After Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors, Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) has jumped on the electric vehicles (EV) bandwagon. As per reports, the Indian subsidiary of Honda Japan is in the process of adopting an EV strategy in line with PM Narendra Modi-led government’s mission to switch to all-electric cars by 2030.
According to sources, the carmaker is currently evaluating the feasibility of manufacturing country-focussed battery-powered electric vehicles that are both affordable and suitable for Indian roads, reported Inc42.
Commenting on the development, HCIL CEO Yoichiro Ueno said, “We feel that diffusion of battery EVs requires significant infrastructure development and overcoming other challenges, such as cruising range with batteries, affordability and consumer acceptance. HCIL strives to plan battery EV models that will be best suitable for the traffic conditions in India in view of the usage including travelling distance.”
The move is part of the company’s long-term goal to bolster the sales of its electric vehicles worldwide. By 2030, Honda expects more than 65 percent of its global sales to come from electrically-powered vehicles. To that end, it has already established an Electric Vehicle Development Division inside the Honda R&D facility in Japan, where a dedicated team is working on expediting the manufacturing process of electric vehicles.
Ueno added, “It depends on how fast the technology and infrastructure evolve in India and the rate of acceptance by consumers. It has the potential to be disruptive in the long run but we see hybrids to play a crucial role during this transition.”
