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Honda’s car division has kicked off a nationwide test programme for its forthcoming electric SUV, the 0 α ahead of market launch in late 2027
Honda is making big moves in India on two fronts – expanding manufacturing capacity and accelerating its electric vehicle plans. On the industrial domain, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India is set to consolidate its Rajasthan operations with a sizeable investment at the Tapukara facility. At the same time, Honda’s car division has kicked off a nationwide test programme for its forthcoming electric SUV, the 0 α.
Starting with the two-wheeler business, HMSI will add a third production line at its Tapukara plant in Rajasthan. The new line is slated to begin operations in 2028 and will contribute 6,70,000 units of annual capacity. Once it goes live, the Tapukara facility’s total production capability will rise to 2.01 million units per year. The company will invest around Rs. 1,500 crore in the expansion and also acquire around 73,700 square metres of additional land for the project.
The Rajasthan expansion is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs and further strengthen the state’s manufacturing ecosystem. The new production line will mainly appeal to commuter motorcycles and scooters which remain among the largest contributors to volume in the domestic two-wheeler market.
Also Read: Honda Begins Pan-India Road Testing For Upcoming 0 α Electric SUV
Tapukara has been operational since 2011 and has seen several capacity upgrades over the years. Its current annual output stands at about 1.3 million units and efficiency gains are expected to take that number to around 1.34 million units by FY2026 even before the next line is added. HMSI currently operates four plants in India with a total annual capacity of 6.25 million units.
With the Tapukara expansion and another new line planned at its Vithalapur plant in Gujarat from 2027, Honda looks to lift overall Indian production capacity to nearly 8 million units by FY2028. On the PV front, Honda Cars India has now started public road verification trials for the 0 α electric SUV which is expected to arrive in India next year. The prototype testing programme was flagged off from Tapukara, Rajasthan a few days ago.
Also Read: 10 Upcoming Hybrid Cars In India – Hyundai To Honda
The EV was first shown globally as the Honda 0 α concept at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. Honda says the test vehicle will be driven across multiple regions of the country to examine how it performs in varied real-world conditions. Engineers will assess ride quality, handling, efficiency, durability and reliability while also checking how the SUV copes with extreme summer heat, monsoon weather and compatibility with different charging networks.
The model is part of Honda’s next-gen EV strategy and will also be developed for global markets including Japan as well as India will act as a production hub. In terms of design and packaging, the Honda 0 α follows the company’s “Thin, Light and Wise” philosophy. The SUV has a clean upright stance, a wide bonnet, large wheel arches, tall pillars, ORVM-mounted indicators and dual-tone wheels.
Compared to the earlier concept, the test prototype appears to have a wider grille section, revised stacked lighting and a more production-ready bumper treatment. Honda is also expected to offer the EV with two battery pack options with a claimed driving range of more than 500 km on a single charge and it will be heavily localised.
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