Honda to Unveil Next-Generation Honda Pilot and FCX Clarity at the NAIS

Anthony Fontanelle
December 14, 2007

To welcome the New Year, Honda Motor Co. the producer of high quality Acura CL fender flares will introduce a prototype of its next-generation Pilot at the North American International Auto Show that will be held in Detroit in January 2008.

Autodata has reported that sales of the Honda Pilot have dropped this year by 22 percent to 106,743 vehicles through November as compared to the same period last year.

Aside from the next-generation Pilot, Honda also plans of showcasing its FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle and with these two new models the Japanese automaker is hoping to boost its sales by 2.5 percent by 2008.

Honda Expects Slow Sales Growth in the US And speaking of boosting sales, Honda is expecting for sales growth in the US by 3 percent or more for 2008 that is despite the fact that sales of new vehicles are slumping due to the slowing economy and decreasing consumer purchase that is according to a senior executive.

The executive vice president in charge of Honda’s US operations, John Mendel said the he is expecting for industry-wide sales to drop to between 15.5 million and 16 million vehicles in the US next year—the lowest tally since 1998.

Mr. Mendel also told Reuters in an interview, "It's going to continue to slow. I just don't know that we're going to get the big whack that doomsayers would predict."

It is not only Mr. Mendel that is having apprehensions about the coming year but same with other industry analysts and executives who have become very worried with the worsening condition of the housing industry aggravated by a spike in mortgage defaults that could greatly affect vehicle sale in 2008.

Despite all these threats, still Mr. Mendel is positive that both the vehicle industry as well as the US economy would start to improve in the second half of next year. This is also the very reason for the 3 to 4 percent projected sales growth by Honda. Mr. Mendel also said, "I think next year is probably on target for that. It seems to me that if you look back at our history we've tended to prosper more than the rest when times were tough."

The automaker is also positive that even if American consumers would become more selective in their vehicle purchase they have the lineup that could meet up their needs in terms of overall fuel economy and maintaining resale values which according to Mr. Mendel are among the important considerations of shoppers right now.

Source:  Amazines.com