 "Honda launches Mobilio starting at Rs 6.49 lakh")
While petrol variants of the seven-seater Mobilio will retail between Rs 6.49 lakh and Rs 8.76 lakh, diesel versions will be tagged between Rs 7.89 lakh and Rs 10.86 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Ertiga is priced between Rs 5.8 lakh and Rs 8.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Honda Motor Company Managing Officer Yoshiyuki Matsumoto said India remains one of the company's key strategic markets and Mobilio will contribute significantly to HCIL's growth in India.
Matsumoto said, "Mobilio is already a success in Indonesia, selling 46,000 units since its launch in January capturing 23 per cent market share in the segment. We expect the same success in India and will try to sell as many units as we can here."
Overall, Honda has set a target of selling six million units globally by March 2017, out of which 1.2 million will come from the Asia Oceania region. With new products such as Mobilio, diesel City and Amaze in place, the company's Indian subsidiary is projected to chip in a quarter to sales in the Asia Oceania region.
Hironori Kanayama, president and CEO, HCIL said: "The launch of Honda Mobilio follows the success of Honda Amaze and the all new City which led our exceptional growth of 83 per cent in the previous financial year." The City, launched earlier in January this year, has already sold 50,000 units and has captured over 50 per cent market share in its segment.
Overall, Honda sold 134,000 units in 2013-14 as against 73,500 units in the previous year. Kanayama added, "HCIL is progressing well to achieve its target of achieving annual sales of 300,000 units by 2017."
Mobilio has been developed at Honda's R&D facility in Bangkok exclusively for the Asian markets with India and Indonesia among key targets. In India, Mobilio will be manufactured at the company's Greater Noida facility.
HCIL is keeping its options open to export Mobilio but has not taken a final decision when to start overseas shipments as it would focus on the domestic market first.