The Honda Civic sedan and CR-V have been axed from the Japanese automaker’s India portfolio following the company’s decision to cease manufacturing operations at its plant in Greater Noida. Both models were assembled at the Uttar Pradesh plant from CKD kits, alongside with the popular City sedan, which was produced there.
Though Honda has shifted the production of the City to its Tapukara, Rajasthan facility, the factory can only accommodate manufacturing of vehicles of a certain size, which has led to the discontinuation of the company’s flagship sedan and SUV in our market, as per company sources. The Rajasthan plant also serves as the manufacturing base of the Amaze, Jazz and WR-V for our market.
Honda manufactures the City, Amaze, WR-V and Jazz at its plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan.
Sales of the Civic and the CR-V, which are CKD assembled, have been rather low. As per Autocar Professional statistics, the Civic has sold a total of 6,022 units (5,285 petrol and 737 diesel) from March 2019 onwards till end-October 2020 and the CR-V, a total of 3,878 units (2,903 petrol and 975 diesel) since January 2015 to end-October 2019.
In the aftermath of declining sales over the years and a particularly harsh impact of Covid-19 in 2020, the closure of manufacturing operations at Greater Noida and rationalisation of the product line-up are part of Honda’s efforts to improve operating efficiencies and safeguard its future in India.
However, company insiders have told Autocar India that the automaker is planning a long-term presence in our market and that the pandemic hasn’t curtailed its future product investment plans.
Also read: Honda Cars India switches production from Greater Noida to Tapukara plant