Honda India Aims at Increasing Share in Global Car Sales

Bangalore, May 1 (PTI) Honda Cars India is looking at increasing its share in global car sales from the current 3 per cent to 5 per cent annually by 2016-17.

Honda has set a target to sell 6 million cars across the globe in 2016-17, and of which 3 lakh units, or 5 per cent, will come from India, senior vice president (marketing and sales) Jnaneswar Sen told reporters in Bangalore.

"Currently it is three per cent in volume terms...our target is to take it up to five per cent in 2016-17," he said.

Terming the last fiscal year as an eventful and rewarding year for Honda Cars India, Mr Sen said, "2013-14 was very good year for us in terms of volume as well as growth. We achieved our highest ever sales of 1.34 lakh cars, a growth of 83 per cent."

He also gave credit to the launch of Honda Amaze and new generation City cars for improved sales growth.

Stating that the company has "fairly exciting" plans for the current year, he said, "We are going to first launch a model called Mobilio in the next quarter which is Q2 of this financial year and subsequently the Jazz."

"In order to be prepared for the growth we are also expanding our network quite rapidly," he said.

"Last financial year we ended with 170 facilities in 107 cities and we hope to end this year with 230 facilities in 150 cities."

"Honda's expansion is taking place primarily in tier 3 cities, as 47 facilities, out of 60, will be coming up in tier 3 cities," he added.

Speaking about the current year, Mr Sen said, "We will have robust double digit growth for sure for several reasons...we will have the full year available for the new City, both petrol and diesel (versions) that will give us growth, the yet to be launched Mobilio will give us growth and also the Jazz will help us."

"As far as the volume is concerned, we have to set the price for Mobilio and Jazz to know their volume."

He said last year, the company exported little over 6,000 cars and this year it was planned to export around 10,000.

"Most of our exports are to South Africa and some to our neighbouring countries," he said, adding, "We are exporting lot of components also to other Honda companies....mostly engine parts."

Mr Sen further said, "In Greater Noida, we have 150 acres of land and our plant there is with the capacity of 1.2 lakh cars per annum. In Tapukara, Rajasthan we have 450 acres of land and what we have set up there is plant with the capacity of 1.2 lakh cars per annum."

Meanwhile, the automaker posted a 30 per cent increase in domestic sales at 11,040 units in April, riding on the success of its premium sedan City, of which it sold 7,044 units during the month. 

Honda Cars India today reported 30 per cent increase in domestic sales at 11,040 units in April.

The company had sold 8,488 units in the same month of the previous year, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said in a statement.

During April, the company sold 578 units of its small car Brio, 3,355 units of sedan Amaze and 7,044 units of the premium sedan City.

Besides, the company sold 63 units of sports utility vehicle CRV.

In addition, the company exported a total of 402 units during the month.

"We have started the financial year 2014-15 on a positive note and would like thank our customers for the fantastic response to the all new Honda City," HCIL Senior Vice-President (Marketing and Sales) Jnaneswar Sen said.

PTI KSU

IPL 7: RCB replace injured Nic Maddinson with Rilee Rossouw

B D Narayankar writes

Dubai, April 28 (PTI): South African batsman Rilee Rossouw has replaced an injured Nic Maddinson in the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad, the Indian Premier League technical committee announced on Monday.

Left-handed Australian batsman Maddinson, 22, opened the batting for RCB in two games, scoring 4 and 12 respectively but was forced to fly out due to an injury. Roussow, 24, has been a regular in the South Africa A squad since 2010 and has been a heavy scorer in the domestic circuit as well.

The IPL Event Technical Committee had approved the replacement of injured players in this edition after Maddinson, Delhi Daredevils pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile and Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had to opt out of their respective teams.

South African batsman Rossouw has replaced an injured Maddinson in the RCB squad, the Indian Premier League technical committee announced on Monday. (Getty Images)

Chennai may also seek a replacement for Bravo, who hurt his shoulder while attempting a catch on the boundary in the team's first match against Kings XI Punjab. According to the IPL player regulations, the three franchises can choose replacements from among the players who registered for the 2014 auction but were not bought.

Sir Ratan Tata and Mahatma Gandhi

B D Narayankar writes

This following piece is in reaction to Rahul Gandhi abusing the most ethical group - Tatas in an election rally in Pune this month. Rahul had reportedly said, "The Gujarat government has given Rs 10,000 crore to the Tata Group for the Nano factory with just one per cent interest rate," he added.

