Honda plans second Pune dealership

Automobile manufacturer Honda is adding to its dealer network in Pune by opening another dealership.

Sunil Gambhir, Honda-Siel Cars India's regional sales head for west, told mediapersons that the new dealership will be operational early next year.

Gambhir said the company has recently increased its production capacity at the Noida plant from 42,000 cars per year to 62,000.

"We are anticipating a rise of 44 per cent in sales this year and there will be some expansion in our dealer network to support the increased sales volumes," he said.

Maharashtra will have a total of nine dealerships including four in Mumbai, he added.

The company expects to sell 13,500 units of Civic in the current year (2006-07)of which Pune is expected to contribute about 480, he said. Gambhir informed that the company currently sells 12-15 Accords, 120 units of Honda City and 8-10 units of CRV.

Gambhir said the company has a preferred financer tie-up with ICICI Bank and Kotak Bank for car finance offers and also runs an exchange scheme for those who intend to shift to a Honda car from their existing one.