Honda says that the plant has been set-up with an investment of Rs. 1100 crores. The new plant produces only scooters and is expected to create over 9000 new job opportunities.
India is the world’s second most populous country and has a huge two-wheeler market. Thus it makes sense for automotive companies to invest capital and set-up new manufacturing plants in India as the country has a vast pool of talented and low cost manpower resources. Following this policy, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has inaugurated its fourth two-wheeler plant in India situated in Vithalapur (Mandal taluk, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat).
Honda says that it has invested Rs. 1100 crores directly in its fourth plant with its suppliers investing an additional Rs. 1100 crores indirectly by setting up various ancillary plants in Gujarat. The plant has a capacity to manufacture 12 lakh units of automatic scooters annually. The new plant will increase Honda’s total annual production capacity by 26% to 58 lakh units. The new facility will also generate around 9000 new jobs for the state and is spread over an area of 250 acres.
Honda claims that the new state-of-the art manufacturing plant is one of the most high-tech and environment friendly plants in the country. Honda boasts of many technology-firsts such as vacuum cooling technology and nitrogen pressurization in die-casting, in-house parts with QR codes in machine shop and high levels of automation to reduce operator fatigue. Following its “Joy to the Next Generation” philosophy, Honda has introduced a slew of environmental friendly measures such as LED lighting throughout the facility, integrated zero liquid discharge manufacturing practices and rain water harvesting.
The Japanese major also proudly presents itself as a positive contributor to the society and says that it has taken many CSR initiatives around its fourth plant such as installing solar powered lighting systems, providing clean drinking water facilities for the local population, introducing Mobile Medicare Units and adopting an ITI at Petlad village under the PPP model of Gujarat government. Honda is India’s largest scooter maker with over 50% market share and this new scooter only plant is the world’s biggest scooter production facility.
World’s Bigger Scooter Only Plant
– The facility is situated in Vithalapur in Ahmedabad district, Gujarat
– The plant manufactures only scooters and has an annual capacity of 12 lakh units
– It is spread over an area of 250 acres and will create 9000 new jobs
– The plant has many technological achievements such as high levels of automation and QR codes in the machine shop
– Honda says the plant is also environment friendly and will help in increasing the quality of the infrastructure in the state
