Honda to stop making Civic in India due to poor sales

civic

Honda will no longer produce Civics in India due to falling sales. The decision to pull the plug on the sedan is backed by dismal sales of just over 50,000 units since its launch in 2006.

Honda India’s marketing and sales boss Jnaneswar Sen told The Hindu’s Business Line that sales of the Civic have been falling steadily over the years with smaller models such as the City eating into figures. The last Civic was sold in March. “We felt there was no point in investing in a segment that was declining over the last three years,” he added.

Honda, which is the fifth largest brand in India, isn’t the only company facing this situation. In the subcontinent, the Civic fights Toyota’s Corolla and Hyundai’s Elantra in what they call the lower D-segment. Sales in this class have dropped 29% to 19,239 units in 2012-13 over the previous year. It’s clear that India prefers smaller cars like the 25.8 km/l Honda Brio Amaze Diesel.

On another note, it has been reported that Honda will launch a new Jazz next year, before a fresh City sedan, SUV, and an MPV from the same platform roll out. The latter should not be confused with a new “Brio MPV” that we expect to see at this year’s Indonesia International Motor Show.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Matchbox on Apr 23, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    Meanwhile in bolehland…

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 62 Thumb down 6
    • agogo on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      the new civic is a failure.

      – failed in USA (emergency refresh)
      – failed in INDIA (poor sales)
      – failed in JAPAN (not even selling in local JDM)
      – failed in EUROPE (need euro-spec and euro-design to compete in a sophisticated market)

      A japanese car which japanese won’t even buy… TROLOLOLOL

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 150 Thumb down 89
      • frenzyaustin on Apr 24, 2013 at 12:33 am

        Hmmm…. when will the real JDM civic announce?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
      • frenzyaustin on Apr 24, 2013 at 12:37 am

        And by the way, this is a Japanese branded car, not Japanese car.
        Real Japanese car are like Toyota Alphard, Toyota Mark X, Japanese branded car are Vios, Avanza, Innova.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 9
      • only in bolehland new Civic is success…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 43 Thumb down 5
      • Hyundai De La Junk on Apr 24, 2013 at 9:01 am

        Wow very good comment !

        Civic is happen to be 14th best selling car in the world with 656,164 units sold in 2012.
        7th best selling compact car in the world 2012.

        5th Best selling car in USA 2012, 317,909 units were sold in 2012, that 44% increase compare to 2011, beating even Corolla & Elantra.

        That you called Civic not popular, hahahaha.. do your homeworks next round before open your mouth, funny is seen a lot of stewpits is suppoting your stewpit comment.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 42
        • excss on Apr 24, 2013 at 10:30 pm

          why are you not stating about kia and hyundai? they gain better popularity lol

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
          • yahooo on Apr 25, 2013 at 4:10 pm

            This article bout honda lah, thats why no mentioning kia or hyundai

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
        • carlies on Jun 25, 2013 at 8:55 pm

          C’mon. Compared with Corolla overall for the past few decades, it’s nothing. Please study your history, and remember do your homework as well.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • RIP

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 1
    • Since 2006? I believe they are trying to say that even the last model have bad sales….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • Mozilla Chrome on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    Civic is a middle class car. Most people in India can’t afford it while the rich only interested in luxury D segment cars (5 series, E-class etc).

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 52 Thumb down 3
    • Jimmy on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:30 pm

      Once you stay in heaven, you will only occasionally travel to the Earth for its beautiful attrations.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 32 Thumb down 0
  • Mozilla Chrome on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    Civic is a middle class car. Most people in India can’t afford it while the rich only interested in luxury E segment cars (5 series, E-class etc).

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 38 Thumb down 3
    • Jimmy on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:32 pm

      Maybe our Civic should try to be more generous.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
    • Visitor on Apr 23, 2013 at 11:07 pm

      Then, can we assume that one of the symptoms of wealth disparity is by looking at car segments? :)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    First Japan now India but I guess its predictable as the City has grown in size and people would either pick the cheaper City or the large Accord for space.

    Malaysia on the other hand will continue to soldier on with the Civic as there are still many on the road.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 1
  • poor sales because the new look not to good

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 64 Thumb down 51
  • It’s not bad news, it’s a matter of perspective. India’s roads are getting choked with thousands of new cars by the day. Come to think of it, it’s great that C-Segment sales have dropped, and A/B-Segment is up. The last thing India needs now are more big, long wheelbase cars (like in China). I wonder how India and China will cope with the traffic in the next 5 to 10 years…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 3
    • frenzyaustin on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:36 pm

      Cars like Smart Fortwo or Toyota iQ is the size of car they should looking for. As small as possible and cheap.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • TheEnd on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    sorry to hear that, but … HAHAHA!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 40
  • azamreeves on Apr 24, 2013 at 12:54 am

    hmmm.I wonder why now a lot of japanese co now produce a hideous looking car.
    Civic.Accord.Camry.Those shapes really put me off

    Can’t compare to those Audi & KIA.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 6
  • Dr Cooper on Apr 24, 2013 at 6:52 am

    Then bring and sell it here, lots middle income wannabe will buy..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 13
  • farghmee on Apr 24, 2013 at 9:15 am

    india suke diesel.
    honda amaze (brio sedan) ada diesel.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • unforgiven on Apr 24, 2013 at 9:38 am

    It’s still a dream for most to own a Honda, most are still stuck with p1,p2.

    How many can afford rm 130k car? Paying for 9 years? Come on, or 2k

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • In India u need a diesel to sell, they shud bring the euro civic wt the idtec instead to india to compete…not the ivtec civic

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • now honda in bolehland push hard for CRV which give good respone thus should consider to throw the Civic from the line…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • first sight not to see the car but the lady ..awesome

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Norman on Apr 25, 2013 at 11:29 am

    Fail in most countries but was hail by Malaysian even though there’s hell lot of problem occurred.
    Unless they can offer the turbo diesel Idsi 1.5 which churn out 120ps/250nm then better bye2 early.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mostly they opt to diesel car. no wonder honda unable to catch the market in india due to limited diesel car offered.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Sam Loo on May 01, 2013 at 9:31 pm

    Tata build in India for Indians

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Mr. AGOGO .. ever driven a Civic ??? It is one of the finest cars on this planet today and has ever been since it’s launch..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Samer on Jul 21, 2013 at 1:14 am

    Its because of its new look honda civic sales came down

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • S.Y.Narayanan on Nov 06, 2013 at 2:47 am

    Indians would prefer a car which runs with garbage as fuel. Thousands of Tonnes of garbage is daily burnt in Indian cities. Air pollution is no concern in India. Poeple in India jump signal at cross roads just to avoid burning fuel waiting for their turn. Expecting sale of cars like Honda Civic is a difficult proposition in a country like India.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
 

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