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P54
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http://hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/-26
09/20/2012
・In 2010, I set Honda's "Direction for the next 10 years" which is "to provide good products to our customers with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions." Since then, we have been devoting our full efforts in leveraging Honda's unique technologies, ideas and ingenuity to create attractive products that please our customers who purchased such products. In addition,manufacturer of personal mobility products, we have been proactively
executing va( as ) rio(a)us initiatives which contribute to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.
In 2011, we were forced to deal with the unprecedented appreciation of the yen and the temporary suspension of production around the world and the shortage of electricity due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the flooding in Thailand. However, thanks to the cooperation of our suppliers, business partners, and the efforts of Honda associates, we achieved a speedy recovery and as of today we are ready to make a counterattack.
Since its foundation, Honda has been delivering various products with a passion to use technology to make people's lives more convenient and enjoyable. Our products have been pleasing customers all around the world by making their work easier, increasing their mobility and adding more fun and convenience to theira lives. In the previous fiscal year (ended March 31, 2012), Honda shared the joys with more than 23.9 million customers around the world including: 15 million motorcycle customers, 5.8 million power products customers and 3.1 million automobile customers.
In FY2017 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2017) -- the last fiscal year of our next 3-year mid-term plan – we will strive to further expand the joys by meeting more than 39 million new customers around the world combining motorcycle, power products and automobile customers.
【Motorcycle business】
By leveraging the advantages of being the world's top motorcycle manufacturer, Honda will provide joys, fun and convenience to more customers. In FY2017 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2017), Honda will strive to achieve worldwide motorcycle sales of more than 25 million units.
The motorcycle business is the origin of Honda, and its history tracks back to the production and sales of auxiliary bicycle engines when the main means of transportation in people's daily lives was a bicycle. In 1949, Honda introduced its first mass-production motorcycle product, the Dream D-type. From there, Honda has been continuously introducing a number of useful products including the Super Cub Series, which became the global best seller. Meanwhile, Honda had a global viewpoint from a very early stage and took on challenges for technological innovations. Participation in the Isle of Man TT Race since 1959 was one such challenge. Honda has experienced various difficulties in the past including the Asian currency crisis, hyperinflation and the rise in manufacturers of counterfeit products. However, even in the midst of such difficult times, Honda sustained its business with tenacity taking necessary actions such as strengthening local operations and global sourcing. As a result, Honda grew to become a motorcycle brand loved by customers around the world, producing a wide range of products in 29 production plants in 21 countries around the world and delivering the joys to more than 15 million customers annually. The know-how and established brand name earned through the early globalization of motorcycle business are contributing largely to Honda's global operations of power products and automobile businesses.
Using further growth in emerging markets, where continuous expansion is expected, as a driving force, Honda will continue to be proactive in evolving its motorcycle business. In India, Honda will strive to further grow its motorcycle business through introduction of highly-competitive models in the 100cc segment, which is the largest segment in the motorcycle market in India, and through the start of production at the third plant in India which is scheduled to be operational in the first half of 2013. In Indonesia and Vietnam, Honda will lead the market by offering an attractive product lineup including scooter models, which have been extremely popular in these markets. In China and Thailand, Honda will continue evolving strong business in each market, while continuing the growth of the operation as the base for the global supply of parts and finished motorcycle products for other regions. In Brazil, where Honda has been growing its business along with the growth of the marketplace since the start of production in 1976, Honda will strengthen sales of medium and large-sized motorcycle models in addition to maintaining strong sales of key products such as the CG125 and CG150. Honda will continue leveraging its global production and sourcing capabilities, further advance its brand and technological strengths and create more joys by offering a broader product lineup to our customers.
Honda will begin entering into new growth markets in Africa and South America. Further advancing Honda's approach to local production – "start small, grow big" -- Honda will put down its roots in small markets in an early stage of their growth and provide local customers with strategic models which take advantage of Honda's global resources.
In the area of large-sized motorcycles, following the New Mid Series, Honda will introduce a series of large-sized models with a new concept, which enable customers to more easily enjoy daily commuting and weekend touring. This stylish new series will be equipped with a "torqueful" engine, low seat height which increases the ease of handling, and a comfortable ride with high stability in maneuvering. The production of the first model in this new series will begin in February 2013 at Kumamoto Factory, Honda's global motorcycle production operation, and sales will begin from North America.
With the best and brightest gathered from Europe, South America, the U.S. and Japan, together as one "works" team, Honda is getting ready for participation in the Dakar Rally in January 2013, for the first time in 24 years. The prototype machine, which is being developed based on the CRF450X, has been demonstrating high fighting performance on rough road surfaces such as the desert and rocky hills in various tests on engine performance, endurance and long-distance riding. In October 2012, this machine will be put in actual racing in the Morocco Rally to further refine its fighting capability. Honda will strive to win in the Dakar Rally from the first year of returning to the Rally.
