The recent floods in Thailand added yet another headache to the Japanese car manufacturers’ executives, since many plants were forced to reduce production as parts supplies were severely disrupted for several weeks.
Nevertheless, Honda’s U.S. sales boss John Mendel issued a memo to the brand’s dealers on November 22, in which he instructs them to move “full speed ahead” in terms of sales. Mendel’s memo pointed out that “our product availability is good, our arrivals are good and we will continue to have media presence throughout the month of December.”
Honda spokesperson Gary Robinson confirmed to Autonews that Mendel sent the memo, explaining that its intent was to motivate dealers to do their best. “Since this whole Thailand crisis started, our initial position was pretty conservative, but things have turned around quicker than we initially thought”, he said.
Robinson added that in another memo issued on November 21, Honda informed the company’s U.S. dealers that December vehicle production is expected to exceed December 2010 numbers.
On Monday, the Japanese automaker issued an official statement saying that “due to improvement in the overall parts supply situation, all of Honda’s North American plants will resume normal production by December 1, 2011.”
Honda added that while the severe flooding in Thailand continues to have some impact to its parts supply, it is “working closely with its suppliers to fully reestablish the flow of parts for the products made in North America”.
