Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), a subsidiary of Honda Motor Corporation of Japan in India has opened a new technical center at Manesar to develop cutting edge technology and products for India. The facility is spread across 10,000 sq. meters and engages 200 engineers from Honda Research & Development India (HRID) and HMSI associates. With the opening of new technical center HMSI aims to make India as a global export center. The company also plans to launch new product every quarter to expand its presence in Indian two wheeler market.
As India has become world’s largest two wheeler market in the year 2012, Honda has made India as a priority market for the world. In a first ever across all operations globally, new Technical Center combines integrated system of DEBQ (Design, Engineering, BOP/Purchasing and Quality) under one roof to create a globally optimal operating system that advances local development of higher quality product at low cost.
In another first for the Indian motorcycle industry, Honda’s New Technical Center houses the advanced Wind Tunnel facility which simulates real world air flow situation to monitor aerodynamics and its effect on models to develop truly fuel efficient two-wheelers. The facility’s engineering and styling design also incorporates benchmark equipment like chassis dynamo, bench dynamo, layout machines, SEM microscope etc.
On opening of new technical center, Keita Muramatsu – President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd – said “April to December 2012 was a year of rapid strides when Honda bucked the market sentiments to grow at phenomenal 37%. 2013 is a year when we Excite Customers with speed. As India becomes the Global Innovation hub for Honda, Customers can look forward to new products by Honda every quarter and also faster delivery of some of our higher demand models with the start of operations of 3rd facility at Karnataka soon. ”
Atsushi Amataka, President – Honda Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd. (HRID) said, “As the World’s No. 1 two-wheeler maker, Honda carries with it a legacy of cutting edge R&D resulting in customer oriented products. India is today the center of attention globally with the new Technical Center. We are committed to deliver faster development of products of highest quality with low cost drawing efficiencies from R&D, designing, engineering, purchasing and quality under one roof for the first time.”
HMSI is aiming to close the financial year 2012-13 with the sales of 27.5 lakhs unit. The company has target to sell 26 lakhs units in domestic market and 1.5 lakhs in export market. In the financial year 2013-14 the company will have installed capacity of 4 million units once it’s new plant will become operational. The new technical center will help Honda to complete its dream of becoming number 1 Two Wheeler Company in India by 2020.