Since its market introduction in 1987, the RC30(VFR750R) super sports bike has been loved by a large number of fans. With a goal to create a new history, passionate Honda engineers have gotten together and have begun development of a new super sports bike to which new technologies from MotoGP machines will be applied.
【Power Products business】
・Honda power products business began in 1953 with the introduction of an engine for agricultural equipment, which embodied Honda's passion to make working people happy through its technologies. Since then, Honda has doggedly pursued human-friendly and environmentally-responsible technologies and the delivery of useful "power" for every situation of people's life stages including generators, tillers, lawn mowers, snow throwers and outboard engines. Additionally, Honda will evolvenew product development
approach whichinvolves electro( a )nologies. At the same time, Honda will put more focus on a cogeneration unit, which Honda positions as the core of energy creation technologies of the future. In FY2017 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2017), Honda will strive to achieve worldwide power products sales of more than 8 million units and bring smiles to the faces of more customers.
・In order to fulfill customer needs, which increased especially after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Honda developed new household gas engine cogeneration unit which operates autonomously even dur(a )g a power outage. Combined with a hot water supply and heating unit, this new cogeneration unit is scheduled to go on sale this fall through gas companies as a new lineup of the ECOWILL brand.
・Moreover, Honda began development of a household SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) cogeneration unit in collaboration with NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD. Striving to achieve the world's top-level power generation efficiency for a SOFC-powered cogeneration unit, Honda will begin verification of the system using a demonstration test house featuring the Honda Smart Home System (HSHS).
・As a part of its effort to further reduce CO2 emissions in people's everyday lives including mobility, Honda has been participating in the E-KIZUNA Project run by the city of Saitama. Honda is currently conducting demonstration testing of HSHS using two HSHS-equipped houses. The construction of a third HSHS-equipped house is scheduled to be completed before the end of FY 2014 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2014). When the third house becomes operational, Honda will work together with Toshiba Corporation to link all three houses and conduct demonstration testing of energy management within the community, contributing also to the city of Saitama's plans to become an environmentally-responsible futuristic city. Honda will continue making progress toward the market introduction in 2015 of the Honda Smart Home System, which proposes the optimal energy management for individual households.
・In addition to continuing to provide engine-equipped products, Honda will take on new challenges to expand and increase the level of other new offerings that only Honda can realize or where Honda technologies can be useful to people.
【Automobile business】
・In the area of automobile business, in order for Honda to quickly address the needs of customers around the world, Honda will implement global operation reform, which will enable Honda to realize the best vehicle specifications with competitive costs. Three key initiatives which will be taken as a part of this global operation reform are: 1) concurrent development by all six regions, 2) adoption of locally optimized design drawings and 3) improvement of production efficiency.
・This global operation reform has been implemented for the development of the all-new Fit (Jazz) series which will be introduced starting in 2013. Within two years after the initial market introduction of the all-new Fit in 2013, Honda will globally roll-out Fit (Jazz), City and a new small SUV model, each with different individual characteristics.
・As in the case of advanced nations, Honda will respond quickly to various market needs in rapidly-growing emerging markets while adapting each model to the industrial infrastructures of each country and region. Toward this end, Honda will pursue "concurrent development by all six regions", where each region participates in product development concurrently and at the same level from the early stage of the development. Introducing the same model in all regions within a short period of time enables Honda to secure a certain level of production volume on a global basis from an early stage of the product introduction, and the cost of parts sourcing can be significantly reduced by producing a large volume of parts all at once in the most competitive region.
・Meanwhile, in order to create products that directly respond to the voice of local customers while utilizing the local sourcing and production infrastructure to the maximum extent, Honda will adopt locally optimized design drawings. Honda is fully committed to maximize the joy of customers in each region.
・Honda will further improve production efficiency by dedicating new plants to the production of small-sized vehicles, such as Yorii Plant （SAITAMA prefecture）, which will become operational in July 2013, and a new plant in Mexico, which will become operational in spring 2014.
・Honda will fulfill the unique customer needs of each region while expanding economies of scale in global sourcing and production.
・In Japan, Honda will strive to sustain its growth through advancement of the production system and capability and also through enhancement of the small vehicle lineup including mini-vehicles.
・In the area of production, starting in April of this year, development, procurement and quality control teams came together at Suzuka Factory to establish a speedy and highly efficient development and production system. While producing mostly mini-vehicles, Suzuka Factory is making progress in establishing a self-sufficient production system.
・The Yorii and Sayama Plants of Saitama Factory, will each have unique features and strengthen their own area of specialty.
・Yorii Plant, which will lead the global production operations of Honda, will be the world's top-class energy-saving factory which employs a number of innovative technologies. Through the introduction of new production technologies, Yorii Plant will establish a highly-efficient production structure, which will be dedicated to the centralized production of small-sized vehicles such as the all-new Fit Series.
