Honda to increase output of cars at Tapukara plant

Japanese car giant Honda Motor Company will increase output from its plant here by starting a second production shift in seven to eight months, to help meet its target of an almost 50 per cent jump in sales, to 200,000 units in 2014-15.

The company's wholly owned Indian subsidiary, Honda Cars India Ltd, may also consider ramping up the capacity of the plant in the next two-three years, as it targets sales of 300,000 units a year by 2016-17.

"Currently we are producing our cars in only one shift at Tapukara. With growing demand for our cars, we will go for full capacity of the plant in the last three-four months of this fiscal (financial year)," Honda Cars India Senior Vice-President and Director (Sales and Marketing), Shigeru Yamazaki said.

Honda currently rolls out 60,000 units a year in one shift from the 450-acre facility. The total installed capacity of the plant is 120,000 units in two shifts. The company will launch its seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle, Mobilio, in July in both petrol and diesel options and the new generation of its premium hatchback, Jazz, this financial year.