That was the ad campaign that made Honda a household word.
Posted on 07/29/2009 9:03:20 PM PDT by model B
A motocross publication that I read online is quoting Nasdaq that Honda is closing their Marysville OH plant, which currently produces the VTX and Honda Goldwing motorcycles. Production (up to 75,000 motorcycles/year) is being sourced back to Japan.
You know something is up when it is once again cheaper to produce in Japan. The labor and facility costs there are extremely high.
Always told the wife that I would get a Gold Wing over a Harley, but this changes things.
Japanese aren’t going to be forced or fined because they aren’t providing benefits the US govt mandates on employers. Probably will be cheaper back in Japan.
Obama gets a win because that’s less industry in the USA. Gets two victories, maybe three or four. Let’s count them:
1. Obama wins because he de-industrializes us more.
2. Obama wins because more people unemployed.
3. Obama wins because more people will be forced into govt hcare plan.
4. Obama wins because economy is worsened.
You can’t have global govt with the US remaining a superpower.
You cannot be a superpower if you have a robust industrial economy.
I guess Honda announced their plans to close this plant earlier this year but it’s news to me. definitely sucks for those folks there. they made a good product.
The Japenese didn’t elect OBOZO and they can see the Devastation he is reeking on AMERICA! HONDA has made a big statement; “SCREW YOU OBOZO!, We are getting out before You Nationalize the U.S. Asstes like Your Hero, Chavez, did in Venezuala!” :-(
Blame Obama not Honda !
Japanese companies are in the end - Japanese companies.
You can’t blame Honda .
Damn, I am looking at a Shadow for my first bike.
It makes perfect sense to flee a sinking ship when the drunken captain has started chopping holes in the lifeboats.
We know how that hope and change thingy is working in ohio.Gonna be tough for a while.
Not a good sign....that is a lot of jobs lost
But, the days of willy-nilly free trade are over....and you will see more in-sourcing of jobs. In fact, this is now happening in reverse, as some manufacturers are leaving Communist China to return to the US (mainly due to transportation costs)
You mean they were lying?? I mean if you can't trust a bunch of commie-pinko leftwing facist dirty lowdown Democrats then who can you trust?
I don’t blame Honda. And when I do buy another bike, it will probably be a Honda. I have never had an issue with them. My wife wants me to buy a Harley for us both to ride. However, I still think a Gold Wing would be better.
Honda is an exceptionally well run company. I would take a Honda over a Toyo any day. Honda’s hybrid is not as good as the Prius or Ford Fusion/Milan. Ford now owns all of their own hybrid technology and it was created in house.
AFAIK - they cross licensed some stuff with Toyo but now it is all Ford. Ford’s new V6 is also world class.
No way any smart company will built a plant in America now.
You used to meet the nicest people on a Honda.
You used to meet the nicest people on a Honda.
That was the ad campaign that made Honda a household word.
I planned to keep my ‘81 ‘wing anyway. 140,000+ miles and still going strong.
We are seeing a third world african marxist dictator in the Mugabe style running the USA into the ground.
Next thing you know they’ll be growing tea in China.
To me, a Gold Wing would probably be better for cross country. For cruising around and fun, I like the Harley. I'll never own another bike, but if I did, I'd take a long look at the Victory motorcycles.
Honda announced this last year.
They need the extra capacity to build the Honda Fit car. They’re not able to keep up with demand for the little thing.
Goldwing and VTX sales haven’t been great in the last few years.
Yeppir, and we can blame Zero, but the groundwork has been laid for many years, and much of it by the citizenry.
I’m all for insourcing back to the US. Where do you get your info on transportation costs? I can tell you that bulk transportation rates stateside have gone in the proverbial toilet.
If true transoceanic shipping rates are going up, that’s a good thing as demand is coming back.
Ohio went blue, became socialist and unfriendly to free enterprise. The cure for socialism is widespread and lengthy unemployment for Democrats. How is that secession movement coming along in Texas?
so is that part of the “jobs saved” or is it on the “jobs created” list? i get those mixed up sometimes.
Honda is a well run company because they look forward more than 6 months — unlike GM, Chrysler, our federal government, etc.
