Honda launched the all new fourth generation City earlier this month and the company has got a terrific response to its most popular model. The new City is available with a diesel engine, for the very first time. The addition of a diesel powerplant in the 2014 Honda City has boosted demand for the car. While many have been saying Honda is late with its diesel powered City, the fact is different, very different. The company has received 70% bookings for the diesel model and in spite of the market shifting towards petrol cars, diesel vehicles are here to stay.
Honda is well aware about the demand for diesel cars and that is the reason why deliveries of the diesel City will commence a month before the petrol model. This is in spite of the diesel variants costing Rs. 1.2 lakhs more over the equivalent petrol model. Honda’s strategy is understandable as it is competing head-on with the Hyundai Verna, a car which has dominated the C-segment with majority sales being of the diesel version. With the diesel engine in the City, Honda is expecting to see the same success for the City that it has seen for the Amaze.
Honda isn’t betting big on just one model. While the Amaze has been a massive success, the City has always been the company’s good selling model. In spite of these high selling cars in its portfolio, Honda isn’t resting on its laurels, the company plans to launch more cars in 2014. The Jazz hatchback and Mobilio MPV will be launched in India later this year, with both these models featuring heavy local content for an aggressive price. Honda is on a definite roll and this year is sure going to be an action packed one for the Japanese automaker.
