In a roundtable with reporters at an event with regard to the Tokyo Motor Show told Tetsuo Iwamura, President and CEO of American Honda, us, that he surprised by the Crosstour crossover slow sales have been:
The five-door CUV has fought, since it went on sale as a 2010 model. Until November, the Honda has counted this year – after almost 36 percent from the 25.927 units sold only 16.679 units at this point in the year 2010. Honda had originally planned annual sales of 40,000 units.
“In the case of the Crosstour, I am really disappointed because this is a beautiful car, [with] very nice styling, and it very good driving performance as well as packaging. But still we went a little too far.”
Iwamura, acknowledged that in hindsight the CUV branded products such as the accord cross tour start was probably a “misstep”, so the company later his moniker, Crosstour shortened, to give the car more of a stand-alone identity. In our article 2009 first drive we praised the Crosstour of the solid driving dynamics, but it criticized awkward styling, poor packaging and visibility, a short list of options and premium prices.
In our discussion with Iwamura, have we noticed that while Honda solid sales figures for its long-time incumbent offered like the chord still enjoy, CR-V and Odyssey, newer models – offered a harder time, especially niche – find buyers have had (see: CR-Z, insight, ridgeline). Iwamura expressing, that Honda is actually “quite satisfied” with sales of most of its vehicle lines, claiming that he sees nothing systematic in the Honda, which has prevented the company models to regenerate hit. Furthermore you Iwamura vowed to further develop its niche players.
In the case of the Crosstour Iwamura said to “with the further development of styling and performance, a very good success, a leading model.”
