India becomes the largest manufacturer for Honda 2Wheelers

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has added another assembly line to its plant in Narsapura, Karnataka - bring the total number to four. With this development, this plant is now capable of producing 24 lakh units annually. This has resulted in the Narsapura plant being the biggest global production hub for Honda 2Wheelers.

After, the addition of a new assembly line at Narsapura, HMSI is capable of producing 64 lakh units yearly - combined from all of its four plants in India. This accounts on an year-on-year increase of 6 lakh two-wheeler units. Presently, Honda operates its four plants in the Indian states of Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujrat.

India is the leading market for Honda 2 Wheelers, as it accounts for a claimed 28 per cent of its global sales. Also, the Asia Oceania region contributes to 60 per cent of Honda’s global two-wheeler, automotive and power product sales.

Detailing on Honda’s growth trajectory in India, and the trend of increasing demand for automatic scooters in Indian market, Minoru Kato, President & CEO, HMSI, said, “In the first quarter of FY’ 2017-18, Honda Wheelers India aggressive growth led the  industry momentum. Growing double the speed of industry at 19%, Honda alone contributed 68% to industry’s new volumes resulting in 3% market share gain to ever highest of 30%. While expanding leadership in scooter segment (59% market share), Honda is now also the new No. 2 motorcycle brand of India. The latest expansion further fortifies Honda’s ability to serve the market faster with its increased annual production capacity to 6.4 million units from all plants. In the long term, Honda 2Wheelers India’s steady and strategic investments will power our dreams to make India the Export hub worldwide.”

HMSI claims that its Narsapura plant has 26 suppliers - who set up ancillary units locally have invested over Rs. 5,400 crore and this has generated nearly 22,000 employment opportunities in Karnataka. Directly, Honda’s Narsapura plant employs 7,000 associates with investment of Rs. 2,600 crore. Indirectly, 26 new suppliers who up manufacturing facilities in Karnataka have made additional investment of Rs. 2,800 crore and created 15,000 additional employment opportunities at their plants.