Honda to sell 12,000 Civics in India this fiscal

Bangalore, July 10 (UNI) Expanding the premium car D segment, Honda Siel India today hoped to sell 12,000 units of its new offering Honda Civic, during the current fiscal, taking the total sales to around 60,000.

Honda Siel Vice President N K Goila and Director Marketing H Shimizu told newsmen at the launch of Civic here that Civic would not cut into competition in its class, but create a new market of the segment which had a total sale of 27,000 cars last year.

Mr Goila said the company would be investing around Rs.400 crore over the next two years to double the production level to 100,000 cars. This year the production would be 60,000 vehicles, he added The eighth generation of Civic, launched in India seven months after the global launch, had invoked great response during the first five days of booking with the number crossing 1500. Honda Civic came in two variants and was the most advanced vehicle in its category with an most modern 1.8 l IVTEC engine, sleek aerodynamic exteriors and futuristic interiors.

It was the only car in the segment with a five speed automatic transmission, with a unique paddle shift option, which could be operated using the F-1 racing inspired switches. Introduced for the first time in the country, the paddle shift provided the convenience of an automatic transmission with enhanced driving pleasure of a manual, Mr Goila added.

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