Honda Cars India sells 5,493 units in December, up 30 percent

January 3, 2014: Honda Cars India has reported sales of 5,493 units in December 2013, a growth of 29.49 percent (December 2012: 4,242). In the April-December 2013 period, the carmaker has sold 85,656 units as against 51,478 units during April-December 2012, an overall growth of 66 percent. The Amaze midsize saloon has been aggressively driving Honda sales in the past few months and in December it sold 4,458 units, while the Brio hatchback sold 1,026 units and the Accord nine units.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Jnaneswar Sen, senior VP (Marketing & Sales), said: “2013 has been very good year for Honda Cars India as we crossed the 100,000 units domestic sales for the first time in a calendar year with a total sales volume of 107,661 units during January-December 2013. The all-new Honda City has received an overwhelming response after its global preview in November 2013. We are looking forward to the launch of the New City and expect to continue with the growth momentum to continue in the New Year.”

Meanwhile, buyer interest levels have shot up for the fourth-generation City which is to be officially launched on January 7, 2014. Honda dealers are taking ‘priority bookings’ for the new City for Rs 51,000, an amount which is completely refundable in case buyers change their mind when the car is launched. But that’s unlikely and according to a dealer, “People are booking the car on the blind faith they have in Honda. We are anticipating a deluge of orders once the car is launched.”

Dealers say there is equal buyer interest in both petrol and diesel models, and they are expecting Honda’s latest mid-size saloon to command a waiting period, which can go up to two months, depending on the variant. They say entry-level variants in general are in higher demand and this should be the case with the new City as well.

Honda Cars India is betting big on the new Honda City and expects this latest iteration to eclipse the sales records of its predecessors. Also, with a diesel engine now in its arsenal, both the carmaker and its dealers are gung-ho about the new City.