Japan’s Honda Motor Co. is the most recent car-maker to introduce a compact sport-utility automobile to India, as they seek to bring in consumers looking for more affordable and efficient SUVs.
“India is a huge market with great potential for future growth,” stated Yoichiro Ueno, president and chief executive for Honda Cars India Ltd. Honda’s BR-V comes with a 1.5-liter gasoline or diesel engine. Both are mated to manual transmissions and the fuel model is likewise offered as an automatic.
The gasoline BR-V has a starts from 875,000 rupees ($13,133) at New Delhi. The diesel designs start at 990,000 rupees ($14,868).
Mr. Ueno stated the company’s SUV sales in India increased 35% in the fiscal year ended March 31 with the entry-level SUV sector publishing a 43% rise.
The BR-V will take on Hyundai Motor Co.’s Creta, Renault S.A.’s Duster and Nissan Motor Co.’s Terrano designs. Honda’s sales in India grew 1.6% in the last fiscal year to 192,059 automobiles, underperforming a 7.2% growth in the general market to almost 2.79 million cars.
The BR-V is being produced in India, with 94% of the parts sourced from regional suppliers. The SUV us likewise produced in Thailand and Indonesia.
Honda further prepares to introduce a fuel hybrid variation of its Accord sedan later on this year in India, stated Mr. Ueno.
