Demand for Honda auto parts and cars remains at high levels. Supply, however, has been inconveniently interrupted by the disastrous earthquake and tsunami, which ravaged the automaker's Japanese factories on March 11, and the multitude of power outages that followed. While nearly every automaker has felt the repercussions of the natural disaster, even U.S. automakers, Honda and Toyota felt the hardest blow, by far.
Just last month Honda cut production by about half, due to supply shortages. The company also advised dealers to expect model shortages and lower-than-normal production levels throughout the end of the year.
Happily, though, things started looking up toward the end of May. Honda even went so far as to say the situation is improving and they're confident they can bring North American facilities back to near-normal levels of production by August - months earlier than originally anticipated. "This will go a long way toward alleviating the shortages at dealerships," said spokesman Ed Miller. "It's very good news for dealers."1
It certainly is. It's also very good news for Honda employees worldwide, and the ever-growing population of prospective Honda buyers.
The exception to Honda's anticipated return to near-normal production levels, in August is the 2012 Honda Civic - the sixth most popular vehicle in the entire U.S. Honda explains, the 2012 model still lacks a steady flow of critical parts from Japan and that production will continue at about half the normal rate until sometime this fall.
Interested in more Honda developments in the aftermath of the March 11th disaster? Stay tuned. DCH Honda of Temecula - 26755 Ynez Road - Temecula, CA 92591, is committed to keeping you informed.
Source: 1http://www.freep.com/article/20110527/BUSINESS01/105270356/1014/business01
