Autoblog

Honda CEO expects Fit sales to increase fourfold to 200,000

Zach Bowman — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST

Automotive News reports Honda expects the popularity of its Fit subcompact to grow significantly over the next four years. President Takanobu Ito says he expects the model and its variations to sell around 200,000 units per year in North America by 2016. That's up from 64,177 units in 2011. The goal is part of a larger strategy to step up sales on this continent by 18 percent, and from the sounds of things, Ito expects the Fit to lead that charge. The tiny hatchback is slated for a redesign next year, and Honda will begin manufacturing the Fit in Mexico by 2014, which could help the automaker lower its MSRP or add content to attract more sales.

In addition, Honda has also made it clear buyers will be able to take home more bodystyles in the near future. While the automaker hasn't commented on exactly what that means, it has said we can expect to see a crossover spawned from the hatchback as well as a hybrid, but neither model has been publicly confirmed for North American consumption.

Honda CEO expects Fit sales to increase fourfold to 200,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Chinese car imported to North America built by... Honda?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Honda, Canada

The very first production car from China has made it to North America, though it's not what you might think. In an effort to move more of its production out of Japan, Honda has begun manufacturing Fit models in the People's Republic and importing them to Canada. There's no indication that the vehicles will make their way to the U.S. in the future, however. While there are plenty of automakers who operate plants in China, only a fraction of the vehicles built there are made for export. Last year, only three percent were sent outside of the country's borders.

Honda and other Japanese manufacturers have begun investigating production facilities outside of the U.S. to combat the rising Yen, and Honda says that the company will begin producing Fit models in Mexico for U.S. customers soon. According to The New York Times, Honda may be reticent to test the American waters with a Chinese-built vehicle for fear of risking the company's reputation for quality and reliability. That's despite the fact that the company says Chinese-built Fit models are held to the same production quality standards as any Honda vehicle built elsewhere in the world.

First Chinese car imported to North America built by... Honda? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda boosting Fit production to meet U.S. demand

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Honda

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Fit

Like most other manufacturers doing business in the U.S., Honda has been caught by surprise by the sudden shift in demand to smaller cars. When the Fit debuted in the U.S. two years ago, it proved more popular than expected then and allotments were increased for the upcoming redesigned 2009 models. However, the spike in fuel prices has caused a corresponding increase in demand for small fuel efficient cars like the Fit. Sales of the old Fit from January to May of this year jumped 64 percent compared to 2007. Honda has now decided to bump production from 60,000 to 80,000 cars for the 2009 model year. The 2009 Fit has been rated at 28/34 mpg city/highway and will start at $14,620. U.S. production is limited because Honda only has capacity to build 500,000 Fits a year right now for the entire world, and if we get more in the U.S., someone else has to get less elsewhere in the world.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Fit

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Honda boosting Fit production to meet U.S. demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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