Fit Sales
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
Fit Sales
The latest Automotive News figures are out. Honda Fit is a big big gainer.
Honda Fit sales for first 6 months of 2008 were 40,000 vs 24,000 for same period in '07
Nissan Versa sales for first 6 months of 08 were 46,000 vs 36,000 in '07
Toyota Yaris sales for first 6 months of '08 were 65,000 vs 46,000 in '07.
Honda sales in June of 08 were 10,003 vs 8873 for Versa and 8472 for Yaris. Who says Consumer Reports and word of mouth aren't effective. And why you have trouble getting one.
The marketplace really didn't change until CR placed the Fit at the top. Until that time Honda was at best second on the sales of the ecosedans because of the rear seat room. However, once Consumers gave the recommendation to Fit and the market expanded thanks to $/gal gas Fit sales took off. Note that Honda had no trouble raising the'quota' as soon as the market and CR recommendation co-incided. Honda has the capacity to fill 10,000 sales per month and I predict they will do so the next 6 months. After that I believe the crest market will be filled and sales will return to previous levels but improved as a result of more back seat room. If Honda were to put the HX 1700 engine in the Fit they would then own the econobox market. If the KA20 fits then I would think the 1700 would too. Go Honda.
Honda Fit sales for first 6 months of 2008 were 40,000 vs 24,000 for same period in '07
Nissan Versa sales for first 6 months of 08 were 46,000 vs 36,000 in '07
Toyota Yaris sales for first 6 months of '08 were 65,000 vs 46,000 in '07.
Honda sales in June of 08 were 10,003 vs 8873 for Versa and 8472 for Yaris. Who says Consumer Reports and word of mouth aren't effective. And why you have trouble getting one.
The marketplace really didn't change until CR placed the Fit at the top. Until that time Honda was at best second on the sales of the ecosedans because of the rear seat room. However, once Consumers gave the recommendation to Fit and the market expanded thanks to $/gal gas Fit sales took off. Note that Honda had no trouble raising the'quota' as soon as the market and CR recommendation co-incided. Honda has the capacity to fill 10,000 sales per month and I predict they will do so the next 6 months. After that I believe the crest market will be filled and sales will return to previous levels but improved as a result of more back seat room. If Honda were to put the HX 1700 engine in the Fit they would then own the econobox market. If the KA20 fits then I would think the 1700 would too. Go Honda.
Last edited by mahout; Jul 9, 2008 at 01:05 PM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 98
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
How could this be mahout?
The article I read on eGMCARTECH.com:
Supposedly the 09 Fit isn't bigger outside; they moved the front compartment forward a liitle rakingthe windshield back more and moved the rear compartment rearward to yield extra back seat room. (thats one of the two items the Fit fails the Versa, the other being power). And of course the power is increased to 119 (compared to 122); they don't mention the torque difference and CVT transmission, which still separates the two.
For those who think that doesn't matter, compare the sales of Versas vs Fits. (2:1)
The real advantage of the FIt is its superior handling compared to the Versa but I don't know yet if thats been affected in 09. I owned both and can assure you the Versa drives like my father's Oldsmobile.
For those who think that doesn't matter, compare the sales of Versas vs Fits. (2:1)
The real advantage of the FIt is its superior handling compared to the Versa but I don't know yet if thats been affected in 09. I owned both and can assure you the Versa drives like my father's Oldsmobile.
Originally Posted by eGMCARTECH.com
"The current generation Honda Fit was a major hit. When it made is stateside debut in April 2006, it sold 27,934 units. Kicking of 2007 the Honda Fit sold 23,769 units in the first six months, however Honda had only allocated 54,000 units for the whole year and dealers weren’t too happy.
Dealers can now breathe a sigh of relief, because when the 2009 Honda Fit hits dealers later this fall, Honda will roll out 80,000 units annually. Now that should be more than enough to fill U.S. demand.
“We had planned to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 and figured out very early that wasn’t enough, so we increased production to 60,000. That still wasn’t enough,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.
Honda has also plans to offer a hybrid Fit in 2015. Pricing is expected to be $2,000 less than the base model of the Fit which starts around $14,000.
For the first five months of 2008, U.S. sales of the fit were up 64 percent to 29,784."
Dealers can now breathe a sigh of relief, because when the 2009 Honda Fit hits dealers later this fall, Honda will roll out 80,000 units annually. Now that should be more than enough to fill U.S. demand.
