Honda recently introduced the Honda Elevate SUV, the first of five SUVs that the company expects to launch in India by 2030. Bookings for the Honda Elevate will begin next month, with the vehicle going on sale ahead of the holiday season.
Honda announced earlier this year that it intends to launch one new model in India each year, including hybrids and EVs. To strengthen the Honda brand in the nation, the company is once again investigating the possibility of bringing luxury vehicles to India via the CBU and CKD routes.
However, it was later revealed that the new Honda Elevate will only be available with the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, rather than the City’s powerful hybrid powertrain. Instead, an EV based on the Elevate will be available “within three years.”
Honda’s launch into the midsize SUV class comes at a time when SUVs dominate the industry, accounting for more than 40% of the total market. The Honda Elevate will be positioned in the midsize SUV market, which has grown to become the market’s second largest sub-segment. The Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara will be competitors.
The hybrid Honda Elevate has a cost issue. As previously stated, Honda was eager to reduce the price of the hybrid powertrain by localising it, but it appears that this is still a struggle.
Elevate will only be available with a single petrol engine, with a manual or CVT automatic gearbox. As a result, Honda will be unable to cater to all consumers in the sector, as diesel continues to account for a sizable portion of Creta and Seltos sales. The Grand Vitara and Hyryder, two powerful hybrids, are also off to a great start.
To make room for the Elevate and future products, the business increased production at its Tapukara, Rajasthan, plant, increasing daily manufacturing capacity to 660 vehicles per day from 540 vehicles in Q1 2023.
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