“Hussein Baraka”-Does someone have the Mortal Kombat picture of the Baraka character to post?
I used to teach English to engineers in the motorcycle planning division at Honda’s Head Office in Aoyama , Tokyo !
“Come With Me, see what I see.”
——Joe Biden (who has no plans to visit Marysville, Ohio)
all smoke and mirrors. Word is Gov. Perry is running scared because Kay Bailey Hutchinson has her eye on his job — so he’s throwing around the 10th amendment to look tough. But I’m in Houston, so everything has a blue state slant applied to it.
I hate to be cold, be that’s what Ohio gets for voting for 0bama. They better reverse course and elect John Kasich Governor.
Pensylvania, your next. Rememebr how 0bama promised to bankrupt the coal industry and you still overwhelmingly voted for him? Your time to reap the Hope and Change is coming soon.
I’m in California and have already the price form my state electing the two bitches in Senate and moonbat leftis legislature and RINO Governator. It’ll be interesting to see )bama brings the final death blow to my state. But we deserve it. He got 60% of the vote in CA.
Reap it America. You wanted 0bama, now deal with his Marxisim.
The story gets more grim. Toyota engines are manufactured by Yamaha. Toyota increased ownership in Yamaha to a controlling level. The next thing they did was stop all motorcycle manufacturing in 3 factories and converted them all to Toyota engine factories. The remaining motorcycle factories have been cut to 50% production capacity. Yamaha is using the repossessed inventory to cover where there is sales demand. Many small Yamaha dealers are being wiped out.
I purchased a 2008 Yamaha TW200, XT250 and 2007 Star Roadliner last year. I did so in anticipation of production cuts, scarcity of product and rising prices. The dealer was anxious to deal with flat sales and plenty of inventory that was one or two models years old.
This morning, I traded-in my 2009 Suzuki DR650SE for a 2009 Kawasaki Versys. The Versys better suits the kind of riding I have the time and inclination to do. It helps that my Yamaha dealer still has a full Kawasaki dealership.
Harley Davidson: It’s like a vibrating bed, with wheels!
I couldn’t agree more. However it’s a shame that many of us who didn’t vote for Zero will have to suffer along with the idiots who did vote for him. It seems unfair. In fact I’ve never voted for any Democrat in my entire life. So I must suffer along with the idiots. That’s life.
Harley is laying off too. (Change! -- swell, just fricken swell)
Today Honda, tomorrow Nissan, Toyota, VW, BMW.....?
Today Honda, tomorrow Nissan, Toyota, VW, BMW.....?
If you want to ride, buy a Honda. If you want one to work on, buy a Harley. I have owned 2 Hardly Ablesons and currently own a Gold Wing. The HD’s were hangar queens, more time in the shop than on the road.
98% of all Harleys sold are still on the road. The other 2% made it home!...red
Us Goldwing owners have know about this for several years. While I am sad to see the Goldwing cease to be an American built product, this has nothing at all to do with Obama.
I didn’t know Honda was U.A.W./sarc
I'm truly sorry to see Honda go. I enjoyed my trips to Marysville for Homecoming in the past. That was where I took my first ride on a 1800. Had to get one after that.
Last person to leave America? Please turn the lights out.
I agree. It makes sense from a business perspective.
Any economist specializing in development and the Third World will tell you that political stability, respect for the rule of law, and respect for private property are key ingredients for attracting foreign investment. When Third World countries begin to make headway in that direction, they attract foreign investors and grow their economies (e.g., Chile). When they stray from these basic characteristics, investors either do not invest in that country or flee as soon as they can (e.g., Argentina since 2001).
At this moment, the U.S. is a bad investment. There are potentially big costs around the corner for all companies. Not only do you have the prospects of increased corporate taxes, there are also potential increased costs associated with climate change legislation and this health care boondoggle. Even if ObamaCare doesn’t pass as currently structured, whatever DOES pass is only going to increase costs to companies via new mandates and regulation. Who needs that?
It’s better to move back home, focus on reducing costs during the curret down-turn, and then move operations to a lower-cost country (Chile, South Korea, etc.) where the investment climate is safer once the global economy picks up again.
God help us.
Un-frickin-beleivable!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.