Honda (HMSI) new scooter assembly line, export plans revealed

While its newly unveiled EV roadmap is grabbing headlines right now, Honda also has big plans for its petrol-powered two-wheelers in India. The biggest non-EV announcement made by Honda today is that it will be establishing a new scooter manufacturing line at its Vithalpur factory in Gujarat.

1. New scooter assembly line at Vithalpur, Gujarat factory
2. Exports will grow to 20 models across 58 countries
3. All models OBD-2 compliant and E20 compatible by September 2023

This scooter-only plant is the Japanese giant’s most recently established factory (of four) in the country, having been set up in 2015. Once at full capacity, this new assembly line will boost annual capacity by 6 lakh units.

This will help Honda fulfil its goal of growing its export business from India. The company currently exports 18 models to 38 countries and hopes to grow these numbers to 20 models across 58 countries. Interestingly, its most exported model is one that it discontinued in India a few years ago – the Navi.

There are as many as 10 new electric scooters and bikes coming from Honda in the near future. But in the meantime, Big Red will also continue updating its existing petrol-powered lineup, to comply with upcoming OBD-2 regulations and make it compatible with E20 fuel. The Activa 125 was the most recent model to receive the treatment, and the process will be completed across the lineup by September 2023.

Honda has also confirmed once again what it announced a while ago – the fact that it will be introducing flex-fuel models for India. Typically, these are defined as vehicles that can run on fuel ranging from an ethanol content of zero percent to 85 percent. The company already has a number of such models on sale in markets like Brazil, and one of these will most likely be adapted for India and launched here.

Do flex-fuel vehicles make sense, or are we ready to make the jump to EVs? Tell us what you think in the comments.