Honda to launch Civic in 2006

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) said it will launch the Honda Civic in India by the end of this year. The Civic, which is being displayed in India for the first time here at the Auto Expo, will bridge the gap between two existing Honda models Accord and City and enter the market between the C and D segments. After ramping up its production capacity from 30,000 to 50,000 last November with an investment of Rs 150 crore, the company plans to increase its capacity further to 100,000 cars by 2010. Along with the Civic, its futuristic model FCX and its Formula 1 Car is also being displayed at the Expo.

Hero Honda to invest Rs 300 cr

Hero Honda on Thursday said that it will invest over Rs 300 crore towards capacity expansion and setting up its proposed third plant in 2006. Hero Honda Managing Director Pawan Kant Munjal said that about Rs 70-75 crore will be invested towards ramping up capacity in its Dharuhera plant which is likely to be completed by August. The cumulative capacity of the two plants post August 2006 will go up to 3.6 million units. The company will also invest Rs 320 crore for setting up a new plant that will have an initial capacity of 450,000 units.

M&M launches Scorpio hybrid

Utility vehicle major Mahindra and Mahindra on Thursday unveiled a hybrid variant of its sports utility vehicle Scorpio and a hydrogen engine powered three-wheeler alpha. The hybrid Scorpio is powered by diesel engine and batteries and propelled by a common rail diesel technology and an electric trans axle supported by traction battery. The company, which is commemorating its 60th year with special limited variants of all its major models, claims that the hybrid will deliver fuel consumption figures of 15-16 km per litre.

Kandaa working on Rs 1.5 l car