Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) would start producing its high-end sports bike CBR-650 in the country from next year.It is laid with the foundation of Rs 11,000 crores for its set-up plant in Gujarat.Yet,the facility for the set-up has been yet finalised,since the decision is on the move.Further when enquired about the capacity of the Vithalapur plant with HMSI Preseident Y.S.Guleria ,he stated ,”As of now, we have not decided on units as numbers are too small and very quick decision can be taken, but we are not expecting very high volume”.Further he added,Honda has also not finalised the price tag for the upcoming sportsbike for Indian customers.
An interesting cue is that Japanese is about to start its CBR-650 production jointly with the “Make in India”commitment.The sources revealed that the scope behind the project is mainly to lay the production plant in India.Also,it will be an added advantage to the producers in a way that the affordability aspect will be considered for customers with Make in India Commitment.Already,Honda has a total of three plants in the states of Haryana,Rajasthan and Karanataka.Besides,the upcoming Vithalapur plant is going to be the world’s largest”only-scooter”producing unit,claimed to have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million units.Further,with an improvement in rural infrastructure in India,the demand for automatic scooter gets increased that will create an pavement for an increase in sale that would go up to 35% of overall two-wheeler sales in 5-10 years horizon.As per the official site news,CBR-650 is a 649 cc sports bike with the with the four-cylinder double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine technology and having the six-speed gearbox,
On querying the Honda Motor Company Chief Operating Officer Asia & Oceania Region, Noriaki Abe on sales growth,he answered,” India is already a priority market for Honda.”In the current fiscal 2014-15, Honda aims to sell 18.2 million two-wheelers worldwide and for the first time, India will contribute almost 25 per cent to global Honda sales,Moreover Honda Motor Company Managing Officer Yoshiyuki Matsumoto quoted that “with the fourth plant, the company aims to reach closer to the vast market in West which contributes over 25 percent to Honda’s business.”The new plant will employ around 3,000 people within first two years of commercial production and will entail Rs 1,100 crore investment,” he added.Guleria has assured that this production plant would not only tend to open up the skill of the firm’s existing manpower but it would boasts of the Honda India’s manufacturing quality to the world.