In an effort to boost production, Honda is currently considering shifting some Fit production to the U.S. Despite the market downturn, the Fit is still a strong seller for Honda, with many dealers unable to get any examples of the hot-selling hatch from the Japanese automaker.
The Fit is currently only produced in Japan, limiting how many units Honda can pump into the U.S. market. Therefore Honda is mulling shifting some production to the U.S.
“We have about 19 days worth of supply, which is much too low,” Dan Bonawitz, Honda’s vice president of corporate planning and logistics, told MarketWatch. “We can’t fill all our dealer orders.”
No word on where Honda would produce the Fit in the U.S., but its East Liberty, Ohio plant is definitely a candidate.
Although Honda’s October sales slipped by 28 percent in the U.S., Fit sales were up 28 percent to 6,478 units.
11/24, 1:50 PM
posted by:
mShu7
I drove an ‘08 Fit over the summer. For what it is, I’d definitely drive it if I were in the market for such a car. I like it over any of the other subcompacts out there. I also like the changes they made to the ‘09 model.
11/24, 1:53 PM
posted by:
tzu13
All I can say: do it, Honda!
11/24, 1:56 PM
posted by:
thertrain
Honda is showing how a nimble auto maker can navigate an very bad market. Sure they are losing money like everyone else, but they have products that are still in demand and will lean on them to weather the current climate.
11/24, 2:40 PM
posted by:
beemerdude
Uh… LLN, I think we all know by now that Honda is a “Japanese automaker.” And that BMW is a “German automaker.” And Hyudai is a “Korean automaker.”
No need to make these statements in every single story!!
11/24, 3:27 PM
posted by:
HoosierHero
It helps their wordcount beemerdude. It’s been light on Camaro stories lately and there isn’t any other news in the whole automotive world to talk about.
11/24, 3:41 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
I vote for the Alliston Ontario plant!
11/24, 4:24 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I don’t know what it is about the Fit. They may be nice, but they are so overpriced. The ones I’ve seen are selling for more than the Civic. They are slower and really don’t get much better mileage. The new ones are going to be worse than the previous generation because (just like every other car) they have gotten larger.
Why keep making cars bigger with each new generation? I don’t get it.
11/24, 8:22 PM
posted by:
somedude
@raineman: cause american fat asses get bigger every year
11/24, 9:35 PM
posted by:
cereal
Just wait until they’re trying to get rid of some models for an update or something, and see those prices go doooooooooown.
-eat your cereal
11/25, 12:13 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
The Japs should build their cars in Canada. It just makes more economical sense. Canadians have free universal health care which would save thousands on health costs per worker, also Canadian workmanship is of higher quality. An example is the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. My friends Matrix built in Canada, had it for almost 5 years, beats the crap out of it and runs perfect, no problems. My girlfriends Vibe which is the exact same car as the Matrix, only its built in California is a total lemon. Doors don’t close properly, loose brake calipers, electrical problems, leaks when it rains and skweaks and rattles over every little bump. I only buy Japanese cars, and the only ones I will buy are the ones built in Japan or built in Canada. Living in LA, I need a car I can trust to be reliable.