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  • Honda To Launch New EV Brand In China Next Year

    Honda To Launch New EV Brand In China Next Year

    Japan’s Honda Motor will launch a new electric vehicle brand in China next year, it said on Wednesday, and will only launch battery-electric, hydrogen fuel-cell or petrol-electric hybrid vehicles therefrom 2030. Known for its fuel-efficient internal combustion engines, Honda sold over 1.6 million vehicles in China last year. The new brand will be called “e:N Series” and it plans to roll out 10 models with partners GAC and Dongfeng Motor over the next five years, Honda said.

    Its two joint ventures, GAC-Honda and Dongfeng-Honda, plan to build new EV-only assembly plants that are expected to begin production in 2024. The planned new models will use a new vehicle operating system and are being developed based on an auto product platform designed for electric vehicles.

    Honda will set up an e:N Series section in all its existing retail stores. Over time, Honda also plans to set up dedicated e:N Series retail stores but did not provide detail on that plan. Honda has roughly 1,200 Honda brand stores currently.

    China’s sales for electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are expected to reach three million this year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Tuesday.

    Honda will continue to sell existing gasoline-powered models even after 2030, it said.

  • Honda Targets Annual Sales Of 70,000 Prologue Electric Vehicles In U.S. From 2024

    Honda Targets Annual Sales Of 70,000 Prologue Electric Vehicles In U.S. From 2024

    Honda Motor Co’s U.S. unit said on Monday it is targeting initial annual sales of 70,000 for its planned electric Prologue sport utility vehicle when it goes to market in 2024. Honda plans to add additional electric vehicle models as it aims to have sold a total of 500,000 electric vehicles in the United States by 2030, and to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicles sales in North America by 2040. It comes as President Joe Biden signed an executive order last month setting a target to make half of all new passenger vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles.

    The Honda Prologue is being co-developed with General Motors Co and is based on the Detroit automaker’s Ultium platform, a modular platform and battery system. Honda and GM are also co-developing an electric Acura-brand SUV. GM will assemble the Prologue and the Acura SUV — both of which will go on sale in 2024 — but Honda has not disclosed which plant will build the vehicles or the name or volume targets for the Acura.

    Following the GM-built models, Honda will introduce a series of electrified vehicles through 2030 based on the Honda-developed e-Architecture, a new EV platform led by Honda, and will assemble electric vehicles at Honda plants in North America.

    Dave Gardner, executive vice president of national operations at American Honda Motor Co, said in a statement Honda will initially focus Prologue sales on California and other states like Texas and Florida. He said Honda plans to add hybrid-electric systems to more U.S. models. “Our strategy is focused on introducing a higher percentage of hybrids in core models in the near term, making a committed effort to achieve higher volume leading to the introduction of our Honda Prologue,” Gardner said.

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  • Honda Swings To Q1 Operating Profit

    Honda Swings To Q1 Operating Profit

    Honda Motor Co swung on Wednesday to a first-quarter operating profit of 243.21 billion yen ($2.23 billion) from a 113.7 billion loss a year ago as car sales recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Operating profit at Japan’s No.2 carmaker by sales for the three months ended June 30 was double the average profit estimate of 119.2 billion yen based on nine analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.

    Honda raised its full-year forecast by 18% and now expects an operating profit of 780 billion yen in the current financial year, having previously forecast in May a 660 billion yen operating profit.

    The new forecast is higher than an average forecast of a 764 billion yen operating profit from 19 analysts polled by Refinitiv.

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  • Honda Gold Wing Tour First Batch Sold Out In India In 24 Hours

    Honda Gold Wing Tour First Batch Sold Out In India In 24 Hours

    Honda 2Wheelers India launched the 2021 Gold Wing Tour in the country last month and the first batch of the motorcycle has been sold out. The manufacturer’s flagship offering flew off the shelves as soon as bookings opened with all units sold in just one day. Honda though has not disclosed the number of units that were allocated for India under the first batch. It’s unclear at the moment when the company plans to introduce the second batch of the tourer.

    Power on the new Honda Gold Wing Tour comes from the BS6-compliant 1833cc, in-line six-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that develops 124.7 bhp at 5500 rpm and 170 Nm of peak torque at 4500 rpm. The motorcycle gets two transmission choices – a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Colour options on the motorcycle include the Pearl Glare White as well as Gunmetal Black Metallic with Matte Morion Black.

