Honda Siel Cars India Limited, the Indian unit of the Japan based automaker is planning to make a strategic move with the launch of the diesel variants of its Indian portfolio in the early phase of 2013 owing to the recent exponential surge in petrol prices that is expected to considerably restrict the demand for petrol powered cars in the country.
The auto giant had earlier revealed that the diesel variants will hit the Indian auto market by the year 2014 but the mounting divergence in the diesel and petrol fuel prices has rendered an opportunity to concrete its market stand as well as fund its future endeavours that comprises of series of new car launches in the next three years.
It is anticipated that Honda Siel Cars India will be initially launching the diesel variant of its highly successful hatchback, Brio coupled with the launch of the sedan version of Brio in 2013. It will be followed by the introduction of its bestselling sedan, Honda City diesel in the month of October in the concerned year.
Honda Jazz, the subcompact car, which is scheduled to be unveiled in the next generation avatar at the 2014 Auto Expo, is also expected to be rolled out in diesel version.
Mr. Jnaneswar Sen, Sr. Vice-President (Marketing), Honda Siel Cars India, commented, "Our R&D team is currently developing a diesel engine, however, no decision has been taken about the models in which it would be introduced or the timelines thereof."
Mr. Sen has, however, refused to confirm about the deviations in the plans revealed earlier saying that such information is a merely mushroomed by the media.
