Honda was in the process of rolling out a new line of Civic models when the Japan earthquake struck.
Honda announced today that overall automobile production volume will remain at “significantly reduced levels” through the summer months as a result of the ongoing aftershocks of the Japan earthquake and tsunami in early March.
Honda’s goal in North America is to normalize overall production sometime around the end of the year, similar to the situation at Toyota and Nissan who comprise the Japan Big three automakers.
Two of the immediate Honda causalities are the all new 2012 Civic and CRV – both among the best selling vehicles in the United States.
Production of the 2012 Honda Civic will be scant at least through the summer months. While dealers will continue to receive Civics, supply will be “severely restricted with limited availability of certain models,” Honda said in a statement.
The previously scheduled fall launch of the all-new 2012 CR-V will be delayed by at least one month. To bridge to the launch of the new model, Honda will extend production of the current 2011 CR-V, which remains the best selling SUV in America.
Honda also said it will import only a very limited number of Japan-built vehicles for the remainder of the year. This means models such as the Honda Fit, CR-Z, Insight and Civic Hybrid, and the Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and RL, will be in very limited supply until later in the year.
(See also Honda Q4 Profit Drops as Yen and Earthquake Shake Results; Honda Keeps Japan Plants at 50% Capacity until End of June)