・At Sayama Plant, a portion of two existing production lines will be consolidated to further advance the plant's multi-model production capability, so that the plant will establish a highly-efficient production system which is capable of producing more than 10 different models on the same line.
・In the area of sales, the N BOX, whose overwhelmingly smart packaging has been well received by customers, achieved the remarkable accomplishment of being the industry's top-selling car in the mini-vehicle category for five consecutive months in Japan.
・Honda will further strengthen the product lineup through the introduction of six new mini-vehicle models in Japan by the end of 2015, starting with the "N-ONE" model in Novermber 2012, the third model in the N series. In the small car category, the all-new Fit Series, which was mentioned earlier, will be introduced to the market. With overwhelming product strength, Honda will dramatically increase its presence in mature markets.
・In North America, in addition to the already popular Civic, CR-V and Odyssey, all-new Accord went on sale this month. Honda believes that the all-new Accord with a completely new engine and transmission which dramatically improved driving performance, occupant comfort and quality feeling will be well accepted by a broad range of customers. In addition to strengthening sales of these core models, Honda will begin producing an all-new Fit and a derivative model at the new plant in Mexico that will become operational in spring 2014. Honda will further solidify its North American business through enhancement of the product lineup and competiveness.
・In China, while strengthening local development capability, Honda will introduce products that put more focus on Chinese customers. For the Honda brand, the introduction of more than 10 new and full-model-change models is scheduled during the 3-year period from 2013 to 2015. In addition, Honda will continue introducing locally-developed original models to strengthen the product lineup in China. Moreover, amid introduction of the strictest fuel economy regulations in the world, Honda will further strengthen its competitiveness by proactively introducing environmental technologies such as hybrid technologies, where Honda has a competitive-edge.
・In Asia, in order to compete in and win in highly-competitive low-price markets and fulfill the diverse needs of customers, in addition to the all-new Fit Series, Honda will add sedan-type and utility-type models utilizing the platform of the BRIO, Honda's strategic model for Asia. Honda will strive to increase the sales and further growth in Asia by strengthening its mutually complementary structure in the region especially among Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.
・In India, an all-new diesel engine will be adopted sequentially to new models starting in FY2014 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2014). In addition to the high fuel efficiency, the cost competitiveness of the all-new diesel engine will be enhanced through local sourcing and local production to make new diesel models more affordable for customers.
・With these initiatives, Honda will increase its automobile sales in mature markets namely Japan, the U.S. and Europe from approximately 2.06 million units in FY2012 (fiscal year ended March 31, 2012) to more than 3 million units in FY2017 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2017). With proactive business expansion in emerging markets, in FY2017 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2017), Honda will strive to achieve automobile sales of more than 3 million units in emerging markets, doubling the sales of FY2012 (fiscal year ended March 31, 2012). By solidifying sales in advanced counties and growing dramatically in emerging nations, Honda will strive to achieve worldwide automobile sale of more than 6 million units in FY2017(fiscal year ending March 31, 2017).
・Honda will further advance its "Earth Dreams Technology," a next generation series of powertrain technologies which greatly enhance both driving performance and fuel efficiency at a high level through the improvement of internal combustion components including the engine, along with the transmission, and also through advancement of electromotive technologies applied to motors and other components.
・For gasoline-powered vehicles, which remain the most widely used in the world, Honda will continue developing internal combustion engines which will increase fuel economy to the ultimate level. Honda will adopt the newly-developed engine series first to the all-new 2013 Accord, and will continue to adopt it sequentially to other models.
・As for hybrid vehicles, Honda will adopt three different systems with unique individual characteristics depending on the model in order to fulfill the needs of more customers.
・As for the lightweight and compact one-motor hybrid system, EV driving range will be expanded through the improvement of motor output and battery performance as well as the combination with a newly-developed transmission. Moreover, Honda will strive to achieve No. 1 fuel economy among all hybrid vehicles by improving the efficiency of regenerative energy recovery.
・In the area of mid-size vehicles, following the market introduction of the all-new Accord-based plug-in hybrid model in the U.S. in early 2013, a hybrid model equipped with a two-motor hybrid system will be added to the lineup. After the U.S. introduction, these models will be introduced in Japan and other regions. The plug-in hybrid model which will go on sale in Japan will be equipped with a compact inverter capable of external power supply, which was developed by applying Honda's generator technologies.
・Concerning the pursuit of driving performance, a highly-efficient and high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), which realizes both a high level of sporty handling and fuel economy, will be applied to the NSX, Acura RLX Sport Hybrid model and the successor model of Legend which will be introduced in Japan in 2014. Honda will measure up to the expectations of customers eagerly waiting these models by highlighting the presence of these hybrid vehicles with unrivaled driving performance and fuel economy.
