Honda fights back

The Japanese brand has endured its worst year and a big slump in sales caused by a series of disasters. 

It was one of the car makers hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated much of Japan, costing more than 20,000 lives and wiping out countless parts-supplying industries.

"Eighty per cent of our production came from Thailand, and the factories there remain inaccessible to this day. We will have to source product from other countries; Civic and Jazz from Japan, and we will have a better year in 2012."

It will be Civic's 40th year, with 20 million cars sold worldwide. A new model, the ninth generation, will arrive in March, 2012 and it will be preceded by a `marketing special' Japanese-built Jazz, in February.

Also, the upgraded Odyssey for 2012 is available now with $2000 lopped from its price and the CR-Z hybrid sports car has just been launched. Plans for 2013 include diesel-powered Civics and more hybrids.

Mr Smalley said 50per cent of Hondas sold in Japan were hybrids. He said many Australian consumers seemed frightened by the shift to sophisticated technology, probably because they were used to `basic V8s' but the change would come as fuel prices continued their inevitable hike.

A little-known fact is Honda is the world's biggest engine maker. It builds more than 20 million a year, covering industrial, agricultural, domestic, automotive and the marine industries.

Honda Australia will also build on its name by stepping up its domestic motorsport activities. It ran a Civic Type R in the Australian Rally Championship this year, and will compete with a pair of Jazzes built to G2 rally specification in 2012.