This irresponsile remarks or a bunch of lies, if I may call, presumbly forced Mohandas Pai to tweet: "RG should not have abused the Tatas based on total lies. Why is he taking pot shots at India's most ethical group? Is nothing left?

The tweet forced me to know about Mahtama Gandhi's relations with the Tatas. I found one posted in rediff.com. It's must read - is absolutely riveting and inspiring.

Hope our Rahul Baba too peeps into it and cherishes the relation Tatas had with the Congress' biggest leader

H Raghunath writes

In all humility I may say that I have come here also as a friend of the capitalists -- a friend of the Tatas. And here it would be ungrateful on my part, if I do not give you a little anecdote about how my connection with the Tatas began. In South Africa when I was struggling along with the Indians in the attempt to retain our self-respect and to vindicate our status it was Sir Ratan Tata who first came forward with assistance.' -- Extract from Mahatma Gandhi's speech delivered at Jamshedpur on August 8, 1925.

Mahatma Gandhi, born in Porbandar, Gujarat, known as Father of the Nation, in truth, belonged to the world. His struggle for Indian independence raised human values to new heights. Merely with two weapons, 'Satya' (truth) and 'Ahimsa' (non-violence), he showed the world that wars can be fought and won.

Around the same time, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, born in Navsari, also in Gujarat, a great Indian patriot and the founder of the House of Tatas, battled too for India's freedom, of somewhat another genre, sowing the earliest seeds of Industry in the country and economic self-reliance.

His second son, Sir Ratan Tata, inheriting his father's great sense of generosity for the good of the country, had extremely meaningful interaction with Gandhi in the great chapter of India's road to freedom.

It is this interaction that I wish to recall as a tribute from the House of Tatas to Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1893, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (1869-1948), popularly known as Mahatma, proceeded to South Africa as legal counsel to an Indian firm. He stayed there for over two decades - the formative period of a great life -- and led the immigrant Indian community against the tyranny of the 'White Government.'

Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress, edited the newspaper Indian Opinion and experimented with his unique non -- violent Satyagraha in 1906 and 1908 to resist the curtailment of rights of Asiatic settlers in South Africa.

Imprisoned and subjected to brutal treatment, he led in 1913 the great march of the Indian community across the Transvaal border from Newcastle in Natal province against the official policy of gross racial discrimination.

During this movement Sir Ratan Tata came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi and helped him carry on with the struggle in South Africa.

The Mahatma and Sir Ratan

Sir Ratan Tata, (1871-1918) was Knighted in 1916. Amongst other humane qualities, Sir Ratan extended the financial support to Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915 -- Indian statesman, whom Gandhi regarded as his political guru) to set up the Servants of India Society.

In 1912 he encouraged the University of London to institute a chair at the London School of Economics to investigate and research into the causes of destitution and poverty in India.

He funded the first archaeological excavation at Patliputra between 1913-1917, which resulted in the discovery of the hundred-column Mauryan throne room in Ashoka's Palace.

He had a discerning eye for art too, and had a great art collection, but with his sense of generously bequeathed it all to the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai.

After his death his wife Lady Navajbai endowed a house at Shantiniketan for European research scholars coming to India to study Oriental literature and culture.

In this article I will concentrate on the assistance and support that Gandhi received from Sir Ratan for his non-cooperation movement in South Africa.

The beginning was in November 1909 when Gandhi  received a cheque for Rs 25,000 from Sir Ratan to assist him in his non-cooperation movement in the fight for the rights  of the Indians in South Africa. In a cable to Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gandhi informs: "Pray thank Mr Tata for munificent timely help. Distress great. Prisoners' lot hard. Religious scruples disregarded. Rations short. Prisoners carry slop-pails; for refusing, put on spare diet. Solitary confinement. Prominent Moslems, Hindus, Parsis in jail."

On December 5, 1909 at the Johannesburg Mass meeting, a resolution was passed stating: "This meeting of British Indians of the Transvaal places on record its thanks to Ratan Jamsetji Tata, Esq. for his munificent and timely donation of Rs 25,000 in aid of the struggle."