“We had planned to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 and figured out very early that wasn’t enough, so we increased production to 60,000. That still wasn’t enough,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.
Honda has also plans to offer a hybrid Fit in 2015. Pricing is expected to be $2,000 less than the base model of the Fit which starts around $14,000.
For the first five months of 2008, U.S. sales of the fit were up 64 percent to 29,784."
For those of us who participated in taking a survey of actual buyers of both Versas and Fits we beg to differ. Interior room for working family buyers was a big turnoff. Only where a family would not have only the one car did the Fit shine. Honda reacted with extra rear seat room in the 09's for exactly tthat reason.
PS the Toyota also sold more than Honda but many were turned off by its small size, but still bought anyway because it was a Toyota.
PPS It was even suggested to Honda that the 1700 cc engine be siamesed a la VW's 6 in order to fit in the engine compartment of the Fit.
As some have pointed out the 1500 works too hard for American driving and many Civics easily gave better mpg than the Fit. Honda is aware of that.
PS the Toyota also sold more than Honda but many were turned off by its small size, but still bought anyway because it was a Toyota.
PPS It was even suggested to Honda that the 1700 cc engine be siamesed a la VW's 6 in order to fit in the engine compartment of the Fit.
As some have pointed out the 1500 works too hard for American driving and many Civics easily gave better mpg than the Fit. Honda is aware of that.
Last edited by Cosmo; Jul 9, 2008 at 12:11 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
I'm pointing out the result of Consumer Reports on Fit sales. The proof of Versa's sales advantage is Honda's increasing the rear seat knee room. There has never been a contest between the Fit handling better than the Versa. (as I said the Versa drives like my father's 1980 Oldsmobile). The only reason for buying the Versa was the need for back seat room which Honda immediately addressed. In 09 Honda will have no disadvantage.
Honda sales are up tremendously simply due to the CR recommendation. And that is the point.
PS the only thing the Yaris had going for it was Toyota. Now that the Yaris has pretty well defined rinky-dink, its sales are falling. Most people recognize that a Corolla serves better than a Yaris.
[/quote]
Honda sales are up tremendously simply due to the CR recommendation. And that is the point.
PS the only thing the Yaris had going for it was Toyota. Now that the Yaris has pretty well defined rinky-dink, its sales are falling. Most people recognize that a Corolla serves better than a Yaris.
[/quote]
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 98
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
I'm pointing out the result of Consumer Reports on Fit sales. The proof of Versa's sales advantage is Honda's increasing the rear seat knee room. There has never been a contest between the Fit handling better than the Versa. (as I said the Versa drives like my father's 1980 Oldsmobile). The only reason for buying the Versa was the need for back seat room which Honda immediately addressed. In 09 Honda will have no disadvantage.
Honda sales are up tremendously simply due to the CR recommendation. And that is the point.
PS the only thing the Yaris had going for it was Toyota. Now that the Yaris has pretty well defined rinky-dink, its sales are falling. Most people recognize that a Corolla serves better than a Yaris.
Honda sales are up tremendously simply due to the CR recommendation. And that is the point.
PS the only thing the Yaris had going for it was Toyota. Now that the Yaris has pretty well defined rinky-dink, its sales are falling. Most people recognize that a Corolla serves better than a Yaris.
So what you are saying then is you don't believe that the lack of availability of the FIT had anything to do with the lower volume? I believe the increase of sales of all three in relation to last years numbers are more related to the price of gasoline in the US and the clear romping of the Versa and Yaris in June was due to the increase allocation of the FIT to the US market over last year.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
So what you are saying then is you don't believe that the lack of availability of the FIT had anything to do with the lower volume? I believe the increase of sales of all three in relation to last years numbers are more related to the price of gasoline in the US and the clear romping of the Versa and Yaris in June was due to the increase allocation of the FIT to the US market over last year.[/quote]
No, I don't think slow Fit sales were a result of low supply.
The local dealers here had Fits on the lots continually so the minimum inventory philosophy seemed to be working. And when CR recommended the Fit demand shot up and the supply likewise.
When I bought my Fit I walked in, found the Fit I liked, negotiated the price, and drove away with my Fit. In less than an hour.
But that was before the CR recommendation; now they go 'over the curb' as soon as they arrive, to buyers standing in line. At a rate of 10,000 a month. Now I would agree that the supply is lower than demand but not last year or even early this year.
