The Wall Street Journal reports that orders for Honda's CR-Z were ten times higher than expected. Honda was initially hoping for sales of 1,000 units per month in its home market, but total orders have now exceeded 10,000.
With debuts in the US and Europe in the next few months, the Japanese auto maker seems to have few obstacles between it and its goal of 40,000 to 50,000 units per year.
It's not difficult to make the connection between Toyota's technical hiccup and Honda's boost in hybrid sales. People lost trust in their favorite brand, and now they fell back on the next best, comparable, recognizable thing.
"If Honda can gain sales, they are going to promote the brand at the expense of Toyota. They are not blind to the situation," says Chris Richter, automotive analyst at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.
"Honda is the second-largest hybrid car maker by volume after Toyota, and its Insight hybrid car was the first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the U.S."
As for sales, the sports car marketing trick must have worked: 90% of the cars were ordered by males in their 30s and 40s. Anyone care to guess how people on this side of the Pacific will react?
- By Phil Alex
Via: WSJ (Sub. Req)
