Automobile Desk: The sub-compact SUV segment has been dominant in the Indian automobile market for a long time. Vehicles like Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon and Hyundai Venue have a strong hold on this segment. However, now a major reshuffle can be seen in this market. Japanese car manufacturer Honda Cars India is working on a strategic plan to revamp its portfolio and re-enter its share in this popular segment.
The company plans to launch 10 new vehicles in the Indian market by 2030, the biggest attraction of which will be an all-new sub-4 meter SUV. After the cessation of production of models like WR-V, Brio and Jazz, Honda is currently left with Amaze as the only option in the compact segment. In such a situation, this new SUV of the company can prove to be a new turning point for its Indian business.
This new compact SUV is being specially designed keeping in mind the needs, driving habits and road conditions of Indian customers. The company's main objective is to strike the right balance between excellent performance, modern features and attractive pricing to directly appeal to Indian buyers looking for value-for-money.
According to industry reports, this new model can be seen running on Indian roads by the year 2028. At the time of launch, it will face direct competition from established vehicles like Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
Talking about the technical front, this new SUV is likely to be built on Honda's global small car platform or an entirely new modular architecture. The biggest feature of this platform will be its versatility, which will make it easy to offer this car in future in petrol engines as well as hybrid and fully electric (EV) powertrains. However, the company has not yet issued an official statement regarding the exact powertrain options.
Apart from sub-4 meter SUV, Honda's strategy also includes many other vehicles. The company is first planning to launch a facelift model of its popular mid-size SUV Elevate, in which new features will be added along with some cosmetic changes. After this, the company will enter the fully electric segment and introduce its '0 Alpha' electric SUV, which will compete with upcoming electric vehicles like Maruti e-Vitara and Hyundai Creta EV.
Not only this, to strengthen the brand value again, Honda is also considering bringing back some of its global and prestigious models in India. These include popular names like Civic, Accord and CR-V, which can be brought to India as a completely built unit (CBU) with hybrid technology. Apart from this, Honda Prelude Hybrid is also being considered to be brought to India in limited numbers for sports car enthusiasts.
