Honda has so
much platform flexibility that a senior executive is complaining that the company doesn't offer up enough light trucks.
Easy for the new winner of North American Truck Of The Year to say.
CEO of Honda North America Inc. Koichi Kondo said that Honda's flexible manufacturing processes allow for three vehicles to be built on the same line, meaning that sales can dictate which vehicle the company makes more of. As it stands, Kondo says, Honda isn't taking full advantage of that flexibility. Honda's sparse light truck lineup is Kondo's next big conquest, particularly since the U.S. falls about 50/50 in comparing car sales to those of light trucks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bernie @ Jan 17th 2006 10:53AM
That's interesting, considering the Ridgeline has been a hit with the critics but a disaster in the showrooms. Plus it's not a real truck like the upcoming Tacoma and the current Titan.
theSAWzall @ Jan 17th 2006 11:29AM
How about a Dakar inspired off-roader? I couldn't help but think of the '84-'88 CRX, while watching the Mitsubishis run the Dakar.
Ted K @ Jan 17th 2006 12:01PM
#1, you're just plain wrong. The Ridgeline does well at the dealer. Not as well as Honda had hoped, but off by a few percent (not a few hundred percent).
The Ridgeline is not supposed to be a "real" truck in the way that a rusted out F250 is. Honda made that abundently clear from day one. It's a vehicle that looks like a truck and is made for family usage like camping trips and conquering suburbia. I for one welcome this display of honesty, as the truck sales world is currently dominated by posers and bozos that will never use their mega-capacity truck to tow horse trailers or work at a construction site.
The Tacoma and Titan amplify the effect, as they're a case of posing and lameness coming from the manufacturer directly. No one in their right mind replaces an F250 or GM Heavy Duty with a japanese truck. Those things are built for high horsepower and sales numbers, not real-world work.
Rich @ Jan 17th 2006 12:45PM
Ted, seems like there's lots of "wrongness" to go around here. I considered all brands, bought a Titan for "real" truck work, and have never looked back. For the price and performance, it represented a real value.
FWIW, the Ridgeline has, per Honda statistics and commentary, a significant sales disappointment.
Travis @ Jan 17th 2006 1:06PM
re: 4 Ted -
You might want to clarify that statement that the Ridgeline has been a disappointment, according to this: http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2005174
the Ridgeline only sits on the lot for an average of 24 days, compared to the market average of 77. While that doesn't say anything about overal #s, it does show that the Ridgeline is selling at or above Honda's predictions.
Rich @ Jan 17th 2006 1:49PM
There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
I was referring to commentary and projected vs. actual sales numbers posited by Honda NAm Management. I figured they might know more than me about the success/failure of their vehicles.
FWIW....Honda still makes more $$ than most of us sitting around here posting....
Sheniferous @ Jan 17th 2006 3:06PM
Honda's sales goal from March 05 through February 06 was 50,000 units. They've sold about 45,000 units.
So how is this a disaster? With another month and a half to go, they're well on track to meet that goal.
laserwizard @ Jan 17th 2006 3:36PM
Just what America needs - another piece of Japanese trash impersonating a pickup truck. Honda is having enough problems trying to shove these "things" onto the American people. Now they want to add to their sales misery? Perhaps they could design a small one that has a cat litter box built in the pickup bed with an automatic lid to seal the odor from the environment.
Bring it on, Honda. You obviously aren't doing your homework on pickup trucks!
Meek @ Jan 17th 2006 3:51PM
laserwizard - Honda didn't do their homework? They must have done it while you weren't watching, because they aced both tests. North American Truck of the Year, and Motortrend Truck of the Year.
Stop throwing out what you think are cool phrases while ignoring the facts.
iQuack @ Jan 17th 2006 5:22PM
Those of us who bought Honda cars because they were the best cars for the money would be wise to consider the Ridgeline IF IT MET OUR NEEDS.
Comparing the Ridgeline to a some domestic lumber wagon is silly. People who need heavy-duty trucks should buy them.
Most pickup trucks I see nowadays are piloted by dudes who carry nothing in their truck beds nor is it likely they carry much in the front of their pants, either.
Ford and GM have successfully pandered to the truck-driving morons who want to look butch. I guess it also feels butch opening up a distressed cowhide wallet to buy gas for these "useful" trash-haulers.
All Honda did was recognize a need for pickup with more class; a pickup more suitable for non-commercial uses.
Jsmith @ Jan 17th 2006 5:44PM
Rusted out F250? My old man drives a 99 F250 Super Duty Power Stroke. Honest to god the thing still looks new, no rust. The truck has 160,000 miles on it and still runs like a champ. It also pulls his 10,000 pound offshore around like it nobodys business. We have pulled the boat all over the country to poker runs and the truck never skiped a beat. IT DOES REAL-WORLD WORK and thats why he bought it. Not one of my buddy or myself would ever buy a Ridge Line. It's a women's truck. Or maybe for those that are a little more in touch with there feminine side. Enjoy your cute truck ladies.
max @ Jan 17th 2006 8:23PM
"All Honda did was recognize a need for pickup with more class"
So why didn't they build one?!?!
far jr @ Jan 18th 2006 9:05PM
I shopped the Ridgeline but was dissapointed with the styling and the amount of vehicle you get for the money. I ended up in a Titan...the fuel economy stinks but man will it go!
Vince @ Jan 19th 2006 12:55PM
I've sold Honda for about 3 years now, after owning them for 15. The Ridgeline is actually quite scarse now. we only have a few left and are waiting for more! We did sit on them at first, but once the word got out, America took note and bought! The Ridgeline is a fantastic vehicle. and no, not a 'real' truck, but for those who need a truck without needing a 'truck' this is perfect! Kinda like SUV's....no one REALLY needs to offroad, that's why most don't! same thing with the Ridgeline.
Funny thing is...I managed at our Nissan store for almost a year before begging to come back to Honda. The frontier and titan are good trucks, compared to the domestics, but dont' hold a candle to the ridgeline. why? quality, ride...just the whole package. When our odyssey dies (it's a 00, so should be gone about, oh, 2016?) I'm definetely looking at the ridgeline...the PERFECT truck for most everyone needing one!