Honda’s results are following the pattern for the major Japanese makers: a decent rise in December (up 16%), capping a market-mirroring decline of 20% for the year. The Honda brand did much better (up 19%) than Acura (down 8%) for the month. And Acura also did worse for the year (down 27%) than the Honda brand (-19%). The topthree bestselling Honda models for 2009 were the Accord, 290,056; Civic, 259,722; and CRV, 191,214. Here’s Honda’s take:
Accord monthly sales increased 17.3 percent for December to 28,238. Monthly Civic sales increased by 19.8 percent to 22,319. The CRV, the country’s bestselling SUV in 2008 and 2009, increased sales by 24.5 percent to 18,686 for a new December sales record. Additional models with monthly sales gains included the Pilot, up 26.6 percent to 9,184, and the Odyssey, up 19.8 percent to 8,966.
“The good news is that the market appears to be stabilizing and we have more reasons for optimism in 2010,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel; let’s hope it’s not another train coming, but rather, brighter days ahead.”
And here’s the full details for you number junkies:
Honda accomplished what winners always do in a challenging times: they managed costs carefully, increased market share, and continued to introduce new models. Now look at their stock price — higher than the $33 it was at before the economy tanked.
Not quite as good as Hyundai, but very impressive work.
Why yes I would like a brochure, I’m glad you asked ma’am.
IIRC, Honda has a fiscal year ending 3/31/09. So, my question is are the YTD numbers “Calendar” YTD, that is, for 1/1/09 thru 12/31/09? Or is this their FISCAL YTD, that is, the sales total for 4/1/09 through 12/31/09? Which?
These are calender year sales numbers; fiscal year is for accounting purposes only.
Final year for the Element?
Honda execs said no, in fact E just received an update. Apparently they focus groups say that nobody cross-shops it with CR-V, so everything that Element brings to the table is an extra. Dunno how true this is, but that was their official line. IMHO, they should be thinking about unifying platforms with CR-V a bit more, but so far E just soldiers on. Kinda like Chrysler’s PT if you ask me.
I wish I’d put a lot more money into Honda stock when it was around $22
The funny thing is how CR-V finally beats off RAV4, even just by so much (note, RAV4 received a new and excitingly modern 2.5L, and yet…). CR-V did not manage this feat even when it was introduced, but perhaps pricing finally did its job.