ChinchillaX
06-10-2004, 03:28 AM
An interesting article about Acura going to Australia to sell cars. I will take time before that happens though. c1i2ck
http://www.drive.com.au/news/article.asp?article=http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/news/general/2004/06/10/FFXPTDNR9VD.html
Acura will come here ... eventually
By Toby Hagon
The Age
Thursday June 10 2004
Honda's upmarket Acura brand is headed for Australia, although its arrival will take "some time", according to Honda Australia managing director Hiroshi Toda.
Priming the Honda marque for an expansion into more luxurious models, Toda says the US-only brand, which is reserved for more expensive and sporty Hondas, will eventually arrive here.
"It's inevitable (that Acura will arrive here), but it is far away," says Toda.
"So, yes, longer term, because our plan is to grow and grow. But it will take some more time."
Toda is adamant there are no firm plans in place to introduce Acura, although he confirms early discussions have taken place.
However, the local managing director, who has helped return Honda to record sales on the back of several new-model launches, says it is important the Acura brand arrives here with a proper model line-up rather than one or two vehicles.
The obvious vehicle to wear the Acura badge in lieu of the better-known Honda label is the upcoming Legend -- shown recently as the RL prototype (pictured) -- but Toda says there will have to be more.
"We would have to have a large model line-up to make it sustainable," he says. "Having only the Legend (wearing the Acura badge) is not viable."
In America, where Acura is a respected brand, Honda vehicles such as the NSX, Integra and MDX are also sold under the Acura banner.
But Toda is cautious about introducing Acura too early, citing lack of brand recognition and a suitable dealer network as potential causes of failure.
"We have to make sure the current Honda franchise is successful and very strong before we introduce Acura," says Toda.
Acura would be the fourth upmarket brand from a Japanese manufacturer to be introduced locally, with only Toyota's Lexus brand being a success. Mazda's Eunos and Nissan's Infiniti both flopped with poor sales and lack of brand recognition.
Toda is aware of some car-makers' concerns that there are too many brands in Australia for the size of our market.
"That is not a concern to us -- it is an opportunity," he says
http://www.drive.com.au/news/article.asp?article=http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/news/general/2004/06/10/FFXPTDNR9VD.html
Acura will come here ... eventually
By Toby Hagon
The Age
Thursday June 10 2004
Honda's upmarket Acura brand is headed for Australia, although its arrival will take "some time", according to Honda Australia managing director Hiroshi Toda.
Priming the Honda marque for an expansion into more luxurious models, Toda says the US-only brand, which is reserved for more expensive and sporty Hondas, will eventually arrive here.
"It's inevitable (that Acura will arrive here), but it is far away," says Toda.
"So, yes, longer term, because our plan is to grow and grow. But it will take some more time."
Toda is adamant there are no firm plans in place to introduce Acura, although he confirms early discussions have taken place.
However, the local managing director, who has helped return Honda to record sales on the back of several new-model launches, says it is important the Acura brand arrives here with a proper model line-up rather than one or two vehicles.
The obvious vehicle to wear the Acura badge in lieu of the better-known Honda label is the upcoming Legend -- shown recently as the RL prototype (pictured) -- but Toda says there will have to be more.
"We would have to have a large model line-up to make it sustainable," he says. "Having only the Legend (wearing the Acura badge) is not viable."
In America, where Acura is a respected brand, Honda vehicles such as the NSX, Integra and MDX are also sold under the Acura banner.
But Toda is cautious about introducing Acura too early, citing lack of brand recognition and a suitable dealer network as potential causes of failure.
"We have to make sure the current Honda franchise is successful and very strong before we introduce Acura," says Toda.
Acura would be the fourth upmarket brand from a Japanese manufacturer to be introduced locally, with only Toyota's Lexus brand being a success. Mazda's Eunos and Nissan's Infiniti both flopped with poor sales and lack of brand recognition.
Toda is aware of some car-makers' concerns that there are too many brands in Australia for the size of our market.
"That is not a concern to us -- it is an opportunity," he says