・As for battery EVs, this summer in Japan and the U.S., Honda began lease sales of Fit EV, which realizes the world's best electric energy consumption performance. In line with changes in the energy situation, Honda will continue its efforts to develop EV models with which Honda will strive to realize further market penetration of EVs.
・As for micromini-vehicles, which Honda considers to be one of the directions battery EVs can take, Honda will further advance the concept of a "micro commuter," which was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. While incorporating ideas and technologies unique to Honda, the only automaker which has both motorcycle and automobile technologies, Honda is making progress in the development of new personal mobility products. Honda is planning to begin demonstration testing of such products in Japan in 2013.
・ As for fuel cell electric vehicles, which Honda considers to be the ultimate environmentally-responsible vehicle, and therefore has been leading the industry in R&D and sales, Honda will launch an all-new fuel cell electric model sequentially in Japan, the U.S. and Europe starting in 2015. This new fuel cell vehicle will showcase further technological advancement and significant cost reduction that Honda has accomplished.
・Honda will proactively introduce dream-inspiring and edgy products as well as exciting and fun products.
・In addition to the NSX, the next-generation super sports model, Honda will launch a new open-top sports car with strong vehicles dynamics which will go on sale in Japan 2014, as one of the six new mini-vehicle models.
・In Europe, in addition to the introduction of the NSX, Honda will develop an all-new Civic Type-R to fulfill customer expectations. With the application of technologies which will be cultivated through participation in WTCC (FIA World Touring Car Championship) starting this year, the all-new Civic Type-R is being developed with the goal of becoming the fastest front-wheel-drive vehicle on the Nurburgring race course. Honda aims to introduce this model to the market in 2015.
・In addition to a sports hybrid type of Acura's luxury flagship sedan, the all-new Acura RLX lineup will include a model equipped with Precision All Wheel Steer, the world's first technology which realizes excellent handling performance
. The world premiere of the all-new RLX, which features uniquely Acura exterior and interior designs as well as the most advanced safety and environmental technologies, will be exhibited at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November of this year. All Acura models are scheduled to be renewed within the next three years. Acura will continue to strengthen its brand in North America and China, and expand into other areas of the world.
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xBeastx
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HOLD YOUR HORSES! I'm am über confused as to when exactly the 3rd generation Fit/Jazz will go on sale in North America.
This seems to be optimistic:
| This global operation reform has been implemented for the development of the all-new Fit (Jazz) series which will be introduced starting in 2013. |
However, then this:
| ...and a new plant in Mexico, which will become operational in spring 2014 |
ALSO, what is this supposed to mean?
| Within two years after the initial market introduction of the all-new Fit in 2013, Honda will globally roll-out Fit (Jazz). |
And yay for a new small SUV.
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RolledaNsx
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Japan will get the Fit/Jazz first (Fall 2013) then North America in Spring/Summer 2014 and the rest of the world 2015/2016.
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WongKN
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RolledaNsx wrote:
Japan will get the Fit/Jazz first (Fall 2013) then North America in Spring/Summer 2014 and the rest of the world 2015/2016.
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You see RolledaNsx why I continued to believe you. You were right - that Honda will announce a 'joint venture', just that you were wrong about with who. Again, having experienced 'insider info' a number of times before, I do know a bit about your situation.
The ROTW debut of the 3G Jazz on 2015 will be way too late. The current generation Jazz has lost it competitiveness in ASEAN and really needs a drastic upgrade to survive. With 2015 another 3 years away, the current Jazz will have died a long time ago by then. Perhaps Honda might pull another CR-Z MMC trick and launch the new 3G Fit/Jazz early over here in ASEAN. I hope Honda is going to be smarter nowadays.
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CarPhreakD
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Beyond the sports models, did you guys catch this?
"・Concerning the pursuit of driving performance, a highly-efficient and high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), which realizes both a high level of sporty handling and fuel economy, will be applied to the NSX, Acura RLX Sport Hybrid model and the successor model of Legend which will be introduced in Japan in 2014. Honda will measure up to the expectations of customers eagerly waiting these models by highlighting the presence of these hybrid vehicles with unrivaled driving performance and fuel economy."
So are we expecting to see another model slotted above the RLX, or are they simply calling the RLX the Legend in Japan? Maybe it's just late at night and I'm not interpreting this right.
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P54
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RLX will be Honda Legend elsewhere. RLX Sport Hybrid is different and not the successor to Legend. Standard RLX will kind of be successor to Legend. Or??
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danielgr
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CarPhreakD wrote:
Beyond the sports models, did you guys catch this?
"・Concerning the pursuit of driving performance, a highly-efficient and high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), which realizes both a high level of sporty handling and fuel economy, will be applied to the NSX, Acura RLX Sport Hybrid model and the successor model of Legend which will be introduced in Japan in 2014. Honda will measure up to the expectations of customers eagerly waiting these models by highlighting the presence of these hybrid vehicles with unrivaled driving performance and fuel economy."
