Koji Tanaka is the vice president of Honda Spiel Power Product Ltd India. With over 26 years of experience with Honda Motor Company Ltd, he has been involved with various innovative endeavors of Honda. Recently, Syakar Trading Company, the authorized distributor of Honda Power Product launched the new EP 1000 and EG 1000 series of generators in Nepal and Tanaka was in Kathmandu in this connection. These new generators are small, portable and lighter compared to the previous generators. With the 4 Stroke technology, these models have some unique features like lesser fuel consumption (0.54ltr./ hr), more handling capacity (Rat. 750 VA), environmental friendly and available with decompression mechanism. Tanaka explained more in an interview with New Business Age. Excerpts:

What do you find interesting about your visit to Nepal?

Its been about three years that I have been living in Delhi. This is the first time that I got an opportunity to visit Nepal. Nepal is well known in Japan. There are many Japanese tourists who come here and many Japanese are also living here. Our purpose of visit is to study the potentiality of the Nepali market for Honda products. As on date, we are exposing two new products – Honda EG 10000 model and Honda EP 1000 model generator. We would also like to study the Nepali market for various Honda products and find areas to expand with 50 % partnership with Syakar group.

What is the brand value of Honda products in the Nepali market?

Honda Company is well reputed throughout the world for its quality products. Without Syakar Trading, it would be difficult to provide quality sales and service. It is not possible to expand in the market without their support. New customers can be treated with better goods and Syakar can provide the premium service towards customers in Nepal.

How will the newly introduced Honda Spiel Power products affect the Nepali market? 

We are happy to find out that dealers from all over the country came to see the two new products. Comparatively, they are more fuel efficient. They consume upto 50% less fuel than the other former products. We are confident that we can expand the business of our products.

What level of competition do you feel is present with regard to the products from Honda?

Honda has been selling motorcycles in Nepal for a long time. The major competition is from Bajaj. With regard to power products, Honda is still leading the market very much with help from Syakar Group. In Honda Philosophy, we do not compare ourselves with the competitors but instead compare us with ourselves. The customers are required to get the full value for their money. Honda owns 40% share of Nepali power products market. There are 69 dealers (branches and showrooms) of Honda products throughout Nepal. Honda products are so efficient that they are suitable for even above the altitude of 4000 meters from the sea level.

What are the future plans of Honda Company?

We listen to customer’s voice. Upon receiving special requests, our R&D (Research and Development) department develops these products. We come up with newer products. When we see the potentiality of a product in the market, we further investigate into it with help from the people at R&D. After that, we check if there is a similar demand for such products in other regions as well. Only then, the new products will be developed.

Are you launching any product targeting the agriculture sector?

In 2010, we launched a more affordable 5 Hz power tiller in the market. But, currently it is not available in Nepal. With the decreasing number of farm workers, more tillers can be bought in order to do a more efficient agriculture. The process of mechanized agriculture is expanding. Many agricultural tools are also introduced through Honda’s factories in China. With the increasing demand from the consumers, lawn mowers, brush cutters, carriers etc can be introduced in Nepal. Honda’s motto is “Helping people get things done”. We do not limit ourselves to supplying generators only. When there is enough demand in the market, R&D can make new concept products.