Chandigarh, Sept 14: Anticipating 15 per cent growth in automobile sales, Honda Siel Cars India on Friday said it aims to sell 70,000 cars during this fiscal as compared to 60,000 cars sold last year in India.

"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 Siel Cars India Ltd, national head (sales) Arvind Bhatnagar said on Friday.

To increase its penetration in Indian market, Honda would also open 18 more outlets in several parts of the country.

"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," he said.

The company has plans to open outlets in Shimla, Mandi, Jammu and Kashmir, Panipat, Ambala etc.

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

The company is also expanding its production capacity at its plant in Uttar Pradesh in order to cater to growing market for cars.

"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," he said.