Honda Aims to Double Fit Minicar Sales

Honda Motor Co. will add new models to its Fit minicar lineup beginning next year in a bid to double worldwide sales, says The Nikkei, which cites no sources.

Honda currently sells about 500,000 Fits per year. The next-generation model will debut in Japan in autumn 2013.

Like the current model, the new Fit will share its platform with the Honda City car. But The Nikkei says Honda also will add a sporty crossover version of the Fit next year. The Tokyo-based newspaper says Honda appears to be tooling up to produce at least 300,000 of the new crossovers per year, primarily for U.S. and European markets.

Honda currently produces all Fits in Japan. It plans to open a new plant in Saitama Prefecture a year from now to produce next-generation models. The Nikkei says Honda also may expand Fit production to facilities in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and the U.K.

The new Fit will use about 70% common content in all global markets, according to the newspaper. But it notes that six regional product development centers have been customizing the design to meet local tastes.