Chandigarh: Anticipating 15 per cent growth in auto sales, Honda Siel Cars India stated that it aspires to sell 70,000 cars in the existing fiscal (2007) as against 60,000 cars sold last year in Indian market.

Arvind Bhatnagar, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd, national head (sales) said, “We are expecting 15 per cent growth, matching with the industry growth, in respect of sales in Indian market by selling 70,000 cars this year.”

Honda would also open 18 more sales outlets in various parts of the country in order to step-up its access in the Indian market.

"Presently, we have 62 outlets at 43 locations and we would like to increase the strength to 80 by this year. We would be opening our outlets where we do not have any presence at all," Mr. Bhatnagar said.

The company is also looking to open outlets in Shimla, Mandi, Jammu and Kashmir, Panipat, Ambala etc.

Considering Punjab as strong market Honda proposed to sell 6500 cars in the existing year as compared to 4300 units sold last year in the state. The company owns 30 per cent market share in c-segment of cars in Punjab, and it has thus far sold 21121 cars since its entry into Punjab market.

To cater to rising market for cars, the company also plans to expand its manufacturing capacity at its plant in Uttar Pradesh.

He added, “Currently, we have production capacity of 50,000 cars and we are planning to raise it to 1 lakh cars by the end of 2007.”