Honda inaugurates new factory in Karnataka

As part of its expansion plans for our country, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) inaugurated its third Indian two-wheeler plant at Narsapura Area, in Karnataka. The new facility is spread across 96 acres and is situated at the Narsapura Industrial Area which is 52km from Bengaluru. Honda would hire 4,500 people in the new facility and said that they had invested Rs 1,350 crores in constructing the plant. The new facility has come at a right time for Honda as it has witnessed tremendous increase in demand for its two-wheeler portfolio. The country’s second largest two-wheeler manufacturer registered its highest ever monthly in April with 2,59,560 units being sold. Related: Honda April 2013 sales figure

Speaking on the occasion, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Managing Officer, Honda Motor Co. said, “In the current fiscal year 2014, Honda’s global 2 wheeler sales growth is expected to increase more than the previous years and headed to new heights by its operations in India. There is no doubt that India is one of the most important markets for Honda’s overall business. Today we establish a new milestone with the inauguration of our 3rd manufacturing facility in India in the state of Karnataka. Out of the total 4500 new positions at this facility, nearly 90% are being offered to the local youth.”

The plant will be operational by June and would boast a capacity to build 12 lakh units in phase 1 of its production. The Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer plans to further boost the capacity of the plant by 6 lakh units in the near future so that when Phase 2 is completed the facility would have a total capacity of 18 lakh units. According to Honda with this third plant, its total annual production capacity would swell by 94 per cent in just one fiscal. The new facility boasts of features like high speed transfer line, robotic welding and painting of frame parts and advanced machining automation which would be instrumental in improving the efficiency of the plant. The new facility is also Honda’s most eco-friendly plant as it would  meet 30 per cent of its annual water demand by employing rain harvesting system and the plant has zero liquid discharge.