Car company Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) is planning to launch a new variant of its premium sedan, the Honda Civic, to push sales. The new version of the car is expected to come with a few minor changes in its styling within the next few months. Honda hopes to capitalise on the upcoming festive season to stimulate demand for the Civic. Over the past few months, sales of the car have been falling continuously. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Civic’s sales in July 2009 fell by 45.44 per cent, while its sales in the first four months of FY 2009-10 fell by 55 per cent.
HSCI is also increasing its production capacity by 50 per cent next month, to meet the expected demand during the festive season. The company’s Vice President (Marketing), Mr Jnaneswar Sen, said that production is demand driven, which in Honda’s case is increasing. Currently, HSCI produces 5,000 units a month in a single shift at its Greater Noida facility. The company will soon start working both shifts to increase production.
