This Made-In-India Car Is Selling More In Japan Than Here
Generally, we assume that people across the globe think that Indian-made cars are inferior in quality compared to say those made in developed markets such as Japan, Europe and the US. However, you’d be surprised to know that people in Japan are loving the made-in-India Honda Elevate SUV. This mid-size SUV, which was launched in India on September 4, 2023, has managed to win the hearts of Japanese car buyers. Sold as the WR-V, the Honda Elevate in Japan has averaged more sales in the last three months than it has in India.
Honda Elevate Sales
As per the reports, the Honda Elevate in India has managed to sell 39,077 units over a span of ten months. This means that it has been averaging around 3,900 units per month. Now, despite being relatively new in the market, these figures highlight a steady demand for this SUV.
However, it is in Japan where the Elevate has managed to pick up sales. The Elevate/WR-V sales in the Japanese car market have seen sales soaring over 4,000 units per month. Both in May and June, the SUV managed to significantly outperform local expectations.
Elevate’s Journey in Japan
The Elevate is the first Honda model to be manufactured in India and sold in Japan. This marked a significant milestone for both Honda and Indian automotive manufacturing. According to Nikkei, a local Japanese publication, cited data from the Japan Automobile Importers’ Association.
It reported that the import of Honda cars in Japan has experienced a notable rise. In April, registrations reached 3,472 units, followed by 4,204 units in May. It added that by June this year, 4,319 units of the Honda WR-V/Elevate were registered. These numbers are more than twenty times the monthly average of 173 units observed in 2023.
Honda’s Successful Global Strategy
The Elevate is the second only made-in-India car to achieve substantial export success in Japan. This follows the Suzuki Baleno’s entry in 2015. The WR-V, which stands for Winsome Runabout Vehicle, is marketed under the global RV series of Honda. In Japan, the vehicle has been very well received.
Honda made the decision to rebrand the Elevate as the WR-V for the Japanese market. This was done by the Japanese carmaker to align this model with its global strategy to tailor products to regional preferences. Despite this rebranding, the SUV remains the same. It gets the exact same specifications as the one sold in India.
The Honda Elevate comes powered by the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine as the City sedan. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a CVT gearbox option. The engine delivers 121 PS of maximum power and 145 Nm of peak torque.
Honda Elevate Price Hike in India
Back in January of this year, Honda Elevate saw a major price hike. It was announced by the brand that, depending on the variant, the hike ranged between Rs 20,000 and Rs 58,000. The Elevate SUV is currently priced from Rs 11.79 lakh to Rs 16.67 lakh. Honda Elevate is offered in 4 variants in India, namely SV, V, VX, and ZX. As per the reports, Honda is also working the development of the electric version of the Elevate for India and global markets.