    The feature list is comprehensive on the 2021 Honda Gold Wing Tour that is aimed to maximize comfort on the road. It gets A 7-inch TFT-screen with gyrocompass navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, upgraded audio and speaker system, and Smart Key operation. The tourer is also loaded on the safety front and packs Hill Start Assist, ABS, Honda Selectable Torque Control, Dual Combined Brake System, and Idling Stop. There are four riding modes – Tour, Sport, Rain and Econ.

    The new Honda Gold Wing Tour also received visual upgrades over the older model. This includes sharper styling, all-LED lighting, and new alloys. The bike also gets a revised pillion seat for added comfort and a bigger top box. The Gold Wing is underpinned by a die-cast, aluminum frame, and a double-wishbone front suspension along with a preload-adjustable pro-link mono-shock at the rear. Braking duties are performed by twin discs at the front and a single disc at the rear with Combined Braking System.

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  • Honda Cars India To Hike Prices Across Range From August 2021

    Honda Cars India To Hike Prices Across Range From August 2021

    Honda Cars India plans to increase the prices of its entire model range effective from August 2021. As reported by PTI, the Japanese automaker has cited an increase in input cost as the primary reason for the price hike. The carmaker looks to offset the impact of a sharp increase in the procurement cost of various essential commodities like steel and precious metals. However, the company hasn’t revealed the quantum of the hike, which is expected to vary from model to model.

    This will be the third price hike this year as the company had earlier increased prices in April because of rising input costs. In January 2021, prices of Honda cars were hiked as the company cited a rise in input costs to hike prices. The carmaker has four models in its product line-up for the Indian market, including the City and the Amaze sedan.

    Rajesh Goel, Senior VP and Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India today PTI, “The prices for raw materials like steel, aluminium and precious metals have increased sharply and many of them are at an all-time high, impacting our input costs significantly.”

    He further added that the carmaker is presently working out the details of the price hike which could be implemented from next month.

    “Our endeavour is to keep the cost of acquisition lower, so we are currently deliberating on how much of the additional cost we can absorb and how much will be inevitable to be passed on to our customers. The revised prices will be implemented from next month,” Goel noted.

    With input costs going up, Maruti Suzuki India last month announced that it would increase prices of its entire product portfolio in the second quarter of the financial year 2022. The Indo-Japanese auto major has already effected a price increase in April 2021.

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  • Honda’s First All-Electric SUV To Be Called Prologue

    Honda’s First All-Electric SUV To Be Called Prologue

    Honda today announced that its first new mass-market battery-electric vehicle will be called Prologue, signaling a new electrified era that will lead to the company’s vision for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales in North America by 2040. An all-new SUV coming to market in early 2024, the battery-electric Honda Prologue will be, according to the company ‘highly competitive’ but specific details about the new vehicle will be released over the coming months.

    In addition to the Honda Prologue, the company will introduce an all-electric Acura SUV in the 2024 calendar year. Both will utilize the highly flexible global EV platform powered by Ultium batteries based on the company’s strategic partnership with General Motors. Honda also plans to launch a new series of EV models in the second half of the decade based on a new e:Architecture, with development led by Honda.

    In April 2021, Honda global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced a vision to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050, including key targets for sales of electrified vehicles. This vision calls for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to progress from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040.

    Honda has a long history in bringing electrified vehicles to market in the U.S., beginning almost a quarter-century ago with the EV Plus electric vehicle (1997); to America’s first hybrid, the Honda Insight (1999); the Honda FCX (2002), the industry’s first fuel cell vehicle in the hands of individual customers, and the Clarity series (2017). As Honda prepares for the launch of Prologue, the company will introduce hybrid-electric systems to more core models to continue to reduce CO2 emissions and bridge customers to the volume of battery-electric vehicles now in development.

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  • Honda PCX Electric Scooter Patented In India

    Honda PCX Electric Scooter Patented In India

    Honda has filed patent registrations for the PCX electric scooter in India, and rumors are abuzz about the possibility of the PCX electric scooter being considered for an India launch. Now, Honda did showcase the PCX electric scooter at the Auto Expo 2018, but filing a patent doesn’t necessarily mean the product is being considered for launch. What is of importance is perhaps the content of the patent filings, which shows a removable battery, which can be taken off the scooter and plugged conveniently at home, or at the workplace.

