Key Highlights
- Honda Cars India President and CEO Takashi Nakajima has publicly confirmed the company is actively looking for partnerships in India.
- Honda Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe revealed two partner companies are in discussions for platform sharing.
- No names have been disclosed. Honda’s India market share has dropped from around 4 percent in FY2020 to nearly 1 percent in FY2026.Â
Honda Cars India President and CEO Takashi Nakajima confirmed this publicly at the launch of the new City facelift on May 22. It is the first time Honda management has officially acknowledged exploring alliances in India. This is a significant admission from a brand that has historically operated entirely on its own in India.
Why Honda needs partners
Honda’s India market share has fallen from roughly 4 percent in FY2020 to nearly 1 percent in FY2026. The company sold 4,069 cars in April 2026. It currently has just three models on sale: the Amaze, City, and Elevate. The Amaze is doing most of the heavy lifting. The Elevate managed 1,036 units in April. The City sold just 177 units.
In a market where competitors offer products across six to ten segments, Honda is covering three.
What kind of partnerships
Honda Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe was more specific at the company’s FY2026 results briefing. He said Honda is in discussions with two companies on platform sharing. “With partners, we can utilize their platforms to build new products,” he said. He did not name the companies.
Platform sharing would allow Honda to develop India-specific models faster and at lower cost. It would also help with localisation, which directly affects pricing. Honda has historically been criticised for pricing its cars higher than similarly positioned rivals.
Nissan has been speculated as one potential partner, given the broader Honda-Nissan alliance discussions that have been underway globally.
What comes next
Honda has confirmed six launches for FY2027 and a 10-plus model roadmap by 2030. New sub-4m and midsize SUVs are planned from 2028. An electric model is expected in the second half of this fiscal year.
The partnerships, if they materialise, will determine how quickly Honda can close the gap. One percent market share in the world’s third-largest car market is not where Honda should be. It knows that. Now it is doing something about it.
Also read: Six new Honda cars to launch in India by next year
