Honda's 'Service Van Initiative' to Tap Rural Two-Wheeler Market

In an attempt to tap the rural market in India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) today launched a unique 'Mobile Service Van' initiative. The company says quite unlike a traditional service van, Honda's Mobile Service Van combines a dealership & service outlet in a mobile format, which will help it reach prospective and existing customers in rural areas.

The Mobile Service Van has enough space for displaying a two-wheeler, seating arrangement for customer and a LED display for better visual understanding of the company's vehicle. The company will also offer test rides to potential buyers through the new service. Interestingly, the van also has two service bays, which, we think, will only be able to handle regular service operations. Moreover, the company will also train local service technicians through the mobile service van. Honda aims to expand the concept to 11 mobile service vans by the end of this year.

Mr Keita Muramatsu, CEO & President, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said, "As the only Honda, we are expanding our network into hinterlands. In fact 70 per cent of the approximately 1,000 touch-points that we aim to add this year will be in rural areas. The new Mobile Service Van (MSV) is designed to take Honda one step ahead of even where the reach of its last touch-point ends."