4th Two-Wheeler Plant Inaugurated By Honda In India

Mr. Keita Muramatsu (President & CEO – Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd)    

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) is one of the most popular two-wheeler brands n the country and this is due their constant upgradations in the product lineup and an amazing service support network across the nation. To continue this increasing popularity of the brand recently, the company inaugurated its landmark fourth manufacturing plant at Vithalapur (Mandal taluk, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat) in India. Detailing on how it is a matter of great pride that Gujarat is the home of state-of-the-art scooter only manufacturing facility and Honda’s future expectations from India, Mr. Shinji Aoyama, Operating Officer and Director, Chief Operating Officer, Motorcycle Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. graced the occasion by saying that India plays a key role for Honda’s 2wheeler business. In 2015 Honda’s global sales of all products was 28 million units out of which global 2wheeler sales stood at 17 million units. Driven by the visionary growth-centric outlook of the Government, there is an increased focus on investing in roads and infrastructure.

Mrs. Anandiben Patel (Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat), at the inauguration ceremony   

Spread over 250 acres, Honda’s Fourth plant operations are scheduled in two phases. The first production line of 6 lac units annual production will soon be followed by the 2nd Line of additional 6 lac units annual production in the middle of 2016. In total, Honda will manufacture 1.2 million automatic scooters annually from its fourth plant. The new Fourth plant will increase HMSI’s total annual production capacity to 5.8 million units, including 1.6 million units at first plant (Haryana), 1.2 million units at second plant (Rajasthan), 1.8 million units at third plant (Karnataka) and another 1.2 million units at the fourth plant (Gujarat). With its fourth plant, Honda 2Wheelers is giving a big boost to economic development in Gujarat. Honda and its suppliers have together invested close to INR 2,200 crore and generated nearly 9,000 new employment opportunities in the State.

This is Honda’s first 2Wheeler plant worldwide where the entire press shop will be fully automated and operated by robots 24-hours.. For the first time in its Indian 2wheeler operations, Honda has introduced vacuum cooling technology and nitrogen pressurisation in die-casting, use of digital eye technology in various processes and traceability of in-house parts with QR codes in machine shop. Honda has also introduced higher automation to reduce operator fatigue through fully automated press shop, material handling robots for full frame in weld shop and automatic transfer of front fork assembly in frame assembly. Investing close to INR 60 million in and around Vithalapur, Honda is empowering local population to emerge as main beneficiaries of this growth story.