International Dealer News IDN 155 June/July 2020 | Page 14

news ROOM
Honda
At a corporate level year on year, Honda
Motor Co. Ltd. revenues fell -6.03%
from 15.89tn yen to 14.93tn yen (for
year ended March 31st, 2020). Along
with an increase in the cost of goods
sold, this contributed to a reduction in
net income from 610.32bn yen in
2018/2019 to 455.75bn in
2019/2020, a -25.33% decrease.
Operating profit fell by -12.8% to
633.6bn yen. Earnings Per Share (EPS)
were 260.13 yen, a decrease of 85.86
yen from the previous year. The COVID-
19 impact in Q4 (March mostly) pushed
Honda corporately into an operating
loss for the fourth quarter of its
2019/2020 full year.
Total sales revenue from its motorcycle
business was broadly flat compared to
year ended March 2019 at
2,059,335m yen for 2019/2020 for a
segment profit of 285,668m yen.
In unit sales terms, Honda sold
205,000 units in Japan in 2019/2020
(-2k); 239,000 units in Europe (-10k);
330,000 in North America (+29k) and
17.2 million in Asia (-962k) for a
worldwide total of 19.340 million
(- 898k/-4.4%).
Referencing the health emergency,
Takahiro Hachigo, President and
Representative Director for Honda
Motor Co., Ltd.: "Whether it be on
the medical front line, or supporting
our daily lives through various
services, many people are giving
their all in these difficult times."
Takahiro Hachigo, President and
Representative Director for Honda
Motor Co., Ltd., is quoted as saying:
"Honda would like to express its
deepest sympathy and condolences to
the victims and families of COVID-19
all around the world and the sincere
hope for the earliest possible recovery
for all those who are now fighting
infection.
"Whether it be on the medical front
line, or supporting our daily lives
through various services, many people
are giving their all in these difficult
times.
"Honda too, by way of our products,
technologies and people, will
undertake everything that we can do
by globally uniting our associates from
all over the world while staying close
to our local communities.
"We hope to continue striving with
even more effort, knowledge and
courage so as to bring the earliest
possible end to this challenging time
and open up a bright future. Let us
overcome this crisis together."
In other news, Honda has announced
that Android Auto will be integrated
with the current-model Gold Wing,
with a software update due for release
in June.
The company has also scooped a 'Red
Dot 2020' award in the 'Smart Product'
category for the CBR1000RR-R
Fireblade SP - the latest machine to
carry the Fireblade nameplate, which
was first introduced in 1992. "It has
always set the benchmark for how a
litre-class super sports machine should
The Honda Collection Hall
years of inline-fours are online with
customers invited to rank all twelve on
a new multi-language 'Honda
Customs' webpage and share their
choice via social channels, with a free
wallpaper download of their top bike
for desktop or mobile.
"The Honda CB1000R, flagship of the
Neo Sports Café range, has proven
itself to be the perfect canvas for
custom builders across Europe. Among
the twelve CB1000Rs are the Africa
Twin-inspired 'CRF1000 Africa Four',
the Monkey bike homage 'Monkey
Kong' and the 'Alfredo' tribute to
classic Freddie Spencer CBs of
yesteryear.
Honda also has a 360 degree virtual
tour of the three level Honda Collection
The twelve CB1000R custom builds from last year's Wheels & Waves
at Biarritz, France, can be seen at hondacustoms.com
Honda scooped a 'Red Dot 2020' award in the 'Smart Product' category for
the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade S. For all the anticipation for the new Fireblade
to hit showroom floors, con rod issues have forced an early-stage recall and,
in the US, "supply chain problems" have delayed the launch until at least
mid-September.
A 'Honda Origins, History and Values' presentation in animated manga comic
format is available online.
handle on public roads, but for the new
2020 model - developed under the
tagline of 'Born to Race' - an
unwavering focus on circuit
performance came hand in hand with
a radical new design and the most
powerful inline-four cylinder engine
Honda has ever made."
Satoshi Kawawa, General Manager
Motorcycle Design Division, said: "The
CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was
developed to win races in any category
- from club racing to international
competition. Its design and styling are
led by that philosophy - with every part
and every detail designed with speed,
performance and aerodynamic
efficiency in mind. We're honoured that
it has been recognised with such a
prestigious award."
Honda has been running several online
features to keep fans engaged.
The twelve CB1000R custom builds
that were seen at last year's Wheels &
Waves at Biarritz, France, to mark 50
Hall (HCH) at the Twin Ring Motegi
circuit in Japan available online - the
HCH hosts the largest collection of
products developed by the company,
with over 300 models on show.
Opened in 1998 to commemorate
Honda's 50th anniversary, motorcycle
highlights on display include the
CB750 - the world's first massproduced
four-cylinder motorcycle - the
oval-pistoned NR, and the six-cylinder
RC166 ridden to Isle of Man TT
victories by Mike Hailwood.
Also online is a 'Honda Origins, History
and Values' presentation in animated
manga comic format that retraces the
life of company founder Soichiro
Honda through an animated series
combining Japanese-style manga
cartoon drawings, audio and historic
photographs. The audio-visual journey
from the beginnings of Honda through
to its achievements and legacy has six
episodes, each lasting between 10 and
20 minutes.
14 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - JUNE/JULY 2020 www.idnmag.com