Honda’s redesigned Civic hatchback, presently built in the UK for sale only in Europe, may go on sale in other markets within a couple of years, according to an Australian report.
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The GoAuto website said it understood Honda’s head office in Japan had been surprised by requests from Japanese and US sales units for the hatchback version, and was considering building it in an additional plant for Asian and American markets, most likely in Thailand, within 18 months.
Honda is currently rolling out a redesigned Civic sedan model line in Asia and North America and builds these cars in the US, Thailand and Japan.
However, there has been a recent resurgence in demand for small hatchback models in the US and Honda (with the Fit aka Jazz), Toyota (Yaris) and Nissan (Versa aka Tiida) all plan to launch new compact hatchback models there.
These will follow South Korean rivals such as the Kia Rio onto the US market while domestic automaker Chrysler will replace its long-running Neon small sedan with the Caliber hatchback.
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By GlobalDataThe Australian report said Honda US was understood to have expressed strong interest in adding a Civic hatchback to its model line. Prior to the 2006 model year full redesign, it supplemented its owb US-built Civic sedans with a sporty hatchback version imported from the UK.
Honda Australia, which imports its cars from Japan and Thailand, used to sell a hatchback Civic but has been offered only the Thai-built sedan version of the redesigned model.
“The European market is the priority [for the hatchback] right now,” Toshio Iwamoto, managing director and CEO of Honda Australia, told Go Auto, adding: “But personally I would love to see it sold here.”
The report said the high ex-factory price, adverse currency factors and the need for compliance with Australia’s unique vehicle emission control and safety laws all currently ruled the UK-built Civic hatch out of contention in Australia. If launched today, it would be priced around $US15,000 above some Japanese and European-sourced rivals.
