New developed-for-Asia Honda MPV revealed

Jakarka, Indonesia, July 19, 2013: P T Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) has released the the official sketch of the brand-new Honda Multi-Purpose Vehicle that will be making its world debut at the upcoming 21st Indonesia International Motor Show, scheduled for September 19-29, in Jakarta.

The new Honda MPV has been developed for the Asian market by Honda R&D Asia Pacific in Thailand and P T Honda R&D Indonesia. This model will be the first Honda product in Indonesia to be introduced to the entry level MPV segment, the biggest category in the Indonesian automobile market. In addition to offering seven seats in a three-row configuration, the new MPV features an innovative design, spacious cabin, and advanced safety. Powering the car will be a 1.5-litre petrol engine, claimed to provide both sporty performance and good fuel efficiency.

Speaking on the new MPV, whose design is based on the Honda Brio, Tomoki Uchida, president director of P T Honda Prospect Motor, said: “The new Honda MPV has been developed especially for the needs of customers and road characteristics in Indonesia. This model will also be locally produced in Indonesia as the first product of its new second plant in Karawang, scheduled to begin operation in early 2014. This makes the new Honda MPV a very special product for Honda in Indonesia."

With an annual production capacity of 120,000 units, the new plant in Karawang is scheduled to begin production in 2014 to meet demand in the rapidly growing automobile market in Indonesia. The new MPV will enhance the Honda lineup of MPV models which account for the majority of passenger vehicle sales in Indonesia. The new plant will employ approximately 2,000 associates at the start of production. Combined with the current capacity of 60,000 units, HPM's annual production capacity will total 180,000 units. Moreover, HPM will strengthen the local product development function, establish a highly efficient production system, and increase local content to approximately 80 percent from the current level of around 50 percent.

Images: Exterior sketch of the new Honda MPV.

The groundbreaking ceremony of HPM New Auto Plant (from left, Yoshinori Katori, Japan ambassador, Deddy Saleh, director general of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Trade, Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co, Budi Darmadi, directorate general of Indonesian Industry, Hiroshi Kobayashi, chief operating officer Regional Operations (Asia & Oceania) of Honda Motor Co, and Tomoki Uchida, president director of P.T. Honda Prospect Motor, on June 4, 2012.