Honda to launch Acura luxury brand in Japan in '08
Honda to introduce luxury Acura cars to Japan
12/14/2005
Honda Motor Co. on Wednesday unveiled plans to sell its Acura brand of cars in Japan in 2008, bringing its successful North America luxury nameplate to the Japanese market for the first time.
Honda is the latest Japanese car maker to bring high-end North American marketing tactics to Japan, where new car sales have been flat. Earlier this year, Toyota Motor Corp. began selling cars in Japan under its luxury Lexus brand, and Nissan Motor Co. says it eventually wants to bring its Infiniti brand to the domestic market as well.
Honda's move underscores a heated global battle between car makers over the lucrative luxury autos market. Japanese car makers have had success largely in North America, where all three premium nameplates have been consistently good sellers.
Honda first introduced its Acura brand to the U.S. in 1986. But Japan's automakers have only recently made moves to tap the lucrative luxury auto market in Japan, long dominated by foreign rivals such as DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz division and BMW AG.
Honda's announcement highlights the struggles facing all Japanese car makers in boosting domestic sales. Japanese consumers bought roughly 5.9 million cars last year, little changed from the year before.
With luxury brands, the car makers hope to bag two important new sets of customers, both with considerable disposable income: young professionals and Japan's baby boomers, who will begin retiring in 2007.
Honda also said it will integrate its three dealerships in Japan into a single channel that will sell all models made by the automaker. A fourth retail network will focus on the Acura brand from the fall of 2008, and will start with 100 dealerships across Japan.
Honda said it hoped the changes would lead to annual sales of more than 800,000 vehicles in Japan. In 2004, Honda's domestic sales totaled 743,071 vehicles. (AP)
It could, until they start producing those vehicles in Japan too. Nonetheless, I think this shift is definitely needed, the current setup is like GM not selling the Cadillac brand to Americans, lol.
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It could, until they start producing those vehicles in Japan too. Nonetheless, I think this shift is definitely needed, the current setup is like GM not selling the Cadillac brand to Americans, lol.
It's not, because the Acura cars are still sold in the rest of the world under the Honda name. It would be like GM selling Cadillac under the name of Chevrolet.
Aside from that, I dont see this helping the US. While the cars are produced there, the bulk of the money goes to Japan anyway. The money from the financing and the sales profits dont go back to the production facilities, they go back to Japan.
It's not, because the Acura cars are still sold in the rest of the world under the Honda name. It would be like GM selling Cadillac under the name of Chevrolet.
Aside from that, I dont see this helping the US. While the cars are produced there, the bulk of the money goes to Japan anyway. The money from the financing and the sales profits dont go back to the production facilities, they go back to Japan.
if there is a demand for acura in other part of the world US might export more export = more work in US. = can pay bills tax etc2..read detnews lately many foreign companies invest R&D center here in US too. slow but sure yeah it look like the money goin to japan but remember jobs here = money here too.
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if there is a demand for acura in other part of the world US might export more export = more work in US. = can pay bills tax etc2..read detnews lately many foreign companies invest R&D center here in US too. slow but sure yeah it look like the money goin to japan but remember jobs here = money here too.
Yes, there will be jobs here, but that money is a drop in the bucket compared to what would be outside the US.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hobie237
Exactly. Especially since those models already exist, under the Honda badge
Not exactly IMHO. In 2008, we will see refreshed cars based on the medium global platform (RL/Legend, Accord/TL, Acura TSX/Accord Euro) and the touted new V10 car. With Nissan's GT-R is confirmed will be part of the Infiniti roster, and I bet my ass Toyota will follow suit with the new Supra being a Lexus... Putting Honda V10 car on the Acura only roster is just common sense. After all, like soooooooooooooooooo many auto journalist/critics said, who would buy a $100k Honda? With the new car having V10, SH-AWD, and god forbid... Creature comfort... The car will have a price tag of $150k at best... Now who would buy a $150k Honda? But if it's an Acura, people will think a bit more. The same goes with the new TL, TSX, RL... They can go crazy without the Veedub effect... VW is VolksWagen, meaning the peoples carriage/transportation... It's by far should nowhere near luxury, but VW marketing plan is to make people perceive them as a luxury car...
My take is this... Accord based Inspire will be Honda top of the line car with Accord Euro slotted beneath it. While Honda Legend will move upclass being strictly Acura.... I am not sure how about the Euro though... Probably Honda will make two separate Euro model, one for Honda (4 door), one for Acura (2 door). Acura TL can be introduced, being all American and that stuff...
Acura can go International... But not now... 2008 is a realistic date.
It's not, because the Acura cars are still sold in the rest of the world under the Honda name. It would be like GM selling Cadillac under the name of Chevrolet.
As I said, the Cadillac brand. At that level of expense, you're not just purchasing a car, you're purchasing an experience. Excellent customer service, customer care, the willingness to make the extra expense worth it not just in the vehicle, but everything that has to do with the vehicle as well.
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As I said, the Cadillac brand. At that level of expense, you're not just purchasing a car, you're purchasing an experience. Excellent customer service, customer care, the willingness to make the extra expense worth it not just in the vehicle, but everything that has to do with the vehicle as well.
you can get all that crap when you buy any GM, even a cavalier. you just gotta pay for it (as with anything).
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you can get all that crap when you buy any GM, even a cavalier. you just gotta pay for it (as with anything).
not 100% true, I worked at a dealership that sold Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Hummers and the level of service you recieved when purchasing and servicing the Cadillacs and Hummers was a step above the Chevrolet service. A nicer waiting area, nicer reception area, more perks, more personable technicians. There's more to it than just fixing the car as promised, when promised. Those people all work to be your friend and to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Also, there's no such thing as a customer you can't service with those "Luxury" brands, while standard brands will often let a problem customer fall to the side or refer them to another dealership and risk losing the business. So yeah, you can meet nice people at a Chevy dealership, but it's certainly not the priority it is when compared to luxury brands.
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98% of teenagers do or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your sig.
not 100% true, I worked at a dealership that sold Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Hummers and the level of service you recieved when purchasing and servicing the Cadillacs and Hummers was a step above the Chevrolet service. A nicer waiting area, nicer reception area, more perks, more personable technicians. There's more to it than just fixing the car as promised, when promised. Those people all work to be your friend and to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Also, there's no such thing as a customer you can't service with those "Luxury" brands, while standard brands will often let a problem customer fall to the side or refer them to another dealership and risk losing the business. So yeah, you can meet nice people at a Chevy dealership, but it's certainly not the priority it is when compared to luxury brands.
i've never, ever seen a dealer with different service areas for different makes. nor have i seen any waiting area in a lincoln, caddy, gm, ford dealship that was really worth a damn.
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"Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness."
-Proverbs 16:31
"“The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are their worst.”
- Martina Navratilova
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