Honda Says Sales of Its CR-Z Hybrid in Japan Have Exceeded Expectations Tenfold
By Scott Doggett March 24, 2010
Despite its reputation for being underpowered and not particularly impressive in its fuel economy, the 2011 CR-Z sporty hybrid continues to enjoy brisk sales in Japan, Honda Motor Co. said today.
After being on the Japanese market for one month, cumulative orders for the $25,340 car have topped 10,000 -- or more than 10 times its monthly sales target of 1,000 vehicles, Honda reported.
The CR-Z generates 122 horsepower and just 128 pound-feet of torque. Its fuel economy is only so-so for a small hybrid, at 36 miles per gallon city and 38 mpg highway.
Honda, Japan's second-largest hybrid car maker by volume after Toyota Motor Corp., rolled out the CR-Z in the domestic market February 26.
The company plans to introduce the model in the U.S. and Europe after the summer, with a combined annual sales target of 40,000 to 50,000 in the three markets.
It should be noted that Honda sold some 18,000 Insight hybrids in that model's first month on the Japanese market about this time last year. That was 3.6 times the 5,000-a-month sales target Honda had set for the model.
But since then, the Insight has not sold as well as Honda had planned, tallying 136,000 sales globally in its first year versus the original goal of 200,000. As a result, Honda set its sales sights lower for the CR-Z.
LEAVE A COMMENT