Monday, March 19, 2012
By Shilpa Chopra
Honda to make diesel engine for Brio and Jazz in India
Honda India that has been synonymous with petrol only car makers in the country will be making India as the hub for diesel engines. Besides, the diesel versions of Honda City, Honda Civic and Honda Accord are on their way to the country that has valued Honda cars like Maruti cars. As per the reports, Honda will be manufacturing diesel engine for compact cars in India and will be exporting these to other markets. The present move seems to have been taken in the light of the no tax imposed on diesel cars. Notably, there were reports that the government will be imposing tax on diesel cars following which the diesel car market was expected to see a downslide. But the budget has been a little bright for car industry.
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Reports further reveal that the research work for the development of 1.4 L and 1.5 L diesel engine has already begun at company’s Tochigi centre and Honda engineers from across globe are putting their efforts in the said production. However, those close to Honda have reportedly revealed that the diesel engine for small cars such as Honda Brio and Honda Jazz will be ready by early next year. Jnaneswar Sen, senior VP, sales & marketing Honda India has also reportedly said in an interview that diesel engine are in development at Honda’s research and development facility.
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Thus engine will be developed in house for Honda Brio and Honda Jazz while diesel engine for Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Accord and City will be initially imported. At a later stage the diesel engine for the latter will also be produced in India. Notably, after the clouds of tax on diesel cars started hovering over, Honda had put brakes to its diesel engine development plans and waited for the government to clear its stand. Now that the government has given it verdict by not imposing tax on diesel cars, the Japanese car maker is vigorously following its expansion plans. Introduction of diesel models of Honda cars in India will increase its sales as well and it had been sometime the only factor dampening sales.