So are we expecting to see another model slotted above the RLX, or are they simply calling the RLX the Legend in Japan? Maybe it's just late at night and I'm not interpreting this right.
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That said, if it was to be I don't think it'd "slot above the RLX", but instead simply being "a different kind of halo car", one better suited to the Japanese market. I still wonder what will happen with the "Accord" brand in Japan. Will it dissapear? Will the "Inspire" one go away instead? It seems that the new US Accord will come to Japan, at least in hybrid trims:
| In the area of mid-size vehicles, following the market introduction of the all-new Accord-based plug-in hybrid model in the U.S. in early 2013, a hybrid model equipped with a two-motor hybrid system will be added to the lineup. After the U.S. introduction, these models will be introduced in Japan and other regions. |
Last edited by danielgr on 09-21-2012 00:53
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danielgr
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P54 wrote:
RLX will be Honda Legend elsewhere. RLX Sport Hybrid is different and not the successor to Legend. Standard RLX will kind of be successor to Legend. Or??
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Last edited by danielgr on 09-21-2012 00:53
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DrWhiner
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What I read from it:
- i) The all-new Fit (Jazz) series will be introduced starting in 2013.
- ii) Within two years after the initial market introduction of the all-new Fit in 2013, Honda will globally roll-out a) Fit (Jazz), b) City and c) a new small SUV model, each with different individual characteristics.
Dedicates new plants to the production of small-sized vehicles, such as Yorii Plant [I'm shocked]
[Suzuka - mainly mini-vehicles; Yorii - small-sized vehicles; Sayama - up to 10 different models; so what's the future of the current Yokkaichi plant?]
Sales target of 3m auto in developed markets, 3m auto in emerging markets
[Introduction of Accord(-based) hybrid in Japan will take palce after its U.S. introduction]
Acura RLX Sport Hybrid model and the successor model of Legend which will be introduced in Japan in 2014 [there will be a Honda Legend, in addition to RLX?]
All Acura models are scheduled to be renewed within the next three years. |
KNWong: - what I understand is: by 2015, the global roll-out of all three models: Fit(Jazz), City and new small SUv will be completed.
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DrWhiner
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From Reuters: Honda Motor Co (7267.T: Quote) aims to nearly double its global car sales to at least 6 million vehicles in four years, [...]
"This is quite a big figure for us and there were debates over whether we should make it public, but unless we set a goal and work to figure out how we can achieve it, our business operations won't be specific," he told a news conference. [...]
All five Honda factories in China have resumed operations, but are not operating at full capacity as parts suppliers have also been impacted ... http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/21/us-honda-ceo-idUSBRE88K05120120921
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danielgr
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DrWhiner wrote:
KNWong: - what I understand is: by 2015, the global roll-out of all three models: Fit(Jazz), City and new small SUv will be completed.
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As with most of this speech, this should come as great news for every Honda enthusiast, if only there were in a receptive mood...
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danielgr
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Well, for a summary that was rather long, here are my personal highliths list:
New global sales targets:
- Honda aims to sell 6 million cars by March 2017 (3 million in developped countries, another 3 in developping ones). That's up from about 4-4.5million this year.
- Honda aims to 40million sales, up from 24million this year.
Motorbikes:
- Growth focused on developping countries.
- Developed ones get new "large-size series" (probably 1000cc or more) to complement just released "mid-size series" (750cc).
- Honda will bring the spiritual successor to the RC-30 (VFR750R), their first trully race-inspired machine since I can't remember...
Powerproducts
- Important focus for disaster stroke Japan and green Honda. Will release new cogeneration unit + their first fuel cell household unit (currently Panasonic is the only household maker in Japan).
Automobile
- Confirmation of the "concurrent development in all 6 regions" and "optimized design for each of them).
- Model Arrival dates for (sorted by date):
* Production Acura RLX premiere : LA autoshow Nov2012
* N-one minicar in Japan : Nov2012
* Fit/Jazz (starting 2013)
* City and new small SUV (within 2 years everywhere).
* North America to get not only the Fit, but also a "derivated model" by 2014 (would guess City or SUV, but why not saying it? could it be a Fit wagon??).
* Beat open-minicar successor in Japan: 2014
* Legend successor in Japan (to feature eSH-AWD): 2014
* Euro Civic TypeR (aiming to be fastest front-wheel drive vehicle on the Ring): 2015
* All new FCX (aiming to lead in both R&D and sales) for JP, US, and Europe : 2015
* All Acura models scheduled to be renewed within the next three years.
-New models without specific launch date:
- Asia will get sedan and utility versions of the Brio platform
- Japan will get 2 more N-platform models (on top of the N-one and opencar models).
- US Accord Hybrid/Plug-in availability will expand to Japan and other markets.
