Honda's wholly-owned motorcycle production and sales subsidiary in India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), will be expanding its motorcycle production capacity. HMSI’s second plant is currently under construction and a and a third production facility is being planned to keep up with the increasing demand in India.
Honda’s second plant is expected to be operational by this July. The second plant will produce .6 million units annually, but Honda is looking to up that number to 1.2 million by March 2012.
A third plant is being planned for the following year. Honda expects to have its third plant up and running in the first half of 2013. This plant will produce another 1.2 million units, bringing Honda’s annual production in India to 4 million units.
Motorcycle sales industry-wide reached more than 11.3 million in 2010. Honda accounted for about 1.5 million of those sales.
Honda said in a press release:
“India represents the world's second largest motorcycle market behind only China, and industry-wide motorcycle sales in India for 2010 reached 11.32 million units (up 30% compared to 2009). HMSI was established as a wholly-owned motorcycle production and sales subsidiary of Honda in 1999 and began production in 2001. HMSI's sales have grown steadily with 2010 sales of approximately 1.526 million units (up 40% compared to 2009) achieving a record high for ten consecutive years.”
HMSI expects the CB Unicorn Dazzler, its first model in the 150cc class, to continue to attract young consumers. Honda will also be introducing the CBR250R, HMSI's first 250cc sports bike.
[You Can Read Honda's Full Press Release Here]