Without the CR recommendation Fit sales would still lag Versa and Yaris.
No, I don't think slow Fit sales were a result of low supply.
The local dealers here had Fits on the lots continually so the minimum inventory philosophy seemed to be working. And when CR recommended the Fit demand shot up and the supply likewise.
When I bought my Fit I walked in, found the Fit I liked, negotiated the price, and drove away with my Fit. In less than an hour.
But that was before the CR recommendation; now they go 'over the curb' as soon as they arrive, to buyers standing in line. At a rate of 10,000 a month. Now I would agree that the supply is lower than demand but not last year or even early this year.
Without the CR recommendation Fit sales would still lag Versa and Yaris.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 98
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
Slow sales? Are you saying they were piling up on dealer lots before CR? That doesn't seem to match John Mendel's comment "We had planned to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 and figured out very early that wasn’t enough, so we increased production to 60,000. That still wasn’t enough,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda." I'm not saying that every dealer was continually sold out, but none ever had more than a handful at a time, which would hardly constitute slow sales. Visit a local Nissan store and look at the inventory of Titans, or a Toyota store with the Tundra, or any domestic store with full size trucks and SUVs. That is what slow sales look like.
Fast forward to the beginning of March* when the average price of regular unleaded in the US was $3.00 a gallon and then rose to $3.30 by the beginning of April*, then $3.60 by the beginning of May*, then to $3.90 by the beginning of June*, to $4.10 by the beginning of July*. While I will give CR some of the credit, it isn't even remotely the major cause. If Honda hadn't ramped up production due to the dealers bugging the "Kuso" out of the factory reps beforehand, they wouldn't have had nearly enough vehicles to partially meet the demand (it takes approx 3 months to increase production and 1 month to ship from Japan to the US). Had Honda the manufacturing capacity, they could have sent even more stateside and sold them as well, evidenced by the scarce number, if any, available on dealer lots now.
* US Department Of Energy graph.
Fast forward to the beginning of March* when the average price of regular unleaded in the US was $3.00 a gallon and then rose to $3.30 by the beginning of April*, then $3.60 by the beginning of May*, then to $3.90 by the beginning of June*, to $4.10 by the beginning of July*. While I will give CR some of the credit, it isn't even remotely the major cause. If Honda hadn't ramped up production due to the dealers bugging the "Kuso" out of the factory reps beforehand, they wouldn't have had nearly enough vehicles to partially meet the demand (it takes approx 3 months to increase production and 1 month to ship from Japan to the US). Had Honda the manufacturing capacity, they could have sent even more stateside and sold them as well, evidenced by the scarce number, if any, available on dealer lots now.
* US Department Of Energy graph.
Last edited by Cosmo; Jul 10, 2008 at 02:21 PM.
i think the car pretty much sold by itself after the ads, countless news
and magazine articles about how great the car is, etc. and the recent
gas hike.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 98
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
I think the major cause of the increase was due to the price of gasoline going up as quickly as it did. This is evidenced by the increase sales of the Versa and Yaris as well. However, if Honda hadn't increased the allocation of the Fit to the US market, those stellar numbers could not have been achieved.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
Slow sales? Are you saying they were piling up on dealer lots before CR? That doesn't seem to match John Mendel's comment "We had planned to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 and figured out very early that wasn’t enough, so we increased production to 60,000. That still wasn’t enough,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda." I'm not saying that every dealer was continually sold out, but none ever had more than a handful at a time, which would hardly constitute slow sales. Visit a local Nissan store and look at the inventory of Titans, or a Toyota store with the Tundra, or any domestic store with full size trucks and SUVs. That is what slow sales look like.
Fast forward to the beginning of March* when the average price of regular unleaded in the US was $3.00 a gallon and then rose to $3.30 by the beginning of April*, then $3.60 by the beginning of May*, then to $3.90 by the beginning of June*, to $4.10 by the beginning of July*. While I will give CR some of the credit, it isn't even remotely the major cause. If Honda hadn't ramped up production due to the dealers bugging the "Kuso" out of the factory reps beforehand, they wouldn't have had nearly enough vehicles to partially meet the demand (it takes approx 3 months to increase production and 1 month to ship from Japan to the US). Had Honda the manufacturing capacity, they could have sent even more stateside and sold them as well, evidenced by the scarce number, if any, available on dealer lots now.
* US Department Of Energy graph.
