Currently, the Indian automobile market is dominated by diesel variants. In the wake of continuous increase in petrol prices, automobile companies brought diesel versions of their car models. Hence, to withstand the fierce competition, Honda has to come up with its own diesel variants. The news of Honda Brio diesel variant has certainly brought relief to its potential customers in India.
As mentioned in the reports, HSCI will most probably introduce the diesel version of Honda Brio hatchback this year, around Diwali. The Japanese automobile manufacturer is running tests on its new diesel technology – common rail i-DTEC that will be installed in 1.2 litre version of Honda Brio. Once Honda Brio diesel is unveiled, the company would bring in diesel variants of Honda Jazz hatchback and City sedan in India.
As per the statement given by company’s spokesperson, "Honda is committed to bringing its diesel technology to key markets like India. And to ensure that Honda diesel is best suited to local conditions and offers optimum performance levels, Honda is conducting stringent tests at its R&D centres across several locations."
The Japanese auto maker made its debut in the Indian automobile market in the year 1995 and since then, it has outperformed major auto manufacturers in the country. However, from April to December 2011, the car sales for Honda tumbled by 27%. The absence of diesel variants in the Indian market was the prime reason. Natural disasters in Japan and then in Thailand forced Honda to halt the production and that is why the company started losing its customers across the globe.
Honda has bigger plans for the year 2012 and one among them is the early introduction of the diesel variants of its different car models. Once launched, the diesel variant of Brio hatchback will compete with diesel car models like Chevrolet Beat, Toyota Etios Liva, Hyundai i10 and Maruti Suzuki Ritz.
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