    The scooter comes with a 4.2 kW motor and a removable 50.4 V lithium-ion battery pack. And the battery can be charged without removing it as well, through a charging cable, but being removable just offers the added convenience. The Honda PCX offered in global markets, come with an internal combustion engine hybrid, as well as full-electric powertrains. In India though, reports suggest that the PCX electric is the one being patented.

    The PCX has an aggressive design, with neat lines, with twin-pod headlamps up front, and a tall windscreen, giving it a mini-maxi look. The scooter comes with a split floorboard, black alloy wheels, telescopic front forks, twin rear shocks, and disc brakes, with single-channel ABS. On the feature list, there’s a full digital LCD panel, remote start key, and others. Under the seat are twin battery packs, which offer a range of 40 km, while the controller unit is positioned under the floorboard.

    While the filing of the patent for the PCX electric may sound like exciting news, it’s not certain that Honda will go on to launch it. In the past, HMSI has patented several models, including the Honda Grom and others, and according to sources, sometimes these patents are used for Honda’s ongoing R&D efforts for future products in India, rather than indicate that the patented product will be launched in India. It’s early days yet to predict anything, or if HMSI is indeed working on an electric project, or planning to start working on an electric two-wheeler project for India. And that may not be the PCX electric scooter as we know it in its current form.

  • Honda Vietnam to recall cars over fuel pump issue

    Honda Vietnam to recall cars over fuel pump issue

    Honda Vietnam has announced it would recall 27,640 locally assembled and imported vehicles to resolve a fuel pump malfunction.

    The affected models are City (8,626 units), Civic (3,624 units), CR-V (10,687 units), HR-V (3,630 units), Jazz (630 units) and Accord (442 units) made in 2019. Out of nearly 28,000 defective vehicles, 19,014 were locally assembled, with the rest imported from Thailand. The recall will start this Wednesday.

    Faults related to the fuel pump installed in these vehicles may involve defective impellers. Over time, the pump may crack, deform and prevent the engine from starting or stalling.

    At present, there is no record of safety threats due to the fuel pump error in the Vietnamese market. Vehicle owners are advised to visit authorized dealerships to have their engines checked.

    Replacements will be made when spare parts become available. Spare parts and related services would be completely free of charge. For vehicles imported through non-genuine import dealerships, in case customers request, Honda Vietnam would still provide relevant information.

    Honda was the fourth best-selling auto brand in Vietnam in the first quarter of this year with 6,782 units sold, up 24.7 percent year-on-year.

  • Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India To Halt Production Temporarily

    Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India To Halt Production Temporarily

    Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) will temporarily halt manufacturing at its four plants in India, from May 1, 2021 to May 15, 2021 keeping in mind the current COVID-19 scenario in the country. The company said it will utilize these days to carry out maintenance activities at all its plants. Keeping an eye on the fluid COVID-19 situation, HMSI will review its production plan accordingly, in the coming months. The company also said that all Honda office associates will continue to work from home and extend all possible support to customers and business partners. Only essential staff will be working at its plants and offices across the country. Honda has four manufacturing facilities in India in Manesar in Haryana, Tapukara in Rajasthan, Narsapura in Karnataka, and Vithalapur in Gujarat.

    Other automotive manufacturers such as Hero MotoCorp have decided to temporarily halt manufacturing operations in view of the escalating COVID-19 situation in India. In a press statement, Hero MotoCorp said that the company has decided to proactively halt operations temporarily at all of its manufacturing facilities across the country, including its Global Parts Centre (GPC).

    Maruti Suzuki India too announced that it has advanced its annual maintenance shut down from June to May 2021. This coincides with the Government of India’s call for companies to free up industrial oxygen consumption, which could instead be used for medical purposes. The carmaker will shut both its Gurugram and Manesar plants, in Haryana, from May 1 to May 9, 2021. In fact, the company has also said that Suzuki Motor Gujarat, the wholly-owned plant of Maruti’s parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation has also taken the same decision for its factory.

  • Honda Motorcycle Scooter India Sets Up New Overseas Business Vertical

    Honda Motorcycle Scooter India Sets Up New Overseas Business Vertical

    Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has announced setting up a new overseas business vertical with the aim to promote India as a global export hub for Honda. HMSI says that the new vertical will spearhead the company’s ambition to export two-wheelers to other global markets. The new overseas business vertical aims to unlock new synergy by integrating Honda 2Wheeler India’s export-import sales function with quality, purchase, development, homologations, manufacturing and logistics. It will be located at HMSI’s Manesar facility.

