Honda drives into diesel segment finally, with Amaze

Amaze – that is the name Honda has given to its much-awaited entry-level diesel sedan, to be launched next fiscal in Thailand and India.

Based on the Brio platform, Amaze will be equipped with a newly developed diesel engine made at its Tapukara plant in Rajasthan. The new sedan will mark Honda’s entry into the diesel segment, and will compete with Tata’s Indigo eCS and Maruti’s Swift DZire.

A strategic model for the Asian market “where competition is intensifying”, Amaze will seek to “accommodate the diversifying needs of customers” (read growing demand for diesel vehicles), a Honda statement said.

More details of Amaze will be disclosed in Thailand later this month. India has to wait till the next fiscal to know more about the vehicle that will be launched here. Details about Honda’s investments on Amaze were not available immediately either.

Honda has lined up 3-4 diesel models in the next 2-3 years, and hopes to more than compensate for its absence all these years in the diesel segment.

Honda’s presence in the diesel segment will help revive its sales in India, auto industry observers said.

Its sales grew 47% on-year in the first half of this fiscal on account of low base. But its sales last fiscal were down 8.46% on-year to 54,427 cars.