Honda Opens Technical Center in India, Will Introduce New Models Every Quarter

Honda‘s subsidiary in India is opening a new technical center to develop new models for that market. The new research and development center is the first for Honda to focus only two-wheeled vehicles, and the first in all of India to feature an advanced wind tunnel to test vehicle aerodynamics. The goal, for Honda Motorcycle and  Scooter India (HMSI) is to eventually introduce a new model to India every quarter.

The new technical center is the first Honda facility to integrate design, engineering, purchasing and quality control all under the same roof. The 2.5-acre facility in Manesar, India, will employ 200 engineers from Honda Research and Development India and HMSI associates. 

“As the World’s No. 1 two-wheeler maker, Honda carries with it a legacy of cutting edge R&D resulting in customer oriented products,” says Atushi Amataka, president of Honda Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd. “India is today the center of attention globally with the new Technical Center. We are committed to deliver faster development of products of highest quality with low cost drawing efficiencies from R&D, designing, engineering, purchasing and quality under one roof for the first time.”

Honda is placing special emphasis on developing fuel efficient products for India. The company highlighted this trend by introducing its new “Honda Eco Technology” (HET) system across three scooters, the Activa, the Aviator and the Dio. HET combines three key concepts: reducing internal friction, improving combustion and optimizing drive force.

According to Honda, the new Activa, Aviator and Dio see an 11% improvement in fuel economy to 141 mpg, leading Honda to claim these 110cc models are the most fuel efficient scooters in India.

[Source: Honda]

By Dennis Chung