- In China, 10 new and FMC Honda models to be released in 3 years (2013-2015) + locally developped ones & hybrids.
- Technological announcements, powertrain targets:
* Euro Civic Type R will aim at being fastest FWD car around the ring. Based on WTCC tech (which to me sounds like it being super/turbocharged)
* New 1-motor hybrid will boost increased regenerative energy recovery, motor-battery performance and newly-developped transmission to deliver increased EV range AND world's No.1 fuel economy among all hybrid vehicles.
* FuelCell tech will show "significant cost reduction"
And that's about it, hope it's helpfull for some that don't feel like reading Honda's messy summary.
Last edited by danielgr on 09-21-2012 01:54
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WongKN
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A sign of the times eh ? Now Honda is targetting the sell the same number of cars in developing as developed. Granted the developed countries will probably get the larger cars, which may not necessarily give the same amount of profit margin as the smaller cars from the developing countries. In the very near future, it is highly likely Honda will sell more cars in developing countries than in developed countries.
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TurkMan71
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"Honda will strive to achieve"
I saw the above a few times as a disclaimer....
:-(
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Nick GravesX
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danielgr wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
KNWong: - what I understand is: by 2015, the global roll-out of all three models: Fit(Jazz), City and new small SUv will be completed.
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As with most of this speech, this should come as great news for every Honda enthusiast, if only there were in a receptive mood...
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That's the point; by co-ordinating early development, they can roll-out regional variants earlier in the plank cycle. It is a big change for Honda and should indeed be welcomed by Honda enthusiasts; increased regional specialisation will help fine-tune the range and allow specialist versions to appear less glacially than the new CUV.
It won't be welcomed by car enthusiasts though; a new TLX/RLX for Japan, a micro-Beat for Jp and Civic Type-R after Hell freezes over really will be seen as far too little, far too late.
Honda just wasn't able to change direction fast enough, unfortunately.
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WongKN
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I personally think Honda can help things A LOT if they will just simply put the 'new' CR-Z MMC engine into the Fit/Jazz and call it a Fit/Jazz Si/SiR. That 136ps engine is only acceptable in the CR-Z because it unfortunately represents the only sporty model in Honda's entire line-up now and for 3 years to come. But on a Fit/Jazz, it becomes a very nice 'hot hatch'. Simple things but can be very effective.
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Potenza
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WongKN wrote:
You were right - that Honda will announce a 'joint venture', just that you were wrong about with who.
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P54
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Potenza wrote:
WongKN wrote:
You were right - that Honda will announce a 'joint venture', just that you were wrong about with who.
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Maybe not with car companies, however household co-generation units?
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DrWhiner
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Toshiba Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced Toshiba’s participation in the demonstration testing of the smart home system that Honda has been conducting in the city of Saitama. The two companies will jointly conduct demonstration testing with the goal of pursuing the optimization of energy generation and usage. http://world.honda.com/news/2012/c120921Toshiba-Honda-Collaborate/index.html
Not an alliance w/ another automaker :)
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xBeastx
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RolledaNsx wrote:
Japan will get the Fit/Jazz first (Fall 2013) then North America in Spring/Summer 2014 and the rest of the world 2015/2016.
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Hmm...I'm going to be buying a car around that time. Should I get a great deal on a 2013 Fit or wait for the 2014 Fit? Considering what Honda did to the Accord, I think the couple month wait and an extra thousand or two would be well worth it, especially since ED engine and CVT would probably hit the 40 MPG mark.
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danielgr
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(Edit: Just forgot an important piece relating HondaLynk).
Well, for a summary that was rather long, here are my personal highliths list:
New global sales targets:
- Honda aims to sell 6 million cars by March 2017 (3 million in developped countries, another 3 in developping ones). That's up from about 4-4.5million this year.
- Honda aims to 40million sales, up from 24million this year.
Motorbikes:
- Growth focused on developping countries.
- Developed ones get new "large-size series" (probably 1000cc or more) to complement just released "mid-size series" (750cc).
- Honda will bring the spiritual successor to the RC-30 (VFR750R), their first trully race-inspired machine since I can't remember...
Powerproducts
- Important focus for disaster stroke Japan and green Honda. Will release new cogeneration unit + their first fuel cell household unit (currently Panasonic is the only household maker in Japan).
Automobile
- Confirmation of the "concurrent development in all 6 regions" and "optimized design for each of them).
- Model Arrival dates for (sorted by date):
* Production Acura RLX premiere : LA autoshow Nov2012
* N-one minicar in Japan : Nov2012
* Fit/Jazz (starting 2013)
* City and new small SUV (within 2 years everywhere).
* North America to get not only the Fit, but also a "derivated model" by 2014 (would guess City or SUV, but why not saying it? could it be a Fit wagon??).
