Honda Fit coming to U.S.

It’s official. Honda is bringing the sub-Civic sized Fit to the U.S., at least a variation anyway. AutoWeek quotes a Honda executive as saying the company saw Scion’s success and answered “we can do that.” But of course Honda won’t be diluting their awesome name recognition with another brand the way Toyota did with Scion. Although it sure hasn’t seemed to hurt Scion or Toyota at all. But it definitely cost them a whole lot of money in advertising, marketing and dealership costs. Expect the engine to be a 1.5 liter and the price to be around $12,000.

Posted Jan 25, 2005, 4:17 PM ET by David Thomas
AutoBlog

 

The question I want to know from Honda America is will the FIT be imported from Japan or China or be assembled in the US?

 

Good question! My guess is that if it is assembled in the US, it will be in one of Honda's Ohio facilities that already produce Civics and Accords. It could very well be produced in the Ontario facility, but I think that facility is reserved for a different class of cars -- Acuras and Pilots.

With that said, I still wouldn't be surprised if it was imported from China assuming that the production costs stay low there.

 

My forward thinking(assumption) have Honda America importing the cars from China since they are assembling left-side drive FIT's off the assembly line. But the rest of the world that is right-side drive is coming from the Japan plant. I could be wrong, but hoping it's American made.

 

And since American Honda dealers will be getting their 2006 stock shortly, it's looking like we are looking at a 2006.5 or 2007 model release. No national advertising campaign as of yet, but don't be surprised if Honda spends the money to introduce the FIT to America on Supr Bowl Sunday like they did with the intro of the Del Sol in 1993.