Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has inaugurated the fourth assembly line at the company's Narsapura plant near Bengaluru, Karnataka, increasing annual production by 6 lakh units. With this expansion, the Narsapura plant is now Honda's biggest two-wheeler plant worldwide, with 24 lakh annual production capacity. Honda's total capacity from four plants in India is now 64 lakh units in FY2017-18, up from 58 lakh units. HMSI has plants in Manesar, Haryana, Tapukara, Rajasthan, Vithalpur, Gujarat and Narsapura, Karnataka.
"Honda's two-wheeler business spans more than 120 countries worldwide and India is leading the demand. In 2016-17, India alone contributed 28 per cent to Honda's global two-wheeler sales and became the No. 1 contributor to Honda's two-wheeler business. The growing two-wheeler market is top priority for Honda. To meet dynamic market demand and to prepare for future opportunities, today Honda inaugurated the fourth assembly line in the Karnataka plant. With this, the Narsapura plant will now produce 24 lakh two-wheelers annually. This makes Narsapura the world's largest two-wheeler plant for Honda and also India the No. 1 production base for Honda globally," said Shinji Aoyama, Chief Officer, Regional Operations (Asia & Oceania), Honda Motor Co.
The Narsapura plant manufactures the Honda Activa and Honda Dio scooters
"In the first quarter of FY 2017-18, Honda Two Wheelers India's aggressive growth led the industry momentum. Growing double the speed of industry at 19 per cent, Honda alone contributed 68 per cent to the industry's new volumes resulting in 3 per cent market share gain to highest ever of 30 per cent. While expanding leadership in the scooter segment with 59 per cent market share, Honda is now also the No. 2 motorcycle brand of India," said Minoru Kato, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.
The Narsapura plant currently manufactures Honda Activa and Honda Dio scooters, but the assembly lines at the plant are flexible and capable of manufacturing motorcycles as well, like the Honda Dream Yuga, Honda Livo and Honda CB Shine. The new assembly line at the plant was set up at a cost of Rs. 609.5 crore and employs an additional 1,555 employees.
The Narsapura plant also boasts of being Honda's first plant with 100 per cent rain-water harvesting and 80 per cent solar power system. It employs cutting edge manufacturing processes with advanced automated processes and 14 robots. The plant employs over 7,000 people in all.
