Report - Honda Vezel NOT coming to India; Brio-based SUV under consideration

A recent report by Autocar suggests that Honda will not introduce the Vezel in India anytime soon. Given the weak Indian rupee, the Japanese carmaker will be unable to price the crossover competitively with the likes of the Duster, Terrano and EcoSport.

Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, managing officer Asia and Oceania, confirms that the Vezel will be an expensive proposition for the company in India. Matsumoto says that localization of components will take up too much effort and resources, citing an example of the crossover's electric handbrake: local manufacturing of this component will take up a lot of investment, while swapping it for a regular handbrake will incur significant R&D costs.

In a bid to ensure a product in the growing crossover space, Honda is believed to be working on an SUV based on the Brio platform. The advantage of using the Brio's platform is that a high level of cost competitiveness can be achieved. Also, Honda engineers have experience in optimizing this platform for the Amaze and Mobilio MPV.

However, given that the Brio's platform was never meant for an SUV, engineers will have to redesign it (modifying the wheel well to house larger wheels is one such example). It remains unknown whether the upcoming SUV will measure under 4 meters in length, or whether it will be a seven seater.

Matsumoto told reporters at the Tokyo Motor Show last month that products in the SUV and MPV category will be launched around 2015.

[Source - Autocarindia.com]