Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) achieves a significant milestone as the made-in-India Elevate goes on sale in Japan as the new WR-V. It is noteworthy that it’s the first time an India-made model is being sold by the carmaker in its home market. This development goes on to underscore the fast-growing manufacturing capabilities of the Indian automotive industry, while even showcasing its global competitiveness.
30,000 Units of Honda Elevate Sold in Last 6 Months
Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Takuya Tsumura, President and CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “Launch of the ‘Made-in-India’ Elevate as WR-V in Japan is a proud moment for all of us. This reaffirms our manufacturing potential and growing importance of Honda Cars India in Honda’s global business strategies. The All-New Honda Elevate has been very well appreciated in the Indian market becoming our key pillar of business. We are confident that we will be able to replicate this success and satisfy our global customers with best quality and craftsmanship.”
Honda Elevate went on sale in India, its debut market, in September last year. With over 30,000 units sold in the last 6 months, the compact SUV has been a regular at outselling the Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun and MG Astor. That said, so far, it’s yet to get as popular as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Maruti Grand Vitara. Meanwhile, the made-in-India model made its Japan-debut in December 2023, with its commercial launch happening recently.
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Japan-Spec New Honda WR-V vs Elevate – What All’s Different?
An abbreviation for “Winsome Runabout Vehicle”, the WR-V has been a globally successful nameplate. Even though the Japan-spec new WR-V is based on the Indian Elevate, it features a handful of market-specific alterations. For instance, it features an all-black interior, unlike the brown and tan tones in the Indian model. Furthermore, leather accents on the dashboard are absent in the Japanese version. Notably, the JDM-spec WR-V offers 5 monotone color options, unlike the Indian version’s 7 monotone and 3 dual-tone choices.
Also, the Japan-spec Honda WR-V offers a smaller touchscreen infotainment unit. While the Indian version boasts a 10-inch panel, the JDM model has a smaller unit with physical controls. This unit seems to be the same as what we have seen on some of the last generation Honda cars in India. The Japanese variant even doesn’t get an electric sunroof and wireless charging. However, it does offer the Honda Sensing suite with ADAS features like –
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Watch Camera
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Collision Mitigation Brake
- Auto High Beam
- Lane Keep Assist
- Parking Sensors
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Author’s Note
Honda Elevate’s journey from its global debut in India last year to being exported to its home market is a significant milestone for the local automotive industry. This highlights not just India’s rising stature in the global automotive scene but also the strong manufacturing capabilities established here. The model’s launch in Honda’s home market demonstrates the expertise and efficiency of India’s automotive industry. It signals a notable shift, showcasing India’s ability to meet domestic demands while contributing significantly to the global supply chain. This development indicates a promising future, suggesting that India is set to play a critical role in the realm of automobile manufacturing.
