Hondas Noida plant goes on stream
WORLD-CLASS: (from left) M.Takedagawa, President and CEO, Honda Siel Car India; T. Oyama, President and CEO, Asian Honda Motors Co.; and H. Iwata, Operating Officer, Honda Motor Company and GM, Suzuka Factory, at the inauguration of a new production facility at Greater Noida near New Delhi on Monday. NEW DELHI: Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) on Monday inaugurated its new production facility at Greater Noida and announced an initial investment of Rs. 1,000 crore at its upcoming plant in Rajasthan that will start operation next year, producing 60,000 units a year. HSCI, which has now doubled its production capacity to to one-lakh vehicles annually, has so far invested Rs. 1,620 crore at the Noida plant since its establishment in 1997. The plant now produces Honda City, Honda Civic and Honda Accord models. World-class facilities The new facility, with a host of world-class manufacturing techniques and technological advancements, was inaugurated by Asian Honda Motors Company President and CEO T. Oyama in the presence of HSCI President and CEO M. Takedagawa. Speaking to media persons here, Mr. Takedagawa said the new plant in Rajasthan would be spread over 600 acres. The investment would be in the region of Rs. 3,000 crore by the time it reached its full capacity of over two-lakh units annually. The company intended to produce 60,000 units in 2009 from the new plant. Honda planned to enter the Indian compact car market, besides launching hatchback