    Elaborating on Honda’s vision for the new overseas business expansion, Mr. Atsushi Ogata – Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “With an eye on the future, Honda 2Wheelers India aims to further consolidate its No. 1 position in Honda’s global motorcycle business while unlocking the next chapter of ‘Make in India, for India & the World’ in the BS-VI era. With this major organizational restructuring, the company is strengthening its business constitution and improving competitiveness to meet the high expectations from Global Honda”.

    HMSI started exporting its two-wheelers with the launch of Honda Activa in 2001. It was in 2015 that Honda reached the 10 lakh milestone for two-wheeler exports. Currently, HMSI exports to 35 markets across Europe, Central & Latin America, Middle-East, Japan and the SAARC nations. Honda also says that the recent mid-size motorcycle launches in India, like the CB500X, CB650R and the CBR650R have solid potential to further help the company to establish India as hub for global markets.

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  • Honda Africa Twin To Get Radar System

    Honda Africa Twin To Get Radar System

    The Honda Africa Twin is likely to get radar-assisted cruise control, after Ducati, BMW and KTM already introduced similar systems on their range-topping adventure bikes. The radar-powered adaptive cruise control system, made by Bosch, has already made its debut in production models of the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, the Ducati Multistrada V4 S and the BMW R 1250 RT. And now, patents filed recently by Honda show that its flagship adventure tourer, the Honda Africa Twin, will be getting a radar-assisted adaptive cruise control system as well. The difference is that, perhaps Honda’s system will be indigenously developed, rather than just a plug and play device sourced from Bosch.

    Honda’s patents suggest the use of cameras alongside the radar sensors, so the system will use another layer of monitoring tech, and allow the on-board computer to make a better-informed judgement of what’s happening in its surroundings. The advantage of using cameras is that, while the radar system can sense approaching vehicles, or other vehicles in close proximity, accurately measuring distances, cameras can be used to pick up additional information, like brake lights, road signs and traffic lights.

    The front radar on the Africa Twin patent filings seem to be similar to the systems used by BMW, Ducati and KTM. And the new Africa Twin already seems to have a spot under the headlights, probably designed keeping in mind the positioning of a radar sensor. But it’s the rear section which has a different design. Honda’s Africa Twin design patents show not one, but two rear radars, mounted on the number plate hanger, and these sensors are fitted at an angle to offer a wide detection zone. So, with the dual radars, the area covered will not just be the area behind the bike, but also on each side as well.

    Honda’s system also mentions the use of transponders to broadcast information from the sensors to other vehicles, or to roadside receivers. So, these should add one more dimension to the warning system, that of vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or vehicle-to-infrastructure system, allowing safety systems like radars or cameras on one car or motorcycle to pass on to other similarly-equipped vehicles. With the rapid induction of such technology, Honda is likely to introduce the latest tech within the next couple of years, both on the next-generation Africa Twin, as well as on the Honda Gold Wing.

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  • Honda Temporarily Cutting Production At All U.S., Canada Plants

    Honda Temporarily Cutting Production At All U.S., Canada Plants

    Honda Motor Co said late Tuesday supply chain issues will force a halt to production at a majority of U.S. and Canadian auto plants for a week. The Japanese automaker added the issue will result in some production cuts next week at all U.S. and Canadian plants, citing “the impact from COVID-19, congestion at various ports, the microchip shortage and severe winter weather over the past several weeks.”

    “In some way, all of our auto plants in the U.S. and Canada will be impacted,” Honda said.

    Some U.S. and Canadian plants are expected to have smaller production cuts next week, but a spokesman for Honda added “the timing and length of production adjustments could change.”

    The company declined to specify the volume of vehicles impacted but said “purchasing and production teams are working to limit the impact of this situation.”

    The company added when production is suspended Honda workers “will continue to have the opportunity to work at the impacted plants.” Honda workers were notified of the production cuts Monday.

    Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, said Honda typically produces about 30,000 vehicles a week in the United States and Canada.

    The production issues are hitting Honda plants in Ontario, Ohio, Alabama, and Indiana. Honda said its Mexico operations have not announced any production cuts.

    The chip shortage, which has hit most of the global automakers, stems from a confluence of factors as carmakers, which shut plants for two months during the COVID-19 pandemic last year, compete with the sprawling consumer electronics industry for chip supplies.