* Beat open-minicar successor in Japan: 2014
* Legend successor in Japan (to feature eSH-AWD): 2014
* Euro Civic TypeR (aiming to be fastest front-wheel drive vehicle on the Ring): 2015
* All new FCX (aiming to lead in both R&D and sales) for JP, US, and Europe : 2015
* All Acura models scheduled to be renewed within the next three years.
-New models without specific launch date:
- Asia will get sedan and utility versions of the Brio platform
- Japan will get 2 more N-platform models (on top of the N-one and opencar models).
- US Accord Hybrid/Plug-in availability will expand to Japan and other markets.
- In China, 10 new and FMC Honda models to be released in 3 years (2013-2015) + locally developped ones & hybrids.
- Technological announcements, powertrain targets:
* Euro Civic Type R will aim at being fastest FWD car around the ring. Based on WTCC tech (which to me sounds like it being super/turbocharged)
* New 1-motor hybrid will boost increased regenerative energy recovery, motor-battery performance and newly-developped transmission to deliver increased EV range AND world's No.1 fuel economy among all hybrid vehicles.
* FuelCell tech will show "significant cost reduction"
* HondaLynk to keep evolving with availability set to reach more than 60 countries around the world before March 31, 2014.
And that's about it, hope it's helpfull for some that don't feel like reading Honda's messy summary.
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danielgr
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Nick Graves wrote:
danielgr wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
KNWong: - what I understand is: by 2015, the global roll-out of all three models: Fit(Jazz), City and new small SUv will be completed.
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As with most of this speech, this should come as great news for every Honda enthusiast, if only there were in a receptive mood...
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That's the point; by co-ordinating early development, they can roll-out regional variants earlier in the plank cycle. It is a big change for Honda and should indeed be welcomed by Honda enthusiasts; increased regional specialisation will help fine-tune the range and allow specialist versions to appear less glacially than the new CUV.
It won't be welcomed by car enthusiasts though; a new TLX/RLX for Japan, a micro-Beat for Jp and Civic Type-R after Hell freezes over really will be seen as far too little, far too late.
Honda just wasn't able to change direction fast enough, unfortunately.
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"Honda enthusiasts" around the world will obviously welcome a move that will bring the cars they want faster and better suited to their respective markets. None of the examples you cited had anything to do with what I was talking about. The point is for example that Europe (where you live) has needed to wait a year to get a CR-V, and even more for a Fit. From now on that time should be shorter.
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CVCC1974
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danielgr wrote:
* North America to get not only the Fit, but also a "derivated model" by 2014 (would guess City or SUV, but why not saying it? could it be a Fit wagon??).
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Yes I caught that too. Ito could just say the "small SUV", but he didn't say that on this particular North American market section. So even if the car will end up to be "Fit SUV" it may be totally different than the European "small SUV" he mentioned earlier.
Also what I take from the word "derivative model" is that it has be 'closer' to the main car (Fit), rather than just a shared-platform model. Same thing like Accord Coupe, Civic Coupe or Fit Shuttle are derivatives of their main models (unlike CR-V to Civic or Pilot to Accord). Probably the AHM R&D is also developing a derivative model of the Fit exclusively for North American market (to be called "Fit-something") but I still have a hard time to guess what it is (I'd love to see a Fit AWD wagon actually, it doesn't have to be an SUV-style).
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P54
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WongKN wrote:
I personally think Honda can help things A LOT if they will just simply put the 'new' CR-Z MMC engine into the Fit/Jazz and call it a Fit/Jazz Si/SiR. That 136ps engine is only acceptable in the CR-Z because it unfortunately represents the only sporty model in Honda's entire line-up now and for 3 years to come. But on a Fit/Jazz, it becomes a very nice 'hot hatch'. Simple things but can be very effective.
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The new ED engine for Fit is already announced to have 128 HP, that is more engine HP than the new CR-Z. Who knows, by the time it comes out it might be more as the 2.4L was told to have 181 HP and got 185 and 189. So maybe 130 for the new Fit?
The new Fit for USA would maybe benefit with a 1.8L variant if they take that into consideration designing the new model.
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Nick GravesX
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danielgr wrote:
Nick Graves wrote:
danielgr wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
KNWong: - what I understand is: by 2015, the global roll-out of all three models: Fit(Jazz), City and new small SUv will be completed.
|
As with most of this speech, this should come as great news for every Honda enthusiast, if only there were in a receptive mood...
|
That's the point; by co-ordinating early development, they can roll-out regional variants earlier in the plank cycle. It is a big change for Honda and should indeed be welcomed by Honda enthusiasts; increased regional specialisation will help fine-tune the range and allow specialist versions to appear less glacially than the new CUV.
It won't be welcomed by car enthusiasts though; a new TLX/RLX for Japan, a micro-Beat for Jp and Civic Type-R after Hell freezes over really will be seen as far too little, far too late.
