Honda to launch the CBR 650F in India by August

Riding high on the remarkable sales figures attained in FY15, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India today revealed its future plans for the Indian market.

It seems that whatever Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is doing, it’s doing it right. Talking to the media a little while ago, Mr. Y. S. Guleria and Mr. Keita Muramatsu shed some light on the plans Honda has in mind for the time ahead.

One of the most important things we heard from the folks at HMSI was that Honda will be launching the much awaited CBR 650F in India by the month of August. The motorcycle will be assembled in India which will also make it the first four-cylinder motorcycle to be produced in India. The motorcycle will roll out from Honda’s factory at Manesar. The production will be limited to two motorcycles a day and might go up depending on the market it captures.

In order to increase its production capabilities, HMSI’s newest manufacturing facility, which will start working from January 2016, will take the cumulative production to 47 lakh units by the end of FY16. This facility will be able to produce 12 lakh scooters every year. All the four production facilities working in full bloom will be able to produce 64 lakh units by 2016 end.

Commenting on the future plans, Mr. Yadvinder S Guleria, Senior Vice President, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt, Ltd. said, “In FY15, we have grown more than double than industry and sold 44.5 lakh two-wheelers last year, which is also our best-ever performance in India. In fact, Honda alone contributed 60% to the 11.8 lakh volume increase by industry. We have carried the same momentum into FY16 by becoming the highest market share and volume gainer in April. The product roadmap for 2015 is robust with nine new products remaining to be launched in this year. For our flagship model CBR 650F, Honda is innovating by bringing a new premium distribution format in 20 top priority cities. Clearly, 2015 will be a game changer year and Honda is all set to take the next leap.”

Another interesting thing to hear was that HMSI, at the Auto Expo 2016, will also create a new segment in the Indian industry by previewing a ‘revolutionary model’. Another expansion plan includes increasing the network to 800 sales & service touch-points for larger rural brand footprint.