Honda shifts City production to Tapukara, Rajasthan plant

Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) has shifted production of its new City sedan from the Greater Noida plant to its Tapukara plant in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.

This move is mainly to cater to strong demand for HCIL’s cars in the domestic market and also commencement of production of the recently launched Mobilio MPV at the Greater Noida plant.

The company says there will be no production of the City this month and production will resume in the first week of September 2014.

HCIL's Tapukara plant has an installed capacity of 120,000 units per annum and is currently running single-shift operations. It has been producing the Amaze sedan since February 2014 when assembly operations began at this facility.

The Tapukara plant, spread across 450 acres, is an integrated manufacturing unit which includes all functions of forging, press shop, powertrain shop, weld shop, paint shop, plastic moulding, engine assembly, frame assembly and engine testing facility. It employs an optimum level of automation to achieve high quality  standards.

Commenting on this latest development, Jnaneswar Sen, senior vice-president (marketing and sales) Honda Cars India, said: “The shift of City production to Tapukara will ensure better availability and timely deliveries of the City and the newly launched Mobilio. We have received an overwhelming response to both the City and the Mobilio, and it is necessary to maximise production at both the plants for the benefit of the customer.”

The fourth-generation City has seen a very good market response in India and since launch in January this year has sold 53,605 units till July-end. 

HCIL has been on a roll and in the first four months of the fiscal (April-July 2014) has sold a total of 56,427 cars, up 40 percent year on year (April-July 2013: 40,350). In July, it recorded domestic sales of 15,709 units, a growth of 40 percent (July 2013: 11,223).