Date:03/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/03/stories/2006070303320200.htm

Back Honda Civic set to roll out off Noida plant

S. Muralidhar

Takeo Fukui to flag it off the line in a symbolic launch

A FILE PICTURE of Mr M. Takedagawa, President & CEO, HSCI, showcasing `Civic' at the Auto Expo 2006 in the Capital in January. - Ramesh Sharma

Chennai , July 2

When the first Honda Civic rolls out of the Greater Noida plant on July 4, it will be a historic moment in more ways than one for the Indian subsidiary.

Flagging it off the line and symbolically launching it into the Indian market will be Mr Takeo Fukui, CEO and President of Honda Motor Company, who is widely considered to be the father of the Civic, a car that has achieved iconic status with its popularity spanning over three decades.

In 1973, Mr Fukui was 28 when, as a junior engineer in Honda, he helped develop the first Civic subcompact car with a revolutionary CVCC (controlled vortex combustion chamber) engine.

This engine design and technology helped Honda design a car that met the stringent emission laws of that time in the US, even without the use of the expensive catalytic converter and unleaded fuel.

The Honda Civic subcompact was a huge success thereon and Mr Fukui was instrumental in enabling Honda to break into the US market in a big way.

With his strong roots in research and development, Mr Fukui has, since taking over as CEO in April 2003, directed Honda Motor into new areas of high technology, while being focused all the time at creating new, more environment friendly materials and technologies. He is famously quoted as saying that Honda wants to be known as the world's biggest contributor to the environment. Even as he is spearheading and promoting research into humanoids, hybrids, a new corporate jet and natural soy-based medicines to melt away blood clots, Mr Fukui is again focused on a subject that first got him accolades.

New diesel technology

Earlier this year, Honda's CEO had spoken about the company's plans to develop (and launch by 2009) a new diesel technology that will enable it to meet the most stringent American emission norms and still use diesel a third lesser compared to similar-sized engines of today.

With the rising price of fuel, the announcement has left Honda's rivals worried and customers with lighter wallets excited.

Diesel-driven vehicles are expected to gain popularity worldwide and with the Indian market showing clear signs of emulating this trend, a diesel from Honda Siel Cars India may not be far away.