Honda Motor to launch diesel version of Brio

Honda Motor Co. plans to take advantage of the widening cost gap between diesel and gasoline in India by introducing the diesel version of its high-selling hatchback ‘Brio.’ A company spokesperson told The Economic Times, that “Honda is committed to bringing its diesel technology to key markets like India. And to ensure that Honda diesel is best suited to local conditions and offers optimum performance levels, Honda is conducting stringent tests at its R&D centers across several locations.” Honda’s sales have fallen in the first nine months of the current fiscal year because it was not able to introduce any diesel cars. Sales of diesel cars in India rose by 26% in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while sales of gasoline cars fell by 18% during the same period. (January 31, 2012)