In the Indian Opinion, dated December 11, 1909, Gandhiji wrote: "That India has been roused is evident from the generous gifts of Mr Ratanji Jamsetji Tata. By his big donation of Rs. 25,000 he has given a powerful impetus to our movement. He will probably be followed by other Indians."

"Parsis are known the world over for their generous gifts. Mr Tata has been true to that spirit of generosity. We have had many generous donations from him. For us, therefore, Mr Tata's gift is no matter for surprise," Gandhiji wrote.

"Mr Tata has laid the entire community under obligation, what is the way to repay it ? Our courage must increase ten fold after what has happened. The money has been given in the faith that we shall carry on the struggle to the bitter end. It is up to us to prove that we are worthy of such confidence."

"If Mr Tata's gift is a matter for satisfaction, it also calls for a warning. In this world a gift can rarely be turned to good account. Only a few know how to put to good use money got as a gift. Such money makes people weak -- willed and selfish. Our fight is on self-help and is intended to bring about our own regeneration. Therefore, should Mr. Tata's gift lead people to relax their efforts. It may do more harm than good. We would urge the Indian Community not to slacken in its duty in South Africa, regardless of this gift."

Sir Ratan does it again

On January 10, 1910, Sir Ratan wrote to Gandhi from Bombay: "My warm appreciation of the noble struggle our countrymen are waging and I am gratified to find that the beginning thus made by me (Rs 25,000 in donation ) has been followed up. I need hardly add that I shall watch the progress of the struggle with great interest and sincerely hope that these brave efforts for the vindication and upholding of the country's honour and dignity will soon be crowned with the success they deserve."

In the same letter Sir Ratan Tata sent forth a further donation of Rs 25,000 to Gandhi.

In the Indian Opinion, dated December 17, 1910, under the heading Tata and Satyagrahis, Gandhi wrote: "By donating another sum of Rs 25,000 for the Satyagraha Campaign, Mr Ratan Tata has demonstrated that he has utmost sympathy for us and that he fully appreciates its value. Including his earlier donations, a total of Rs 125,000 has been offered in India."

"His letter is as inspiring as his gift is generous. Mr Tata knows very well that this is not a struggle to secure our own narrow ends, but that it is for the honour of India. He has said, in so many words, that the effects of this struggle will be felt in all parts of the world under British rule, and that is exactly what will happen."

"Even a man like General Smuts has stopped talking of racial discrimination. His two Acts show that in law at least all citizens must have the same status. Fortunate, indeed are those Indians who are taking part in a campaign of such remarkable power."

"His letter and the help he has given have doubled the burden of our responsibility. Satyagrahis ought to remain staunch; even those who cannot afford to go so far (as to offer satyagraha) ought to give, as a matter of duty, whatever they can."

A public letter to Sir Ratan Tata

On April 1, 1912, Gandhi addressed a public letter to Sir Ratan in which he said: "I am ashamed to have to own that I am only now able to fulfill the promise I made, to you and to myself, in my letter acknowledging your second generous contribution of Rs 25,000 towards the expenses of the great Resistance struggle, that I should write a public letter to you, in which I intended to incorporate an account of receipts and expenditure."

Sir Ratan Tata's third donation

In the 'Indian Opinion' of August 10, 1912, Gandhi wrote the following article under the heading, 'Mr Tata's Munificence': "Mr Ratan Tata has outdone himself. At the Sheriff's meeting held at Bombay on the August 31, 1912, it was announced that Mr Tata had given a third contribution of Rs 25,000 to the Transvaal passive resistance fund. The total given by Mr Tata, therefore, amounts to £5,000 -- a fortune in itself."

"He has made the lot of passive resisters easy; and the fact that there are at the back of the struggle such distinguished Indians, encourages those who are engaged in it, and probably brings them nearer their goal. The moral effect of such help on those who, from prejudice, are opposed to us, is also obvious."

Gandhi also later wrote: "The paper, Indian Opinion, has never been in a position to pay its way. The paper would have been in dire straits if Mr Tata's generous help had not been drawn upon to meet its needs."

It is such coming together of great men that not only has made India ever rich and constant, but has made every man of the land proud of the golden pages of his country's history.

The author heads the Tata Central Archives, Pune. He earlier had set up Tata Steel Archives, Jamshedpur, and prior to that was with the National Archives of India, New Delhi.