Honda projects 10% sales increase

MANILA, Philippines - The local unit of Japan’s Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is looking to increase its total sales by more than 10 percent this year compared to 2013 as it launches new vehicle models.

“The market is expected to expand by 10 percent this year. We’d like to expand slightly more than the market expands...to have more than 10 percent (growth in sales),” Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) president and general manager Tatsuya Natsume told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the new Accord yesterday.

Based on the report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), HCPI’s sales reached 13,356 units in 2013, 5.6 percent higher than in 2012.

The company wants to see its total sales rise this year as it offers new vehicle models to the market.

The first of the new vehicle models to be included in HCPI’s offering is the Accord which would compete in the luxury sedan segment.

“We don’t have specific sales target (for the Accord) but we would like to sell more than we did last year. This kind of segment itself is a very small niche...but we’d like to try to offer this kind of beautiful car to discerning Philippine car lovers,” Natsume said.

The firm sold more than 100 units of the Accord last year.

The new Accord is available in two variants: the 2.4 S with a four-cylinder engine and the 3.5 SV with V6 engine, retailing for P1.72 million and P2.97 million, respectively.

Aside from the Accord, Natsume said HCPI would also introduce the new City and Jazz by the middle of the year.

“We are studying if we can bring some more new models to the market,” he said.

The company is also hoping for an increase in sales of the hybrid sports car CR-Z launched in August 2013, this year.

HCPI sold a little more than 70 units of the CR-Z last year.

Depending on the government support identified in the roadmap for the automotive industry, Natsume said the firm may consider the assembly of more vehicle models here.

The City is the only vehicle model assembled at the firm’s plant in Santa Rosa in Laguna.