    General Motors Co has cut production at many plants and warned it could shave up to $2 billion from this year’s earnings.

    GM’s U.S. rival Ford Motor Co previously said the shortage could hurt 2021 profit by up to $2.5 billion and said it had curtailed production of its flagship F-150 pickup.

  • Honda Confirms Participation At EICMA 2021

    Honda Confirms Participation At EICMA 2021

    Honda has become one of the first motorcycle brands to confirm participation in the 2021 edition event of one of the world’s most well-known motorcycle trade shows. The EICMA event, held every year in Milan, Italy, is scheduled to take place between November 23-28, 2021. But this year’s event may not see participation from many brands, and it’s still some time away to actually see which way the COVID-19 situation blows, in Europe, as well as across the world. BMW Motorrad has already announced that it won’t be attending any motorcycle shows going forward, and the confirmation from Honda is actually a strong statement, considering the EICMA is possibly the most important two-wheeler event around the world.

    “It is a concrete and conscious approach to protect the value of the event, the public and the whole sector of reference involved, with the structure of EICMA S.p.A. and the manufacturers committed to facing up to the complexity of the organization of the event in a context in continuous development,” Honda said in a statement.

    “The path towards EICMA 2021 is distinguished by a reasonable expectation and a more flexible vision compared to the past. Sharing this new orientation therefore implies a surplus of compactness by all the players involved and the positive confirmation of Honda, together with the other significant names which have already assured their presence, go in exactly this direction. We hope that we can soon communicate other confirmations.”

    “The common objective is that we can once again gather around our passion for the products of this industry and re-conquer the freedom to do what EICMA has been doing for over one hundred years: creating opportunities for companies and offering the public visitor experiences which are increasingly exciting and thrilling.”

    The 2020 edition of the EICMA had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. BMW Motorrad has announced that it will focus on its own small motorcycle events and customer events, and will not participate at the EICMA show. With the global economy under pressure, it’s still a matter of speculation of how many brands will eventually turn up at the 2021 EICMA show. But this year’s event is likely to be smaller than before, and it’s still uncertain how the COVID-19 situation pans out over the next few months. Even though vaccination drives are going on around the world, audience participation at the EICMA 2021 is likely to be significantly lower than in previous years.

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  • Japan’s Toyota, Honda Can Likely Cope With Global Chip Shortage

    Japan’s Toyota, Honda Can Likely Cope With Global Chip Shortage

    The global semiconductor chip shortage is not likely to significantly affect the financial profiles of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp or Honda Motor Co, ratings agency Fitch said in a statement on Wednesday. The automakers have enough financial flexibility to absorb more costs and maintain significant rating headroom, even if the shortage persists till the second half of 2021, according to the statement. 

    The automobile industry has been grappling with a shortfall in chip supply since the end of last year, driven by coronavirus lockdowns in Southeast Asia and bulk-buying by U.S. sanctions-hit Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies, among other reasons.

    The shortage prompted top U.S. automaker General Motor to extend production cuts at three North American plants last week, while Honda Motor and Nissan Motor were set to sell a combined 250,000 fewer cars in the current financial year.

    Toyota and Honda have enough financial flexibility to absorb more costs and maintain significant rating headroom

    Meanwhile, Toyota shrugged off the issue in its quarterly report last week and said it has up to a four-month stockpile of chips, with no immediate hit to production expected.

    “We believe the shortage should ease or even be resolved in the second half of 2021 as suppliers boost production for automotive clients,” Fitch said.

    Top economic and national security officials in the White House have launched a new effort to help the U.S. auto industry fight the chip shortage, a White House official said on Thursday.

    The issue could impact nearly 1 million units of global light vehicle production in the first quarter, according to data firm IHS Markit.

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  • Motorbike sales slump, blamed on pandemic

    Motorbike sales slump, blamed on pandemic

    Motorbike sales fell 16.6 percent to 2.71 million units last year, according to the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers.

    The industry group comprises five major companies, Honda, Piaggio, Suzuki, SYM, and Yamaha, who account for most of the market.

    Industry insiders said sales fell in double digits because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit people’s incomes.

    Although VAMM’s report did not list each company’s sales, Honda said it accounted for nearly 80 percent.

    Other brands not included in report were VinFast, Kymco, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, and others.

    In the second half last year several companies introduced.

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