Breaking News: HMSI’s N K Rattan quits

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s N K Rattan, Operating Head (Sales and Marketing) has put in his papers. Rattan, in company since last 12 years. has been instrumental in building up the Honda two-wheeler brand in India over the years, particularly after the split with Hero Honda last year.

HMSI recently began the second phase of production operations at its second two-wheeler production plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan, doubling the unit’s capacity to 1.2 million units.

The company had in September last year announced its third plant which is to come up in Narsapur, near Bangalore. When it goes on stream in the first half of 2013 with a capacity of 1.2 million units, HMSI’s total annual production capacity will stand augmented to 4 million units. Also, it is believed the Karnataka government has given the go-ahead for a fourth plant, at the same site, to hike overall capacity to 6 million units.

HMSI has targeted sales of 21.05 lakh units in 2011-12, a 27 percent growth over the 16.56 lakh units sold in 2010-11.

Rattan’s departure at this critical stage of the company’s substantial expansion programme is likely to pose some problems on the sales front. At present, Rattan’s further plans are not known. Stay tuned.