India's Best-Selling Mid-Size Sedan Revealed

With the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implemented from July 1, 2017, the auto sector seems to have benefited from the new tax regime.

Most of the carmakers have passed on the GST benefits to customers post and pre-GST based on the new taxation system. Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) seems to have reaped benefits as well, which offered pre-GST benefits to customers, where customers could avail a discount of up to Rs 1.31 lakh.

The Japanese company has sold 5,187 models of the City and 4,243 units of the WR-V, the biggest contributors to the June 2017 sales.

The Honda City is not just the best-seller for the company, but it is India's highest selling mid-size sedan for the first half of 2017, leading in the segment. Earlier, Maruti Ciaz has surpassed the Honda City to take top honours; however, that seems to have changed.

Honda sold a cumulative of 34,125 units in the first half of this year of the City sedan. The Honda Jazz and Amaze were the next best-sellers with 1,307 units of the hatchback sold and 1,193 units of the compact sedan in June 2017. Exports of 450 units also added to the sales growth of 12.2 percent last month.

Speaking on this occasion Yoichiro Ueno, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, "HCIL conducted a price protection in June to those customers who purchase cars before GST roll out in order to counter the sales challenge during the pre-GST period. It helped us maintain good sales numbers."

"We foresee that the GST rollout, good monsoon forecast and upcoming festive season will further improve the buyers' sentiment. The 4th Gen Honda City reached yet another milestone in its successful journey in India, recording cumulative sales of over 2.5 lakh units in June 2017. City also became the highest selling mid-size sedan in H1 of 2017."

Other models of Honda in India received a tepid response where the BR-V sold 567 units, Brio which clocked 283 units and a slender sales figure of 24 units from the CR-V.

DriveSpark Thinks!

Honda Cars India Ltd. might have lost the sheen on the City sedan in 2016, but it has bounced back with the facelifted City in 2017. The Honda City is still one among the most sought after cars in India.