Honda 2Wheelers' Karnataka plant gets 4th assembly line

Honda has inaugurated a 4th assembly line at its plant in Karnataka. The expansion has added 6 lakh units to the annual production capacity of the Narsapura factory. With a total annual production capacity of 24 lakh units, it is now the company's biggest in the world.

Honda has invested Rs. 2,600 crore in the Narsapura plant, while the company's 26 suppliers have invested an additional Rs. 2,800 crore in setting up ancillary plants in Karnataka. Honda claims that the plant provides employment to 7,000 people, while the suppliers' factories create job opportunities for 15,000 people in the state.

At present, Honda has four manufacturing units in India. The company's factory at Manesar, near Gurugram has an annual production capacity of 16 lakh units. Honda's production capacity was increased after the Tapukara unit, which has an annual capacity of 12 lakh units, became operational. The company also has the world's largest scooter-only plant at Vithalapur, Gujarat. This plant has an annual production capacity of 12 lakh units.

The expansion of production at the Karnataka plant has increased Honda's combined annual production capacity to 64 lakh units. The company claims that its overall market share in the first quarter of FY 2017-18 stood at 30 percent. It leads the scooter segment with a market share of 59 percent. Honda is also the No. 2 motorcycle brand in India.