Honda just wasn't able to change direction fast enough, unfortunately.
|
"Honda enthusiasts" around the world will obviously welcome a move that will bring the cars they want faster and better suited to their respective markets. None of the examples you cited had anything to do with what I was talking about. The point is for example that Europe (where you live) has needed to wait a year to get a CR-V, and even more for a Fit. From now on that time should be shorter.
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That was what the first sentence in my response implied!
And what exactly are does the sentence (where you live) confer? That I don't know where I live? It reads very strange.
The point being missed, deliberately or otherwise, is that once being a performance enthusiast didn't automatically disqualify one from being a Honda enthusiast. In the eyes of some, one now apparently must choose...
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MalcolmR
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.
I empathise with your frustration and annoyance, Nick.
It would be so much easier if people took responsibility for their statements.
Malcolm
:)
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danielgr
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Nick Graves wrote:
danielgr wrote:
Nick Graves wrote:
danielgr wrote:
DrWhiner wrote:
KNWong: - what I understand is: by 2015, the global roll-out of all three models: Fit(Jazz), City and new small SUv will be completed.
|
As with most of this speech, this should come as great news for every Honda enthusiast, if only there were in a receptive mood...
|
That's the point; by co-ordinating early development, they can roll-out regional variants earlier in the plank cycle. It is a big change for Honda and should indeed be welcomed by Honda enthusiasts; increased regional specialisation will help fine-tune the range and allow specialist versions to appear less glacially than the new CUV.
It won't be welcomed by car enthusiasts though; a new TLX/RLX for Japan, a micro-Beat for Jp and Civic Type-R after Hell freezes over really will be seen as far too little, far too late.
Honda just wasn't able to change direction fast enough, unfortunately.
|
"Honda enthusiasts" around the world will obviously welcome a move that will bring the cars they want faster and better suited to their respective markets. None of the examples you cited had anything to do with what I was talking about. The point is for example that Europe (where you live) has needed to wait a year to get a CR-V, and even more for a Fit. From now on that time should be shorter.
|
That was what the first sentence in my response implied!
And what exactly are does the sentence (where you live) confer? That I don't know where I live? It reads very strange.
The point being missed, deliberately or otherwise, is that once being a performance enthusiast didn't automatically disqualify one from being a Honda enthusiast. In the eyes of some, one now apparently must choose...
|
I don't know why you take it badly.
1st) Was just trying to bring the conversation back to the topic. I never mentioned performance enthusiasts, nor did I intend to bring back a debate that has been polluting every post for a while around here. If you feel like beating the dead horse again imho you'd better add your bit to threads such as Shawn's, leave others wanting to discuss other matters in peace. I guess there is a reason why Jeff choose to bring the European PR to the front page (with the CTR news) while the actual "big-news" (Ito's full global remarks, or even NA-related remarks as far as TOV goes) have to be discussed in the forum shadows. I'm fine with it, let us be.
2nd) The European mention had no crazy intentions. Most people on TOV are from North America, so I just mentioned it for those that don't know. I have read many times the frustration of Europeans needing to wait for long for FMCs other regions get much earlier, both here and elsewhere. As I said, I was simply bringing the conversation back on track, and did it with an example of what I was talking about.
Sorry you took it bad.
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danielgr
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Just in case there is something for whom the summary was not enough, here is the actual video of the presentation in English:
http://world.honda.com/news/2012/c120921CEO-Speech/video01/index.html
It's 1h long, but says a lot of the company Honda is striving to become (for good or bad).
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danielgr
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Just listened to the Q&A session after the speech and found a rather interesting question I have not seen reported elsewhere.
A journalist simply asked Ito three points:
1) How well do you think the Beat replacement will do in the market? sales?
2) There is quite a stretch between the Beat and the NSX, can you say something about the ground in between?
3) You talked about the development of a CTR for Europe, are there any chances such car would be marketed as well elsewhere? Japan ?
Summarizing his answers:
1) From previous experience we know that sales numbers won't turn any heads. Yet we are willing to do it because we simply feel there should be such a car, and I'm hoping that customers will prove me right.
2) Indeed there is a big gap, in which for example should fit the European CR-Z
3) We are hearing the voices calling for such a car in other markets as well, and we will definitely listen to them. However, our first and utmost priority right now remains focused on the three models I mentioned today, and in the mid-ground the European CTR.
Just thought it may be of interest for some. And please don't be rough on me this time, I'm just the messenger.
PS: I listened to the session in Japanese, so I may have missed some stuff. Those aren't intended to be word by word translations, but simply writing in my own words what I understood from his answers. For those that want to try in English is the before last question, so nearly the end.
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WongKN
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Daniel,
This is a wonderful catch and incredible information. Why would anyone want to go rough on you ? Rightfully they should be grateful to you, as I am. BTW, I have quickly put your post into 'Honda Fan', to share with more people.
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