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.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments highlight that Honda has historically lagged in diesel engine technology and availability, especially in Malaysia, where diesel options are limited and often associated with negative perceptions. Many argue diesel engines are more efficient and suitable for long-distance or high-torque needs, contrasting with Honda’s focus on petrol engines like i-VTEC. There’s skepticism about Honda’s delay in developing diesels for the Indian market, with some experts urging Honda to catch up to competitors like Hyundai and Mazda to stay relevant.