Following the launch of the Honda Amaze in India, Senior Vice President of Honda Cars India Jnaneshwar Sen has announced that it will be implementing a business strategy to further target the diesel car market.
The Honda Amaze was launched in India on April 11. The car took the place of the Chevrolet Beat Diesel as the most fuel-efficient car in India at 25.8 kmpl. It comes in both petrol and diesel versions.
"Earlier, we were at a disadvantage due to no diesel model in our portfolio of cars," Sen said. "With increasing preference for diesel vehicles in India, we were missing out on a crucial segment of buyers. With an internationally developed diesel engine, Honda is now geared up to cater to this segment."
According to Sen, Honda will release a diesel variant like the Honda Amaze in all new models. In India, Honda is thinking of launching a seven-seater MUV and a compact SUV.
In addition to its new commitment to diesel vehicles, Honda is also planning to further target smaller, rural areas in India. These areas are growing at a faster pace and Honda is taking advantage of this fact by improving its dealerships. The strategy includes the Honda Amaze, which Sen predicts will account for 60 percent of sales in smaller cities.
Measuring just under 13 feet, the Honda Amaze has a 1.5 liter diesel engine with 200 Nm torque. Demand for the vehicle has been high, with thousands of advanced bookings and an increase in wait time for the vehicle of four to five months.
