Honda Australia aims to regain its former glory with a solid plan to increase sales to 60,000 units per annum by 2015.
The Japanese company had two difficult years in 2012 and 2011 (35,812 and 30,107 sales respectively) thanks to natural disasters in Japan and Thailand as well as the high value of the Japanese Yen.
Nonetheless, with a new managing director and CEO plus a consistent supply of new product, the once mighty Honda aims to return to its former glory, which peaked in 2007 with around 60,000 sales.
Speaking to the media at the launch of the all-new Honda Accord in Auckland, Honda Australia’s director and GM of sales & marketing, Stephen Collins, noted that Honda has so far increased its sales 65 percent year on year compared to 2012.
“Since last year we are now consistently selling 4,000 units per month. This momentum I expect will continue into the current quarter.” Collins said.
Honda Australia plans to sell 45,000 units this year, helped by the overachieving Honda CRV (averaging 1,200 units per month), which has become the number one best selling petrol SUV for its segment, and the updated Civic. Those predicted figures would put Honda at a 4.1 percent marketshare in a 1.1 million unit market.
Collins insisted that Honda Australia’s recent bounce back was not a reason to become content.
“In no way we are being complacent, [Australia is] still a very, very strong marketplace. Our challenge is to keep improving and keep providing our customers with great products and value for moon.”
Noriyuki Takahura, new managing director and CEO of Honda Australia, admitted that Australia is one of the most competitive car markets in the world, but that Honda is finally seeing growth locally and globally.
“After challenges [in the] last few years, we are seeing growth around the world. Globally by 2016 our aim is to sell 6 million cars. This is 50 percent more than 2012 and shows the confidence we have in our new models.” Takahura said.
Honda Australia plans to double sales from a low base of 30,000 in 2011 to 60,000 by 2015. Along the way the company’s sales goals are: 2013 = 45,000, 2014 = 50,000 and 2015 = 60,000.
Honda Australia will expand its diesel lineup to include the popular CRV (which will be available with an automatic transmission) later this year with potential for other diesel models to follow.
More details on the new Honda Accord will be available tomorrow at midday after the embargo lifts.