Fast forward to the beginning of March* when the average price of regular unleaded in the US was $3.00 a gallon and then rose to $3.30 by the beginning of April*, then $3.60 by the beginning of May*, then to $3.90 by the beginning of June*, to $4.10 by the beginning of July*. While I will give CR some of the credit, it isn't even remotely the major cause. If Honda hadn't ramped up production due to the dealers bugging the "Kuso" out of the factory reps beforehand, they wouldn't have had nearly enough vehicles to partially meet the demand (it takes approx 3 months to increase production and 1 month to ship from Japan to the US). Had Honda the manufacturing capacity, they could have sent even more stateside and sold them as well, evidenced by the scarce number, if any, available on dealer lots now.
* US Department Of Energy graph.
As far as Fit marketability, you can bet Honda increased back seat kneeroom and hp to compete with the Versa which was outselling Fit 2:1
Honda has very good marketing people and good operating management.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,371
From: NC USA
[quote=kenchan;362320]do you have scientific proof that CR had anything to do with the Fit sales?
Camry, Accord, Forester, just to name a couple of easy ones, got big sales increases as a result of automotive reviews.
CR also did in several makes by their reporting, theSamurai for example.
CR doesn't rate cars the same way I do either, but their reliability ratings based on subscriber surveys are very helpful. You only have to read CR's letters to the editor to see the effects of their ratings, which are pretty good for the masses.
PS C&D and R&T test reports don't score with me either for the same reason. Too much subjective results and too little reliance on hard numbers. Anything you can't measure with accurate testing is subjective and should be left to the individual. For example most C&D and R&T 'tests have ratings for driver comfort, feel, and appearance etc that I found differently when I road-tested the vehicle.
If its not measured in seconds, mpg, mph, inches, feet, g's its not part of a good test. Try taking any of their tests and removing the subjective ratings and virtually 100% will end with different scores - and winners.
cheers.
Camry, Accord, Forester, just to name a couple of easy ones, got big sales increases as a result of automotive reviews.
CR also did in several makes by their reporting, theSamurai for example.
CR doesn't rate cars the same way I do either, but their reliability ratings based on subscriber surveys are very helpful. You only have to read CR's letters to the editor to see the effects of their ratings, which are pretty good for the masses.
PS C&D and R&T test reports don't score with me either for the same reason. Too much subjective results and too little reliance on hard numbers. Anything you can't measure with accurate testing is subjective and should be left to the individual. For example most C&D and R&T 'tests have ratings for driver comfort, feel, and appearance etc that I found differently when I road-tested the vehicle.
If its not measured in seconds, mpg, mph, inches, feet, g's its not part of a good test. Try taking any of their tests and removing the subjective ratings and virtually 100% will end with different scores - and winners.
cheers.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 98
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
Then sales took off and deliveries were increased to match the backlog of orders. As far as Fit marketability, you can bet Honda increased back seat kneeroom and hp to compete with the Versa which was outselling Fit 2:1 Honda has very good marketing people and good operating management.
Originally Posted by Automotive News
"U.S. production is limited because Honda only has capacity to build 500,000 Fits a year right now for the entire world, and if we get more in the U.S., someone else has to get less elsewhere in the world."
The 2:1 sales delta was only in the US market due to the unknown reception that the car would have. The Jazz/Fit has/is currently outselling the Tiida/Versa globally. While the Tiida/Versa has certainly made a good run of it, 1 million cars built from Sept 2004 - Mar 2008 -vs- 2 million for the Jazz/Fit Jun 2001 - Jun 2007 (don't forget to add for Jul 2007 - Mar 2008, additional 400,00 worldwide??)
Neither of us can say for certain what reasons Honda had in the design of the 09 Jazz/Fit backseat knee and hip room. Each successive model has grown larger than its predecessor for the last 20 some odd years now. In all honesty there is just as good a chance that your correct as there is that your not. Admittedly, I very well could have the very same chance that I am right or wrong. Only the design team at Honda will ever know for sure.
As far as Honda having good marketing people and good operating management. I am sure they are happy to portray that image to the general public. While they are certainly more adept than GM, Ford or Chrysler in many areas, they are undeniably inept in others. By no means is this intended to be a slur, "you just can't see the weeds from across the street".
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Odie
General Fit Talk
2
Apr 14, 2014 02:31 AM
Illusive
General Fit Talk
7
Aug 5, 2013 09:10 AM
