Honda Plant in Mexico to Build Three Fit Variants

Honda Motor Co. intends to make sedan, hatchback and crossover versions of its Fit minicar in Mexico beginning in 2014, Automotive News reports.

Honda previously confirmed it would build the Fit at a factory now under construction in Celaya. But it didn't specify which models. AN cites an unnamed source at the company who says about 70% of the plant's 200,000-unit annual capacity will be exported to the U.S. and elsewhere.

Last summer The Nikkei said Honda aims to double global Fit sales to about 1 million units over the next few years, in part by expanding production beyond Japan.

The new plant in Mexico will combine with other expansion plans to increase Honda's production capacity in North America to about 1.9 million units from 1.6 million units currently. Honda said last week it aims to export more vehicles from North America by 2014 than it imports from Japan.

The next-generation Fit, which will bow in Japan in autumn 2013, will share approximately 70% of their content in all markets, according to The Nikkei. The newspaper says six Honda regional product development centers have been customizing the vehicle to suit local consumer tastes.