A Thousand Points Of Light… And A Chinese Concern

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

Honda’s in better shape than its contemporaries after QUAKEOLOPNIKPOCALYPSE or whatever our friends in the biz are calling this particular disaster. Although production will be stopped this week in several Japanese plants, the bulk of Honda’s automobiles worldwide are built, and sold, in North America. A little bird told me that Honda has weeks of Japanese-sourced parts for US production. Things are so good that the Big H can afford to donate a thousand portable generators (and five thousand gas cans) to the relief effort.

Let’s say production takes a while to come back, however. Here in the United States, that means dealers will face short supply of the Acura RL (who cares), Acura TSX (might be a problem) and Honda Fit (Uh-oh). Honda has an alternative to supply the latter. Will they take it, and make history in so doing?

Although US-bound Fits are assembled in Japan, the rest of the world’s drivers often receive their “Jazz” from factories in China. Honda made a very quiet change a few years ago and began supplying Chinese Jazzes to most of Europe. The Fit is very profitable for American Honda dealers, even if it perhaps is not all that profitable for Honda itself, so it’s safe to say that if supplies dwindle the pressure will be on to do something. If that happens, the first Chinese-made automobile to be sold in the United States will have come from an unlikely source indeed.

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

More by Jack Baruth

Comments
Join the conversation
8 of 31 comments
  • Obbop Obbop on Mar 14, 2011

    Sheesh......... Log in..... need to enter screen name. This article... Log in.... wants password this time. Will next request be for first-born son to be sacrificed to Moloch? Anyway... I am in a positive feedback loop. I comment and have to return to view any possible responses to comments. The return results in a "since I am here I need to view new posts scenario wherein I make another inane comment somewhere thus forced to return resulting in an endless cycle that does assist in increasing page and site hits. Ad stat logistics live for those such as I. Does anybody recall the constantly-appearing ads in days of old reminding the USA masses to use the at-the-time nearly-new Zip Code? And remember; Buckle up for safety, BUCKLE UP! Buckle up for safety EVERYBODY BUCKLE UP! keep your mind at ease in the driver seat Buckle up for safety EVERYBODY BUCKLE UP! Buckle up for safety, BUCKLE UP! Buckle up for safety EVERYBODY BUCKLE UP! If you're in your car Traveling near or far Buckle up for safety EVERYBODY BUCKLE UP! Lyrics varied among locales and over time. In the public domain I believe due to the feds being behind the ad campaign. Oh, attractive generator. They are sure pretty in the retailer. Well-machined metal is prettier than any jewel to me, the Disgruntled One.

  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Mar 14, 2011

    >>>QUAKEOLOPNIKPOCALYPSE

    Jack & Jalopnik got beef. someone might get shot

    • Ronnie Schreiber Ronnie Schreiber on Mar 15, 2011

      I'm sure I'm not the only person who tried to sound out that portmanteau. It kind of has a ring to it.

  • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Mar 14, 2011

    I thought Honda was building Fits in several places, and that the Thai plant was the most likely export source?

  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Mar 14, 2011

    Is there any hope that the Crosstour is produced solely in Japan?

    • Jack Baruth Jack Baruth on Mar 15, 2011

      No such luck, Robert: I'm currently sitting about three miles form East Liberty, Ohio, where all Crosstours are produced, including ones for the Russian market with real burlwood trim and rear seat heaters.

Next