Honda planning on increasing Insight Hybrid production

Posted: Feb 25, 2009

Filed under: Honda, Hybrids, Green News, Industry News

Honda’s deputy chief operating officer for its domestic (meaning Japanese) operations said that the automaker plans on producing more units of the Insight Hybrid starting April. Hiroshi Kobayashi said that Honda has received almost three times its monthly target for the Insight Hybrid which went on sale in Japan on Feb. 6.

Over the next two months, the 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid will make its way to the European and North American markets. Honda plans on selling 200,000 units of the Insight globally. It expects more than half of that number to come from North America.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Kobayashi told Automotive News. “We will have to increase production plans.”

Kobayashi didn’t say how much Honda will expand output for the Insight. He said that customers in Japan who have ordered the car will have to wait at least one month. The 2010 Honda Insight costs 1.89 million yen ($19,980) in Japan.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid:

Pat

this car is a lot better looking than the new Prius. i believe eGM ran a poll and the Insight won.

Honestly, this is the type of car GM needs right now instead of the Volt - a mass volume hybrid that they can bank on and not lose money on.

Baragon

Pretty brave move. What if all these initial buyers are the must-haves & after that the car is not that popular? Also Japan & American tastes can differ so success in Japan may not necessarily mean success in the US.

Either way, good for them. Hopefully this car is a runaway success.

zermatt

I don't believe that car buyers are as Green and Honda hopes.

If I were Honda, I would be testing the waters and increase production only when actual demand was demonstrated. Incentives are a bad way to start a new car; buyers are becoming conditioned to only buy when the cars are being given away.

Bobmarley

Are the they giving incentives in Japan?

It sounds like honda is doing exactly what you would do...increasing production when demand is up (acording to this article its up 3x what they expected, with a 1 month waiting time/order).

zermatt

I am referring to when Honda starts to sell in the US.

If I was the Honda sales manager for he US, I would hold production back to gauge American interest in this car. Americans are fickle about economy cars and if they bring too many over at the beginning and there is little interest (even at the phenomenal price) incentives will be needed to sell the vehicle.

A one month wait in the US is not big deal - it takes a month or so for an ordered car, anyway. You are talking about demand when the wait is 4 to 6 months.