Honda restarts its motorcycle exports to the United States and Canada

El Salto, Jalisco.- Honda Mexico resumed its motorcycle exports to the North American market, with which it seeks to make the country the new supplier of the United States and Canada, before the container shortage from Asia and the logistical increase that it implies.

With the starting flag for the United States, Honda sent the first container with 64 motorcycles of its NAVi 2022 model produced at the El Salto, Jalisco plant, after in 2008 sales abroad slowed down due to lack of demand.

With the commitment to export 12,900 units per year, the Japanese company installed in Mexico will be responsible for supplying motorcycles to the North American markets, which will replace its imports from China and India.

“We are very pleased to celebrate the start of Honda NAVi exports to the United States. It is a milestone that marks the return of Honda from Mexico to the path of motorcycle exports and with this we contribute to strengthening the business in the country, since exports represent about 90% of the company’s total operations, also adding value for the Mexican economy, while strengthening the development of the Mexican workforce, “said Dai Fujikawa, president and CEO of Honda de México.

Ken Tomiyasu, Honda Company Vehicle Development supervisor for Honda NAVi said that the situation represents an opportunity for Mexico and to strengthen the motorcycle business in the North American region, “I am happy to see that we have exports to the US and Canada”, after recalling that the first Mexican unit was exported in 1991, whose model was very successful in the North American market.

“The Mexican motorcycles were well received, the product was good and the prices were good. Today we start the new NAVi model that is very popular in Mexico, in fact exports make the motorcycle production business grow, Honda has an opportunity in the Mexican auto parts market ”, he added.

With a national content between 30 and 40%, the motorcycles assembled in Mexico have Chinese, Brazilian and Indian components, mainly the engine and the chassis.

Honda produces between 500 and 600 monthly motorcycles of the NAVi model, which is sold in the domestic market and last September increased a work shift to increase production to serve the export sector.

Although shipments to the United States will have a certification requirement, a pollutant emissions component and a rear brake have already been added to the assembled units.

The NAVi will go on sale in January 2022 in the US market, at a cost of $ 1,800, and will be aimed at the youth segment.

The Japanese company invested 70 million dollars in 2019 for the start of production of the motorcycle in El Salto, this time no new capital was used, since it was enough to increase shifts.

“Honda has placed its trust in Mexico due to the quality and extensive experience of the Mexican workforce. Currently, it has more than 5,700 associates in its different facilities and, recently, after the announcement of a second motorcycle production shift, it expanded the potential and presence of NAVi in North America ”, highlighted the president of the plant.