So Honda has a new president, Takeo Fukui, and he has made a speech. Here are a few highlights and some thoughts from me.

"I'm not setting sales targets" and instead intends to focus on improving quality to win customers "one by one". Man, this scares me. Honda is already the second most reliable car made and now they intend to focus on quality. Watch out Toyota!

"Our company takes the basic performance of the car itself very seriously-the drive, the stop and the turn. The car has to be fun to drive. That's the root of our cars." Okay, are we still talking about Honda here? Take away the S2000 and the rest of the Honda/Acura lineup is a megadose of Sominex. Now his first "quality" comments are not as scary.

You can read more here http://start.earthlink.net/newsarticle?cat=1&aid=710110628_5304_lead_story

interesting

would be nice if it comes true =)

Originally posted by babylou
"I'm not setting sales targets" and instead intends to focus on improving quality to win customers "one by one". Man, this scares me. Honda is already the second most reliable car made and now they intend to focus on quality. Watch out Toyota!

more quality, well, ok. but to not set a sales target... jeez... i don't think that cost reduction, not to mention company growth, is in his plan at all with such a flaccid approach. could it be that he envisions Honda Of The Future as a company with Mercedes-esque repute around the world??

I think the remarks were targetted at the Japanese audience. Honda sales are down 3.3% in Japan and people are getting worried. But Honda sales are up 8% worldwide (11% in the USA) and their profits are up 18% over the previous year ($3.6 Billion).

I think he is right to focus on profit rather than untis shipped - look at Ford and GM - huge sales numbers and minimal profits (maybe losses for Ford) because of insane rebates. Honda builds a quality car, does not have to give rebates (much) and makes a lot of profit from fewer sales.

I don't know where he got the idea of exciting cars (except Integra/RSX, NSX, S2000 and any Type-Rs of course). Maybe the cars in Japan are different from those in North America.