Honda conducted the world premiere of a prototype of Honda Brio, the new compact car developed for Asian markets and scheduled to be introduced in Thailand and India in 2011, at the Thailand International Motor Expo. Honda Brio Prototype is being developed as a commuter vehicle which is easy to use even in urban areas, the Honda Brio has a length of 3,610mm, width of 1,680mm and height of 1,475 mm, while ensuring enough cabin space achieved by highly efficient packaging. For the Indian model that is scheduled to be introduced within 2011, local customer needs for a small car will be reflected to the specifications and local content will be increased to create a model that achieves a good balance between vehicle performance and price (Rs. 5 lakhs).
“Honda would like to expand the joy of mobility to more customers in India, Thailand and other Asian countries through the introduction of a new small vehicle with compact and highly efficient packaging by utilizing our own experiences cultivated by our motorcycle business here in Asia,” Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor said.
Honda Brio will cater to the increasing demand for compact cars in newly emerging nations. Honda will develop unique versions of the mass production model for India and Thailand to reflect different customer needs in those markets. Moreover, with this vehicle, Honda will leverage the resources Honda has cultivated through its motorcycle business and utilize local sourcing of parts and materials such as sheet steel. For the Thai model that is scheduled to be introduced in March 2011, fuel economy of more than 20 kmpl will be targeted so that the vehicle will qualify as an eco-car by the Thai government, and a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht will be targeted as well.
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