Honda Cars India (HCIL) has registered wholesales of 8,714 units in September, a 29 percent year-on-year growth over September 2021’s 6,765 units. The carmaker, which introduced the strong-hybrid City sedan – City eHEV – in India in May at a price-tag of Rs 19.49 lakh, is bullish on the festive demand.

According to Yuichi Murata, director, Marketing and Sales, HCIL, “The festive demand has been strong and continues to show good momentum. On the supply side, we were able to increase our factory output compared to last month, which is a positive sign for the festive season in the sense that it ensures better availability of Honda’s cars during the period of Navratras, Dussehra and Diwali.”

Though it’s priced at a significant premium of Rs 417,000 over the comparable top-spec version of the petrol City automatic, the hybrid City eHEV boasts of a 44 percent higher fuel efficiency of 26.5kpl. “City eHEV is giving us additional opportunity to serve our customers with an advanced electrified mobility solution, and we are getting exceptional user feedback from them,” Murata added.

Honda Cars India continues to rely on the City and Amaze (compact sedan) as its two bread-and-butter models in India, until it arrives with a brand-new compact SUV – codename 3US – likely to be introduced by March 2023.

September 7 was a milestone day for the compan with its  Amaze sedan registering cumulative sales of 500,000 units in the domestic market since its rollout in April 2013. Interestingly, Tier 2 and 3 now account for the bulk of demand for the Amaze,.