NEW DELHI: Japanese automaker Honda plans to utilize India as an export market to increase supply for its overseas operations. We also plan to strengthen overseas shipments of global models manufactured in India.

In 2014-15, the company exported automotive components worth Rs 7.22 billion and plans to increase its exports by more than 50 percent to Rs 1.1 billion in the current fiscal by increasing exports to countries like the US, China and India. Canada has also joined the basket.

Honda Cars India president and CEO Katsushi Inoue told PTI: “We have been exporting a lot of components from India. We want to increase our exports from India as we want to make India a global export center.”

Honda has been gradually increasing its exports of auto components from India. Exports of components reached Rs 42 crore in 2013-14 2000.

The company transports various engine parts, forgings, gearboxes and other components manufactured at its Tapukara plant in Rajasthan to all parts of the world.

These countries include Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, UK, Brazil and Mexico. Soon, the company will begin exporting parts to its operations in the United States, China and Canada.

Inouye said Honda strongly agrees with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

“Honda has high expectations from India. The future potential is huge. India is now the fourth largest market after the US, China and Japan,” he added.

On Indian car exports, he said Honda plans to increase exports but “will target right-hand drive countries”.

Honda Cars India exported 8, 403 cars in the last fiscal year and sold cars in various markets in 2013-14 5, 798. It exported 1,858 units in the first quarter of this year.

To focus on exports, Hyundai recently launched the premium hatchback Jazz in India and started exporting it before its launch in India.

We are also exporting the hatchback Brioo, compact Amaze, mid-size City and utility vehicle Mobilioio.

Honda Cars India Limited Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) exports mainly to South Africa, Nepal and Bangladesh. It is exploring other options to expand its export markets.

The Amaze, Jazz and City are manufactured at the Tapukara plant, while the Brio and Mobilio other models are manufactured at the Greater Noida plant.

On the Indian market, Inoue said, “The Indian market is growing and the younger generation is entering the automobile market. This is an important market for us.”

HCIL has set a target of selling 30 yrs 10,000 vehicles per annum by 2017 India. In the last financial year, the company sold 1.89 lakh units in the Indian domestic market, up 41% from last year.

“We are increasing Tapukarara lara This will increase the total capacity from 24 years start lakh units per year to 30 one lakh units. The capacity increase will be realized by the middle of next year,” Inoue said.

The company is currently investing Rs 38 crore to increase the capacity of the Tapukara plant to 1.8 lakh units from 1.2 lakh units per annum.

The other plant in Greater Noida has a capacity of 1.2 million units per year.

He spoke about the company’s plans for 2020: “We have started acquiring land for another plant in Gujarat, but we have not started working on it yet as we can still increase the capacity of our Tapukkara plant, but the Indian market is growing and it is not possible to To meet the growth demand.

Talking about the challenges faced in the Indian market, Inoue said, “India is a highly competitive discount market. Our main focus is to improve customer satisfaction.”

He said the company will not pursue sales until customers are satisfied.

“Customers are the most important thing to us. If we try to increase production quickly, we could hurt our customers. That’s not what we want. Customer satisfaction is very important to us,” Inouye said.

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