Honda sees 10% increase in sales this yr

MANILA, Philippines - Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) expects its sales to grow by at least 10 percent this year to reach 15,000 units from a year ago as it revitalizes the Honda brand by unveiling new vehicle models and expanding its dealerships.

“We want to grow at least 10 percent this year, in line with the growth of the industry, to around 15,000 (units),” HCPI’s new president and general manager Toshio Kuwahara said in a briefing yesterday.

Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) showed the company sold 13,356 units last year.

Kuwahara was named HCPI president and general manager effective April 1, replacing Tatsuya Natsume who has been assigned a new post in Brazil.

Prior to his appointment, Kuwahara served as senior assistant vice president for HCPI’s marketing and sales division.

“I felt like I have to revitalize the Honda brand in the Philippines where we can expect the biggest growth in the region supported by the strong GDP (gross domestic product),” Kuwahara said.

He said the company expects higher sales to be supported by the launch of the all-new City this month, and three other vehicle models within the year.

In January, HCPI introduced the all-new Accord.

“Definitely, the new models will play a role in the growth of our (sales) numbers,” Kuwahara said.

He said the company would also work on improving its after-sales service to provide a different customer experience.

For its dealerships, HCPI plans to open three more this year, with one located in Carmona, Cavite and the rest likely to be in Metro Manila, to add to the current 32.

Kuwahara said HCPI does not have plans of making additional investments to its facility in Santa Rosa in Laguna and manufacturing new vehicle models for now, but would consider pouring in new funds depending on the support the government would give under the automotive industry road map and what type of vehicle the government would encourage to be locally assembled.

He said it is in Honda’s interest to produce more cars locally.

HCPI’s plant, which has an annual production capacity of 15,000 units, manufactured 7,615 units of the City last year.

While there are no plans to make additional investments for the assembly of new vehicle models here, the official said the firm plans to increase the local content of the City which is currently only 40 percent.

Other HCPI vehicles being sold by HCPI such as the Accord, Civic, CR-V, CR-Z, Jazz, Odyssey and Pilot are imported.