Honda Australia Takes Delivery Of First Thai-built Models Since Flood

Honda Australia is trumpeting the arrival of new Thai-built models, after massive flooding in 2011 forced the brand to take limited supply from Japan.

The adjusted supply schedule included the new Civic sedan, launched earlier this year, and the Vibe-badged Jazz range.

The carmaker has now taken delivery of its first Thai-built models since last year, including the CR-V, Jazz, updated City and new Civic sedan. 

With 80 percent of its models sourced from Thailand, Honda Australia expects new production there to push local sales back up to 40,000 in 2012.

The floods in Thailand, and Japan's disastrous earthquake, saw the the brand's 2011 Australian sales drop to 30,107 - down 10,000 on the previous year. 

Honda says it is on target to hit 40,000 sales this year, with 2485 units sold in April.

The brand has seen strong sales sales for the new Civic sedan (1804 sales since March 2012), Jazz Vibe (2617 sales year-to-date) and Accord Euro (2637 year-to-date).

By year’s end, Honda expects to sell roughly 1000 Civic Sedans per month, making up a quarter of the automaker’s local sales volume.

Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins, said that supply will return to normal in July, with the launch of the new Civic Hatch, which is built in Europe. 

The all-new CR-V SUV is also due to hit Australia in the fourth quarter of 2012 - possibly with a diesel version - and the Jazz Hybrid is expected to debut around the same time.

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