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Corporate October 31, 2000 |
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Honda's U.K. Plant to Export CR-V to North America
-Will Enhance Role of U.K. Plant in Honda's Global Network-
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Tokyo, October 31, 2000 ---
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that Honda U.K. Manufacturing Ltd.
(HUM) will export the next generation CR-V compact sport utility vehicle
to the North American market. The decision follows their plan, announced
in September this year, to export HUM's new Civic 3-door model to the Japanese
market and represents a greater role for Honda's European operations in
the company's global strategy.
The new plan demonstrates Honda's significant speed and flexibility in changing
product supply plans on a global scale. Currently, Honda is implementing its New
Manufacturing System in its major plants around the world--including HUM--to
increase the speed, efficiency and flexibility of Honda's global production system.
As a result, the next generation CR-V model will be supplied to the North American
market both from Japan and the U.K.
HUM is currently undergoing expansion to a 250,000-unit annual capacity, with a
second plant scheduled to begin production in the summer of 2001. The
introduction of additional export production will allow HUM to achieve faster
utilization of full capacity.
This new product supply strategy represents Honda's response to the rapidly
changing business environment in Europe, including the depreciation of the Euro.
The new strategy also makes efficient use of Honda's global resources -
simultaneously taking full advantage of the capacity at HUM and helping Honda
meet the strong demand in North America and the 900,000 unit annual sales target
in Japan.
Honda's previously announced plans to begin production of a new small vehicle at
HUM have been postponed. This new B-category vehicle will now initially be
supplied from Japan.
Through its global product supply network, Honda expects to maintain global
competitiveness and the ability to meet changing market conditions and customer
needs. |
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