As previously speculated, Honda will boost U.S. Fit allotment when the all-new car launches in October. In the wake of $4 gas, U.S. Fit demand has skyrocketed with many customers finding themselves on a waitlist to buy the economical hatchback.
When the Fit first launched in the U.S., Honda planned for about 30,000 to 40,000 annual sales. Honda quickly realized demand was far stronger than expected and increased the Fit’s U.S. production to 60,000 units, which still didn’t meet demand.
Therefore, Honda is allotting 80,000 Fits for the U.S. market, starting when the new model hits the market in early October.
The biggest reason for the Fit deficit is strong worldwide demand. The Fit is only produced in Japan with a global capacity of 500,000 units. But Honda is currently looking for ways to increase Fit capacity. “We compete with the rest of the world for Fit production,” John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, told Automotive News. “We’re continuing to try to increase capacity wherever we can from around the world to bring it in.”
