Honda To Sell Thai-made Bikes In Japan To Cut Costs

[churchill]

Aug 6 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co (7267.T), the world's top motorcycle maker, plans to import Thailand-made bikes to sell in Japan, where production costs are rising, the Nikkei business daily reported.

From next year, Honda is likely to start shipping 250cc engine bikes from Thailand, where the automaker produces three times as many motorcycles as in Japan, the paper said.

Honda is considering to sell the imported 250cc motorbikes for about 400,000 yen ($4,220), less than the 550,000 yen price for the Japan-made ones, the paper said. In February, Honda had told Reuters that it would look to cut costs by building vehicles more efficiently and cheaply.

The strategy put forth at the time was to produce most of the parts for high-volume, 100-125cc commuter bikes in just three countries and ship them to assembly sites around the world such as those in Brazil, China, India, Thailand and Japan.

The motorbikes produced in Thailand center on 100cc models, and Honda plans to broaden its midsize offerings there, the Nikkei reported

-- Reuters 06/08/09http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSBNG35001520090805

[flying]

Wow

Is Japan in the early stages of becoming the US?

[PeaceBlondie]

Shades of Hardly-American "Harleys." I want a cheap, modern, Honda 250 made in SE Asia - a sportbike with FI. Or I'll buy a Ninja 250 next time..

[hansnl]

Wow

Is Japan in the early stages of becoming the US?

The business community will produce there where it will be cheapest.

Profit making is the most important.

Just as buying cheapest by consumers.

National pride?

What is that?

[flying]

Wow

Is Japan in the early stages of becoming the US?

The business community will produce there where it will be cheapest.

Profit making is the most important.

Just as buying cheapest by consumers.

National pride?

What is that?

For me National Pride was when we actually produced something that didn't end with the word adviser Not to sound racists or anything but when we were kids made in Japan did not mean high quality like it does these days. They should be proud of the fact Honda really means quality but more importantly they help support their country. These days Made in America is seen rarely if at all. Then if you find it quality is lacking + price is high....... Not a great recipe

Japan can follow in our foot print if they like. Forget production & become professional consumers.

Edited August 6, 2009 by flying

[Datsun240Z]

Wow

Is Japan in the early stages of becoming the US?

The business community will produce there where it will be cheapest.

Profit making is the most important.

Just as buying cheapest by consumers.

National pride?

What is that?

Most of the EU/U.S stuff comes from China labour anyhow, or other low cost labour countries. It's been that way for a long time.

[Randell]

What kind of 250 would that be. seeing as they don't make one now? Randell

[flying]

What kind of 250 would that be. seeing as they don't make one now? Randell

Isn't a Honda 250 CBR RR available or was in SEA ?

Perhaps no longer

Edited August 7, 2009 by flying

[Heng]

Japan can follow in our foot print if they like.

Wishful thinking that they'll make just about every wrong turn (for example wars that create not only debts but immigrants that multiply and create more of a drag on the system) possible in the same way.

[waza]

The Honda company is in the business of making money. All else is secondary

[flying]

Wishful thinking that they'll make just about every wrong turn (for example wars that create not only debts but immigrants that multiply and create more of a drag on the system) possible in the same way.

Tis true as it is very hard to attend a war when your not allowed a real military

They are actually the lucky ones

[Heng]

Or even silly foreign policies of pushing for the setting up of new countries and then having to provide 'aid' (handouts that one can't afford) to said countries until the end of time. Aid of all sorts in general in which the country as a whole doesn't seem to reap much benefit from when the political capital is cashed in. Japanese aid on the other hand seems to have a leaner system to feed into and thus their companies THEN the people as a whole seem to benefit more.

[PeaceBlondie]

Actually, corporate culture in Japan may have changed in 25 years. When the Big 4 Japanese companies overproduced in 1981/82/83 and flooded the market, they did so in the belief that 'the Japanese must keep working." Then the yen doubled in value, USA tariffs of 45% were imposed on bikes over 700cc (partly to save Harley), and Honda and Kawasaki made big bikes in Ohio and Nebraska.

[dave_boo]

Honda used to make the CBR 250RR (more "R"s the faster it is). Was a inline four that revved out to just shy of 20K RPM and had 45 BHP. They've also been making the VTR 250 for donkey years. More of a Ducati Monster style bike though; this is the first year it's fuel injected. There of course is the CB 250 still sold in Los Estados Unidos De Mexico and Brazil amongst other places (same-same as the Nighthawk?). And who can forget the Rebel?

[apetley]

Honda used to make the CBR 250RR (more "R"s the faster it is). Was a inline four that revved out to just shy of 20K RPM and had 45 BHP.

Put me down for the CBR 250RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR then.