potential
price of the Jazz, Takedagawa said its building cost would be very
similar to the new City, which was launched on Thursday, indicating it
will cost over Rs 5.5 lakh. “There is a great commonality of components
between the City and the Jazz and the price of the latter will be lower
largely on account of lower excise duties,” he said.
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