Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Honda could halve its US lineup without crimping its sales much

Taking a detailed look at the Honda lineup in the US, it isn't hard to see the strength of some models and the weaknesses of others. A recent report on Autoline Daily points out that its five core models – the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot – make up a full 93 percent of Honda's sales in the US. Through April, Honda has sold 419,798 vehicles, and 389,474 of them were from these core models; not to mention the fact that the Accord was the top-selling car in the US last month.

This means that Honda could technically cut six of its 11 models and only lose about 5,000 sales per month. Of course, this is just some data crunching and there is no reason to believe that Honda is planning to kill off any of its models in the near future. In fact, it seems to be committed to the Ridgeline, while Japanese-made models that may actually lose money for Honda still fill unique voids.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/h...ts-sales-much/

caddyowner

Ridgeline owners have been waiting for years for a next generation truck. There are rumors that it will happen, or the Ridge will be killed, in 2014.

Honda may not sell a lot of those other models, but every owner I've met is very happy with them. My niece has a Crosstour and loves it for shuttling her two kids around. I've known a number of very happy Fit owners and am considering buying one after I get married this fall when my future wife's Malibu croaks. Owners of the now-departed Element also love their toasters. Then there's the awesome S2000 that I just bought.

Honda seems to find a niche design that works well for a specific population, runs with it for a while, and then moves on. It's kinda of a neat idea.

LexFather

Its amazing really how the Civic, Accord and CR-V carry them. Very impressive how they dominate in sales every year. They have really transitioned to be an American company so a lot of what we are seeing is this transition.

Contrarily they have dropped some big flops, Ridgeline, Crosstour, Element, Insight, CR-Z but all companies have hits and misses. What helps Honda is they do so well with 3-4 models that those misses are not really missed when it comes to sales.

The thing is sales could be better, they expected to sell 90k Insights a year, 45k Crosstours a year, 15k CR-Z's a year and they all flopped badly. So they really could have 150k more in sales a year.

SteVTEC

Both of my neighbors now have the latest 9th generation Accord. That's definitely a hot selling car. I see them all over the place now which is pretty amazing since it's a brand new car. Honda really nailed the Accord, which is simply amazing and completely unexpected considering all of the other crap they've been putting out lately.

UDel

Ridgeline may not sell in high numbers but it has a core of owners/fans and they want Honda to continue it, most who have Ridgelines absolutely love them. Two of my neighbors have Ridgelines, one neighbor bought one after riding in the other neighbors Ridgeline. I talked my friend into buying a used Ridgeline and he loves it, thanks me every time I talk to him. Honda should give the Ridgeline a real update and listen to owners because it is one of their few models that has a enthusiastic following.

They really do need to work on those poorer selling models which are pretty disappointing, the CRZ and Insight have potential. I say just drop the Crosstour and make a Accord wagon with a raised ground clearance/awd option. CRZ badly needs a stronger motor and more power, Insight needs to go back to the drawing board and make it larger and more competitive to the Prius which is kicking its butt in sales and recognition. If the Insight looked like a FCX clarity inside and out and had a more advanced powertrain they would sell a ton of them.

I am seeing a lot of new Accords and Odyssey's on the road.

BRING BACK THE S2000 OR SOMETHING VERY CLOSE TO IT!!!

doublehh03

The Fit will be one of their core-selling models when the next generation hits b/c it will be built in Mexico.