Honda Motor Company said it will launch new India-focused models from 2028 in both the high-volume sub-4-metre category and the midsize segment, as the Japanese automaker looks to close gaps in its product portfolio in a bid to regain market share in one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets.
Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe said on Thursday the company would introduce “strategic models” tailored specifically for Indian customers, moving away from its long-standing practice of relying on globally standardised products.
Honda currently sells just three models in India — the Honda Elevate SUV, Honda City sedan and Honda Amaze compact sedan — at a time when the market has shifted sharply towards SUVs.
The company has no product in the fast-growing sub-4-metre SUV category, where models such as the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO dominate sales charts.
Honda once had a wider compact portfolio that included the Honda Brio, Honda Jazz and Honda WR-V, but most of those products were discontinued over the years, leaving the Amaze as its only sub-4-metre offering, that too in the entry sedan category.
“India is one of the few markets in the world where growth is expected. However, Honda has a presence in only a limited range of product segments. Honda has not been able to expand unit sales due to an insufficient number of competitive models in each segment,” Mibe said.
According to him, Honda’s earlier strategy of developing products around global standards may not have fully aligned with local customer expectations.
“One contributing factor is that we have not been able to deliver products that meet customer characteristics and preferences in India. Climate conditions, vehicle usage and customer preferences vary significantly from country to country and region to region. Therefore, we will redefine the best specifications that fully match the market environment and customer needs in India,” he said.
Starting in 2028, Honda plans to launch products in two key categories — vehicles under 4 metres in length and midsize models — while increasing the use of local development resources to speed up launches.
“Most importantly, we will launch our strategic models in two categories - vehicles under 4 metres in length, the largest volume segment, and the mid-size category,” Mibe said.
With a strong network of suppliers in India, Honda is looking at the best strategy for the market. The company has a partnership with KPIT Technologies to develop software for its future vehicles, with a particular focus on advancing its software-defined mobility roadmap.
Honda now considers India one of its three core global markets alongside North America and Japan.
Last year, the company set up a dedicated project team for India as part of a broader growth push that also includes the launch of its first battery electric vehicle in the country in 2027 and a stronger focus on electric and hybrid technologies.