Honda reducing Odyssey, Pilot production, increasing Accord production
10/13/2008, 4:05 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Honda announced today that it plans to further reduce production of the Odyssey minivan and new-for-2008 Pilot SUV by 22,000 units between November and March in response to diminished demand. Both vehicles are built in Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama, plant, located near Talladega. Honda announced smaller production cuts in July.
Despite relatively strong sales for the Japanese automaker – sales are down barely 1 percent thus far in 2008 – Honda is experiencing the same reduced demand for fuel-thirsty vehicles that are plaguing rivals across the globe. Pilot sales, however, are down 17 percent so far this calendar year and Odyssey sales are down 14 percent. The new Pilot, which has been heavily criticized internally, is certainly not meeting Honda’s initial sales expectations.
Honda will increase production of four-cylinder Accords at its Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant by mid-2009, reducing reliance on imported Accords. Some four-cylinder Accords are imported from a Honda facility in Japan. Honda will also begin building V6 Accords in Alabama, utilizing the capacity freed up by Odyssey and Pilot production cuts.
10/13, 4:43 PM
posted by:
Don
makes sense, unlike BMW who makes a new SUV model every month
10/13, 5:58 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
The sooner they reduce production of these atrocities,the better.
10/13, 6:20 PM
posted by:
cereal
Thank you.
The two models I often find myself cringing at.
10/13, 6:54 PM
posted by:
elviososa
thank god….we don’t need to see so many USB plugs running on the street!
10/13, 7:31 PM
posted by:
ktulu
they should b making nuuthing but Civics & Fits.
10/13, 7:36 PM
posted by:
sj79
why would Honda be raising Accord production when sales were down 30%+ last month? does Honda still think they are immune to the downturn just because they have a reputation for reliability? This makes no sense. Honda needs to be cutting productiona across the board.
10/13, 7:47 PM
posted by:
autonut
It is easier to convert pilot/ odyssey production line to Accord (same platform) then to Civic. The factory that manufactured Accords will be converted to Civic duty.
10/13, 8:13 PM
posted by:
Get Real
Stupid Honda for offering a minivan with a trasmission on par with Chrysler.
10/13, 11:08 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Yup, they sure overshot the runway where the Pilot is concerned. In aviation speak that’s a missed approach. By the way, don’t forget about the HondaJet. Give it 25 years and Cessna, Gulfstream and Bombardier will be the next North American big three looking over their shoulders.
10/14, 12:14 AM
posted by:
VWgrouP
The funny thing about the new Pilot is that it is WAY smaller than the older model…makes no sense to me.
I believe it is the right decision to cut the production on those two models. If it means making way for the demand of the Accord..
10/14, 8:37 AM
posted by:
aitala
Will someone please tell them they need to make more Accord V6 coupes in red with manual transmissions? Heh…
Eric
10/14, 10:14 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Why would Honda be raising Accord production when sales were down 30%+ last month?
Because of the rep for reliability and the resale along with the style of the new Accord it will always sell I think they are bumping the 4 cyl not the 6 which makes perfect sense. When the economy gets back on its feet the Pilot and Odyssey will be back as well. Honda is very smart to do this. The new Fit looks great by the way
I doubt the new Pilot is smaller than the last Pilot but I will look it up I saw two side by side and the new one is definitely wider
I went to the Acura dealer yesterday to look at the new TL and TSX. Both cars are stunning! I noticed that the new TL in standard form doesn’t have the push button start. I think that only comes with the tech package. The dealer didn’t have a SH AWD (that I saw)
I wouldn’t get a standard TL I would just get the TSX loaded. The standard TL was just under 36k w/ tech pkge 39k and I know the SH AWD is 42k I’m guessing with tech pkge. I should have looked at the TSX prices but I will do that when I go back
I saw the new RL and it’s a great car but the TL has more style and for 8k less. Acura needs to put more HP in it so it’s 330 hp or something BC I can’t see the dealer being able to up sell a customer to the RL if they came in for a TL
Also I like that Acura is taking a page out of Nissans book with the white w/ black leather interior, which is the color combo I seek
10/14, 11:11 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
I really dont like the redesigned TL… The old model looked better.