Honda actively looking for partnerships in India

Honda Cars India is actively exploring partnerships in India as the Japanese automaker looks to expand scale, reduce costs and rebuild its position in the country’s passenger vehicle market, senior company executives said.

“Obviously, we are always open. At this moment, unfortunately, we do not have anything more to share,” said Takashi Nakajima, Honda Cars India president and CEO, when asked if Honda is looking for partnerships in India. “Strategy-wise, I think we can say that we are open and actively searching for friends.”

1. For the first time, Honda has acknowledged that it’s looking for alliances in India 
2. Potential partnership could improve manufacturing scale and localisation 

Why Honda needs a local partner 

However, Nakajima did not disclose whether the discussions involve technology-sharing agreements, cross-badging arrangements, powertrain sourcing or supply partnerships with other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The comments mark the first official confirmation from Honda management that the company is evaluating partnerships in India, months after Autocar reported that Honda Cars India is exploring alliances with local OEMs to strengthen its future India programme.

Potential partnerships could help Honda improve manufacturing scale and localisation while expanding its product portfolio in India. The company currently operates manufacturing facilities in Greater Noida and Tapukara in Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, Honda is reworking its India strategy after years of declining market share and a shrinking product line-up. Its current portfolio is limited to the Elevate SUV and the City and Amaze sedans, leaving the company absent from several high-volume segments, particularly the sub-4-metre SUV market.

Globally, Honda’s management recently acknowledged that the company’s traditional “global standard” product strategy had not fully matched Indian customer needs. Honda now considers India among its three core global markets alongside North America and Japan. The company plans to introduce India-focused models from 2028, targeting the sub-4-metre SUV and midsize SUV segments.

The company’s partnership push comes as global automakers increasingly rely on alliances to share costs and technologies. In India, collaborations such as Suzuki-Toyota, Renault-Nissan and Tata Motors-Stellantis have expanded in recent years as automakers seek scale and faster product development.

With inputs from Hormazd Sorabjee