[EricMartin]

I wonder if Honda has some backup plans for North American's HR-Vs, if the production in the Mexico Celaya plant is much delayed.

It is a very competitive segment and Honda might want to hurry to put their foot in the door. Is Honda ready to manufacture the first NA HR-Vs in Japan? Just dreaming.

 

[Ganbare]

I wonder if Honda has some backup plans for North American's HR-Vs, if the production in the Mexico Celaya plant is much delayed.

It is a very competitive segment and Honda might want to hurry to put their foot in the door. Is Honda ready to manufacture the first NA HR-Vs in Japan? Just dreaming.

This is all speculation on my part, but here are my thoughts. If production is delayed at Celaya is delayed for any reason I think the launch date would be pushed back from whatever it is now, which we only know now to be this winter though I'm sure Honda NA has something more specific planned. I don't think they will import HR-Vs from Japan for a couple of reasons. First, it's not very profitable to import smaller (i.e. less profit margin) vehicles at current exchange rates which is why they decided to build in Mexico in the first place. Secondly, Both the new Fit and Vezel (JDM HR-V) are in their first year of release and enormously popular in Japan. In the first half of 2014 the Fit is #2 and Vezel is #8 among standard cars (excluding mini or kei cars). They are also launching this year a sedan version built on the Fit (and HR-V's) platform which will likely not leave any extra production capacity for North America. So if the new Fit ends up selling exceptionally well in NA and needs Celaya's full capacity or something else happens I think they would just delay the launch of the HR-V until they can go ahead with enough stock for dealers.

 

[Red]

Whats the reason for the concern? I know the FIT was delayed shortly coming out of Celaya but that cleared. I feel that delay will have no bearing on the HRV.

Or is there another issue now?

 

[TrueNorth]

Yea, is there any delay expected right now? I just feel that this is all speculation without any basis. Where is this fear of a delay coming from?

 

[Red]

Yea, is there any delay expected right now? I just feel that this is all speculation without any basis. Where is this fear of a delay coming from?

I think it was based on this

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/23/2015-honda-fit-delayed-until-june-quality-checks/

If you are looking forward to the launch of the 2015 Honda Fit and can't wait to buy one, we have some bad news. Honda is holding off on sales a little longer to make sure everything is just right. The brand's latest subcompact was originally scheduled to start arriving at dealers this spring, but the introduction was delayed due to issues at Honda's new factory in Celaya, Mexico.

Consumer Reports learned of the delayed launch when the Fit it ordered didn't arrive on time. It contacted Honda and was told that the problem had to do with a "shipping delay nationally." The company was taking "a measured approach" to getting the new models out of the new factory, thus delaying shipment to dealers until June.

Now I'm not sure if these are growing pains of a new facility, teething issues of a new assembly line or what. I don't think we can assume the HR-V will see a similar delay, Honda has already got the ducks into a row for the FIT, things should be plug and play for the HRV...

 

[TrueNorth]

It just sounds like a delay that has to do with delivery and shipping though. i don't think there are any problems with the actual production of the vehicles.

 

[Red]

It just sounds like a delay that has to do with delivery and shipping though. i don't think there are any problems with the actual production of the vehicles.

shipping issues can also read as shipping out of the facility, as in there is the product was delayed therefore we could not ship. Shipping issue. You have to read between the lines with these types of announcements, nothing reaches us from the automakers without a huge helping of PR spin...

 

[TrueNorth]

shipping issues can also read as shipping out of the facility, as in there is the product was delayed therefore we could not ship. Shipping issue. You have to read between the lines with these types of announcements, nothing reaches us from the automakers without a huge helping of PR spin...

Fair enough. I also think that automakers would rather not say what the problem is or say that it is shipping, since mentioning a problem, even if you end up fixing it completely, makes people think your car has a problem.

 

[EricMartin]

I am sorry - I have started this thread just because where I used to work we often had backup plans, in case something went wrong in a critical operation, and they were often used.

I think Honda might do the same if they see the early introduction of the HR-V as critical (may be they don't). A relatively new model, in a new plant, in a new country is a recipe for delays. I admire the fact that the 2015 Fit had only 2 month delay and that early buyers are satisfied with its quality. Honda will never cease to amaze me. After several years, VW is still having growing pains in Mexico.

 

[vtec]

Fortunately for them there's not many vehicles in this segment and they'll likely won't lose a significant amount of sales, but still some loss.