Honda plans to launch Brio hatchback in October

Mr Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, for Honda Siel Cars India: “Right now all our energies are on Brio”.

When IndianAutoBlog requested him for a tentative launch date, he answered: “We’ll bring it right after September, during Dussehra and Diwali time.”

The Brio has gone through bad weather in Thailand as bookings were suspended upon launch due to the Tsunami/Earthquake in Japan. The natural disaster crippled production and forced Honda to suspend activities surrounding the mini car. Production resumed recently and Honda plans to ramp up to normalcy by September.

The Brio is strapped with the Jazz’ 1.2-liter petrol engine producing around 90bhp for Thai customers. This engine is expected to be made available during the launch. There is no imminent plan for a diesel engine and it could towards the end of 2013 for one to be ready. Honda could also roll out a Brio based sedan (ala Nissan Micra-Nissan Sunny) in 2013, a perfect car to challenge the Toyota Etios and Maruti Swift Dzire.

Honda is still carrying out test runs with Brio and a media drive program could take place in the next couple of months. Honda’s journey into the mass market segments is well and truly under way.