Pitak Pruittisarikorn, an executive vice-president of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co, gives his opinion of the new Honda Civic Hybrid. He expects to sell 7,200 of the cars this year.
Pitak Pruittisarikorn, an executive vice-president of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co, gives his opinion of the new Honda Civic Hybrid. He expects to sell 7,200 of the cars this year.
Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co Ltd is bullish on its hybrid car segment, projecting the overall industry will see double-digit growth this year.
Executive vice-president Pitak Pruittisarikorn said domestic demand for hybrids will grow dramatically this year to more than 20,000 vehicles, up from 18,000 last year.
Honda yesterday launched the Honda Civic Hybrid, which features smart technology and comprehensive safety features and is the first hybrid produced in Thailand to come with a lithium-ion battery.
The standard Hybrid goes for 1.035 million baht, while the Hybrid Navi is 1.095 million.
Honda provides a five-year warranty for the fully integrated hybrid system with no limit on mileage, plus a special warranty extended from 5-10 years on the hybrid battery.
It is extending the hybrid battery warranty for the sporty Honda CR-Z Hybrid and the Jazz Hybrid to five years for customers who previously bought these models.
Honda plans to sell 7,200 units of the Honda Civic Hybrid this year.
It started tapping into the Thai hybrid market last year with the launch of the imported CR-Z Hybrid and the domestically made Jazz Hybrid.
Honda sold 3,900 to 4,200 hybrid vehicles last year.
''Hybrid cars are now getting popular in Thailand. With its lower fuel usage and eco-friendly features, I believe this segment will grow,'' Mr Pitak said.
Honda plans to open a hybrid battery production plant in Thailand in the coming years.
The Thai unit of Japan's third-largest carmaker last week said it will invest more than 20 billion baht.
A total of 17.2 billion baht will be used to build an assembly and engine plant in Prachin Buri province.
Honda will also spend 2.03 billion baht to increase its Ayutthaya plant's annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles by early next year.