Honda Motor Company ne announce kiya apni first battery electric car India ke liye — 0 Series a (Zero Series Alpha), jo 2027 me launch ke liye schedule hai. Saath hi, company ne bataya ki wo batteries ke liye ek regional sourcing strategy follow karenge, So that direct China imports pe dependency kam ho. India me ye model Chinese manufacturer CATL ki batteries use karega, jo unki Indonesia facility se aayengi.
Honda ke President aur CEO Toshihiro Mibe ne Japan Mobility Show 2025 mein reporters ko bataya ki. "Honda 0 Series alpha ke liye battery, bhale hi hum CATL ki technology use kar rahe hain, but jo cells Indonesia mein ban rahe hain, woh India mein import karke use kiye jaayenge. Toh basically, aap keh sakte ho ki ye batteries Indonesia se aa rahi hain,”
The global electric vehicle sector is significantly dependent on China for its battery cell production
Maruti Suzuki is one of the manufacturers facing difficulties because of the lack of domestic battery cell production.
India ki electric vehicle industry abhi bhi kaafi dependent hai China ke battery cells par, jo ki supply chain ke liye kaafi risk create karta hai, especially jab dono countries ke relations thode tense hain. Is wajah se, automakers ab alternative sources dhund rahe hain, especially recent problems ke baad jab China se rare earth magnets aur advanced battery technologies secure karna tough ho gaya.
"India ki government EVs ko zyada localise karne ke liye incentive scheme la rahi hai, jisme domestic cell production ko promote kiya ja raha hai. Lekin abhi tak ye initiatives EV supply chain pe koi bada impact nahi dikh raha hain. Recently, India ki biggest car company, Maruti Suzuki, ne kaha ki unki battery strategy ko biggest challenge face karna pad raha hai, because yahan domestic cell manufacturing kaafi limited hai, aur ye ek big hurdle ban raha hai."
"Yahan pe limited domestic capacity aur bade-scale cell producers ka na hona, automakers ko other regional options, jaise Indonesia, Thailand, aur South Korea, jaise country par dekhne pe majboor kar raha hai, so that wo battery supply secure kar saken bina directly China se import ke risk ke."
Honda's strategy for sourcing EV batteries
It has implemented a plan to procure battery packs locally
"Honda ab globally ek regional battery sourcing strategy follow kar raha hai, jisme partnerships aur joint ventures involve hain, beacause batteries are big in size aur unko long distance transport karna tough hota hai. Jaise ki North America mein, company ka LG Energy Solution ke saath ek joint venture hai – L-H Battery Company – aur Ohio mein ek battery plant bhi ban raha hai."
“Mibe ne kaha, ‘Hum har region ke liye batteries ka best way choose karenge. North America ke liye, humara LG ke saath joint venture hai, toh wahan se batteries li jayengi. China ke liye, Chinese market CATL se hi batteries lega. Aur Japan mein jo vehicles banenge, unke liye batteries Japan mein hi procure karke EVs mein lagayi jayengi.’”
Strategic plan for Honda India launches
By 2030, Honda plans to launch 10 new models, including electric and hybrid vehicles.
Waise, Honda India me kaafi aggressive product plan kar raha hai – decade ke end tak 10 new models launch karne ka plan hain. BEVs ke saath-saath, company ab hybrid technology pe bhi zyada focus karegi. Abhi ke liye, Honda India me apne 3 models me se sirf ek pe hybrid technology offer karti hai.
Hum hybrid mein bhi zyada focus karne wale hain. India ke market ke liye hum apna hybrid product range bhi expand karenge. Toh basically, chahe wo gasoline engine ho, hybrid ho ya battery EVs, hum India ke customers ko attractive products dena chahte hain, unhone bataya.
Image Courtesy: Carbuzz