Honda Two-wheelers Dealerships Commence Operations Amid Lockdown

The bikemaker will resume production at its four major plants in India by 1st week of June 

• Honda's Karnataka manufacturing facility will resume production 25th May onwards, others to follow. 
• Over 60 percent of Honda dealerships and workshops across India have started operations. 
• The factory and dealerships will adhere to government-mandated sanitisation and safe distancing guidelines.

As the government relaxes COVID-19 lockdown rules, Honda has announced that its dealerships and workshops across India will commence operations. It will even start manufacturing two-wheelers from its Narsapura plant in Karnataka from 25th May onwards. The other two manufacturing facilities in Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan) and Vithalapur (Gujarat) will restart by the first week of June. Honda says almost all of its suppliers across India have received the necessary approvals to restart production. 

Some dealerships and workshops have already resumed work from May 4. According to Honda, all its dealerships and workshops will strictly adhere to the government-mandated safety and health protocols which include workspace sanitation and social distancing. Besides, Honda will continue to support its dealerships by various means. The same applies to its factories as well. 

Also read: Honda Provides Rs 1,700 Crores Coronavirus Relief To Its Dealer Partners

Honda plans to start a new way of working to keep its employees and customers safe from COVID-19. It has issued a Dealership Operations Resumption Manual to all its authorised dealerships and employees have been asked to strictly follow its guidelines. In addition, Honda will continue to financially help its dealership. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director for Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, has said that Honda will bear an additional 19 days’ interest for the BS4 inventory of its dealer partners. 

Also read: Honda Activa 125, Activa 6G, And SP125 BS6 Receive A Price Hike

Honda's manufacturing facilities will be taking safety precautions like temperature screening of workers, non-biometric entry and exit, mandatory face masks, regular sanitization and disinfection of common surfaces and vehicles carrying materials, work from home for pregnant ladies, no movement of individuals from hotspot zones, ample availability of hand wash / sanitizer, usage and disposal of PPE’s. Apart from training Honda's permanent and contractual employees will receive COVID-19 health insurance cover.

While Honda resumes operations, other bikemakers like Hero MotoCorp and Royal Enfield have restarted production at their respective plants. 

Image courtesy Sree Guru Honda