Honda Civic Hybrid to discontinue in India

After getting the biggest discount in the history of Indian car market, the Honda Civic Hybrid will now do a discontinuing act from local Honda showrooms. Honda Siel cars India might no longer retail Honda Civic Hybrid, less than a year after its launch in India. Honda Civic Hybrid will now be available only as a direct import through the company with a longer waiting period.

Honda Civic Hybrid, that can runs on both petrol and battery and gives mileage around 20 kmpl, did not enjoy a great run in India till the Rs 8-lakhdiscount in November that created a demand rush for it. But now, if a customer wants to buy Honda Civic Hybrid he will have to approach the Honda dealers or direct to the company to import it. “After the booking, the company will take around 3-4 months to deliver it to respective customer,” said company official.

Honda Civic Hybrid is the first hybrid model in India, was available after its launch in June 2008 through Honda Siel dealerships. But Honda Civic Hybrid was priced at Rs 21.5 lakh, including a 104% import duty, was too expensive to create enough customers interest. Honda sold only 65 units of Honda Civic Hybrid in the first five months of its launch while the company was imported 300 units in June 2008.

Honda Siel Cars India finally decided to clear the stock of Honda Civic Hybrid by launching almost Rs 8-lakh discount in November. This discount offer triggered a mad rush for the Honda Civic Hybrid and its entire stock got cleaned out in just ten days. Honda Siel official said at that time the company might take decision to import more Honda Civic Hybrid for retail in the India by the end of this financial year. But now it is decided not to import more units of these cars for its dealerships in India.