Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), one of India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has inaugurated a new and third state-of-the-art engine assembly line at its Global Resource facility in Manesar, Gurugram (Haryana). Honda’s new assembly line has the capacity to manufacture 600 engines each day. The assembly line will focus on completely knocked down (CKD) exports. It will manufacture engines ranging from 110 cc to 300 cc for a range of models in the brand’s lineup.
The Global Resource Factory in Manesar was set up in 2001, and the Honda Activa was the first model produced at the factory. The company says that the Global Resource Factory is the headquarters for HMSI’s domestic operations. It is also the brand’s first two-wheeler manufacturing facility in India. It has developed into an important export hub over time, greatly contributing to strengthening India's position as a major force in the global automotive industry. As of now, HMSI ships its models to 58 countries internationally, including Central and Latin America, Europe, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and SAARC nations.
The Managing Director, President & CEO at Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Tsutsumu Otani, said, "We are happy to introduce a new engine assembly line for CKD exports at our Global Resource Factory in Manesar. It is a testament to our relentless pursuit of driving technological advancements in the industry. With this step, HMSI aims to boost its export capabilities, reaching new heights in market expansion and adherence to global quality standards.”
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The new assembly line has surged Honda 2Wheelers' yearly production capacity to 58 lakh units, which incorporates 18 lakh from Karnataka, 12 lakh from Rajasthan, 16 lakh from Haryana, and 12 lakh from Gujarat.
The new CKD engine assembly line will make use of DC tools for essential torquing. It will feature a vision camera inspection system and total traceability of parts and processes. For engine sound inspection, it has a separate exhaust collection line and an acoustic chamber. According to HMSI, the new powertrain assembly line also houses a flywheel assembly automation system for torquing and tightening. In addition, an automated piston parts verification system and a tiny parts interlocking unit that guarantees error-free procedures are also installed on the new assembly line.
In India, Honda has sold more than 6 crore two-wheelers in the last 23 years. The brand is the second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the country, after Hero MotoCorp. The Honda Activa accounts for more than half of the company's total sales. In March 2024, the company recorded a massive 95 percent YoY surge in exports.