P.T. Honda Prospect Motor, Honda’s automobile manufacturing and sales joint venture in Indonesia, has announced plans to produce and sell the Freed model in Indonesia, starting June 2009.
In addition, exports to multiple countries in the Southeast Asia region are scheduled to begin before the end of this year. Indonesia will be the first country in regions outside Japan where the Freed will be produced and sold.
Honda says that demand for MPVs is high in Indonesia and increasing to the point where it accounts for approximately 40% of total auto sales in that country (MPV sales estimated at 231,000 units in 2008 versus total auto sales of 608,000).
With the Freed, Honda says it will have a “comfortable and stylish minivan” targeting the “new family” demographic in urban areas.
The Freed is a compact minivan which seats adults in three rows. Since its introduction in May 2008, Honda says sales of the Freed in Japan have been very strong.
Honda also says it has been establishing a complementary regional supply system for parts and finished vehicles while leveraging unique characteristics and advantages of each market.
In the case of the Freed, parts and components will be procured in multiple countries, mostly in the ASEAN region including Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, to enhance the competitive advantage of the product, Honda says..
