Honda bike launch first of its kind

[PeteC]

Honda bike launch first of its kind

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/mar ... f-its-kind

Published: 6/01/2012 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

Honda plans to bombard the Thai market with seven new motorcycle models in a one-day launch, the biggest ever in the history of the local industry.

The move is aimed at strengthening Honda's motorcycle market leadership and brand awareness and establishing Honda's Thai unit as a global motorcycle production hub.

The new models will be introduced by AP Honda, the local affiliate responsible for motorcycle distribution in Thailand, at Siam Paragon next Tuesday.

Suchart Arunsaengroj, the company's general manager for sales, would confirm only that "several" new Honda bikes will be introduced that day.

He would not specify the exact number nor the categories involved.

However, an industry source said the will be seven new models.

All of them will come with fuel injection engines and various engine capabilities up to 250cc, some of which will also be global products for export as well as local consumption.

"2012 will be the Year of the Honda Motorcycle, as product categories will cover the gamut of consumer needs and market segments," said the source.

Mr Suchart said some new models had been scheduled to debut last October, but the massive flooding forced a postponement.

"We just want to stimulate the market now that it's become bearish from last year's flood," said Mr Suchart.

The mass launch will be part of AP Honda's business plan announced in 2011 to introduce 12 new motorcycle models within three years.

Four models were launched separately earlier last year.

Honda motorcycles are produced by Thai Honda Manufacturing at its factory in Bangkok's Lat Krabang Industrial Estate, with output destined for domestic and foreign markets.

Thai Honda Manufacturing already produces the PCX scooter motorcycles and CBR 150 and 250 sport motorcycles mainly for Asean, Japan and Europe in addition to the domestic market.

The new global models will strengthen Thailand's position as a global production hub for the company.

AP Honda was the result of a merger 25 years ago between Honda's wholly owned Asian Honda Motor and the Phornprapha family's P Thailand Co.

The new entity has retained a 70% market share ever since.

At next Tuesday's mass launch, AP Honda president Chiaki Kato will announce an increase in local production capacity to satisfy demand both here and abroad.

[buksida]

I hope they can deliver, a friend has had a new Wave125i on order for nearly 2 months now ... "mai mee" is quite a common phrase in Honda dealerships these days.

[buksida]

Just been told by Honda that they've had to "make new model" so your new Wave is now 5k more expensive and weighs in at a whopping 60k. Another example of huge companies punishing the customer to recoup their losses.

[Name Taken]

60k for a Honda Wave?! That's way too much imo.

[Pagey]

http://www.motorcycle.in.th/staticpages ... Price_List

[buksida]

The prices on that site are last year pre-flood, the brand new 2012 Wave 125i will sting you 60k once insured and on the road.

Agree ... way too much!

[Takiap]

I can't see the Waves fetching that sort of price so wouldn't be at all surprised if the price comes down very quickly.

Saying that, the Waves are virtually indestructible unless crash them. Hell, mines done over 100,000 km's and it's still going strong.....

[ste860]

ive seen the prices of the new models ,theres a new click 125 cc ,a bigger pcx 150 cc and the wave is being made with a few changes ,but prices are not going up much only the pcx which ive heard was 100.000 ,the new click is really nice , and has more storage under the seat , alson a brand new one similar to the fiore ,

[STEVE G]

Yes, we've got two Waves and they just seem to go on for ever. The first one is up in Issan now where it gets used by members of the extended family for going farming or whatever and it did 50,000km around Hua Hin before that, there's still nothing really wrong with it apart from looking a bit tatty.
60,000 bt does seem a bit of a steep rise though as you could still get one for 40 odd not that long a go.