Takashi Nakajima, President and Chief Executive Officer, Honda Cars India Limited
Japanese auto major Honda Motor has said that India is the third most important market for the company after the US and Japan. The company said it will bring out fresh products for the Indian market to compete with others.
Honda also said that it is working on alternative fuel options apart from strong hybrid, and will launch electric vehicles too for the Indian market, in the next two years.
Meanwhile, the company unveiled the prototype of Honda 0 α (zero alpha) next-generation electric vehicle (EV), at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. The EV will be launched in Japan and India simultaneously in 2027.
A Honda Motor C. 0 α (alpha) prototype displayed during a media preview at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. The show is scheduled to run through Nov. 9
| Photo Credit: Bloomberg/Akio Kon
“We are considering India as one of the most important markets. May be three years before we were not thinking like that, but currently yes, we are very much concentrating on the Indian market. For our future business expansion plans, India is the most important part,” Takashi Nakajima, President and Chief Executive Officer, Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) told businessline here.
On engine powertrains also, he said the company is considering multiple options for its future cars. HCIL sells only three products – Amaze, City and Elevate – in the Indian market right now. The company has discontinued its popular models like the Civic and CR-V in late 2020, and WR-V in 2023.
“Learning from the past experience, we cannot concentrate in some particular engines…now we will be considering several ways, not only electric or internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, but of course strong hybrids also where we have the advantage where we can expand our business,” he said.
When asked about introducing small cars or entry-level cars so that two-wheeler commuters can upgrade to a four-wheeler, Nakajima said that Honda Cars has always been considering that, but it “very difficult”.
“From ₹1 lakh (price of a two-wheeler) to ₹10 lakh (for a Honda car), the gap is very gap, so it is very difficult to do. For instance, small cars like the “Kei” car in Japan costs around ₹20 lakh, a lot of technology in a small car, so it takes time to develop such products,” he added.
The company presented the world premiere of the prototype of Honda 0 α (zero alpha) next-generation EV, being developed as a SUV that will blend with both urban and natural environments, supporting people’s lives in every situation.
Following the Honda 0 Saloon and the Honda 0 SUV, introduced at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, in January this year, the Honda 0 α will be added to the line up as a “gateway model” for the world of Honda 0 Series, featuring a refined design and a spacious cabin that offers occupant comfort, the company said.
The production model of the Honda 0 α is scheduled to go on sales globally, mainly in Japan and India, starting in 2027, it said adding that the EV will be competing with the likes of Maruti Suzuki e Vitara, Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra & Mahindra BE 6, and MG Motor’s ZS EV.
(The writer is in Tokyo at the invitation of Honda Cars India Limited)
Published on October 29, 2025
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