'Make In India' Wave: Honda CBR 650 to Be Locally Developed

Riding upon the 'Make in India' appeal, auto giant 'Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Private Limited' (HMSI) will start production of its high-end sports motorcycle 'CBR-650' in the country from next year, a top company executive said here today.

"We announce that (from) next year Honda will start making CBR -650 in India. By this, we will not only open up the skill of our existing manpower but it will also showcase the Honda India's manufacturing quality to the world," HMSI Vice President Y S Guleria told reporters here on the sidelines of a foundation stone laying ceremony for its upcoming plant at Vithalapur in Ahmedabad district.

However, Honda is yet to finalise the facility it has in the country from where it will start manufacturing CBR-650.

Besides the upcoming unit at Vithalapur, Honda has a total of three plants in Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

When asked about the capacity of the Vithalapur plant, Guleria said that the quantum is yet to be decided.

"As of now, we have not decided on units as numbers are too small... and very quick decision can be taken, but we are not expecting very high volume," he said.

Guleria further said that the Japanese auto giant's purpose to start making CBR-650 bikes is in tune with the 'Make in India' commitment of the company.

Honda has also not finalised the price tag for the sportsbike for its Indian customers.

"The purpose (to start manufacturing the bike in India) is to build in India and also the affordability aspect will be considered for customers with Make in India commitment," he said.

CBR-650 is 649 cc sports bike with the four-cylinder double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine technology and having the six-speed gearbox, as per the Honda website.