The Japanese are a long way behind Europe in diesel technology, but catching up has never been a big priority for them. Understandably so, since their major markets Japan, North America, China and ASEAN are petrol dominated, and they’re just bit part players in Europe.
But with high growth markets such as India embracing diesel in a big way, Japanese brands may lose out in the long term to rivals like Volkswagen. Market leader Maruti Suzuki buys oil burners from Fiat, and No.2 brand Hyundai has its own diesels, but companies like Honda have nothing in the bag at present. They realise this, and are doing something about it.
“The rapid dieselisation of the market has happened only in the last one year, as the price difference between diesel and petrol has gone up from Rs 10 to Rs 21. We had to prioritise our efforts to be a big brand with big volumes, which will come from Brio. We are developing a diesel engine in Japan to power City,” revealed Jnaneswar Sen, Senior VP Sales & Marketing at Honda Siel India.
A City Diesel won’t debut anytime soon, though. “It could take us more than two years,” Mr Sen added. Surely they’ll be hoping that not too much ground is lost in the process.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
squawk
on 
wolfsburg
on 
Arif
on 
Danny Tan (Member)
on 
ForteLover is a tool
on 
Don
on 
Jolo
on 
Paul Tan
on 
jalan54
on 
mr.q
on 
beatnik
on 
Yogi Manikam
on 
Unforgiven
on 
wllee
on 
Alpha
on 
city
on 
Diesel
on 
KS
on 
Wisdom
on 
Evoque
on 
Ash Menon
on 
peter32
on 
bot a butthurt TnH
on 
SoMeOnE
on 
4G63T DSM
on 
Dibo
on 
Wallstreet
on 
will-kill-for-exclusivity
on 
AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments broadly agree that diesel engines offer significant fuel efficiency and high torque, making them ideal for certain driving conditions and markets like Europe and India. Enthusiasts advocate for Honda to develop and introduce modern diesel engines, citing Hyundai’s advancements as a benchmark. Some express frustration over Honda’s lag in diesel technology, highlighting that the Indian and Malaysian markets are missing out. The stigma surrounding diesel, especially related to emissions and maintenance, remains a concern, but many believe that with technological improvements, diesel can be cleaner and more efficient. Overall, the sentiment favors Honda entering the diesel engine market to stay competitive, although some acknowledge the challenges and costs involved.