Monday, August 11, 2014
Honda - Back after 4 years
Honda’s UK boss has admitted that the four years in which the company cut research and development budgets has left sales “not being in the game”.
Managing director Philip Crossman said the company’s approach to the downturn was to stay profitable, without damaging markets or shareholders.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, he said: “So we’ve had a product hiatus, I would think, for four years. If you’ve got an FR-V, it’s difficult to come back to us for a new car of that type. And we haven’t had a Type-R, so where are you going to go for your sports car?
However, R&D investment is now back and is around $5bn, making it among the largest. The company plans four new models and two new engines by next summer. Among these will be a new version of the NSX supercar. While its UK sales will be tiny – Mr Crossman expects to shift just 20 next year – it will have a big effect on brand image.
DATED: 11.08.2014
FEED: ARN
