Honda Taiwan
Encyclopedia
Honda Taiwan Co. Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd., was established in February 2002 shortly after discontinuing their local partnership. It started productions and sales of CR-V
in January 2003 then expanded to include the Accord
(November 2003), Civic
(2006), and Fit
(2008). On November 11 2008 Honda Taiwan celebrated assembling its 100,000th vehicle. In 2009, Honda Taiwan employed 740 people.
Honda products for the Taiwanese market had been assembled and distributed by local motorcycle manufacturer Sanyang Industrial Co.
for 41 years when the announcement was made. Taiwan was where the first overseas Honda automobiles were built, when the N600
and TN360 began assembly in 1969. Honda moved to create its own subsidiary in order to "increase competitiveness" and to "reduce production costs." The fact that Sanyang (under the SYM
label) had become a successful motorcycle producer in its own right, often competing directly with Honda products, may also have had something to do with the decision. In 2001, their last full year with Sanyang as a distributor, Honda held only a 1.5% market share in Taiwan. In 2007, Honda passed Ford Lio Ho
to gain fourth place in the Taiwanese automobile market and for the first six months of 2010, Honda's market share had gone up to 8.3% with the fourth place consolidated.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a compact suv, now called crossover, manufactured since 1995 by Honda. It was loosely derived from the Honda Civic to satisfy a public demand for a sport-utility vehicle from Honda. There are discrepancies as to what "CR-V" stands for, with Honda sources in different markets...
in January 2003 then expanded to include the Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
(November 2003), Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
(2006), and Fit
Honda Fit
The Honda Jazz is a five-door hatchback subcompact manufactured by the Honda Motor Company of Japan, first introduced in June 2001 and is now in its second generation. The Jazz shares Honda's Global Small Car Platform with the City/Fit Aria, Airwave/Partner, Mobilio, Mobilio Spike, Freed and Freed...
(2008). On November 11 2008 Honda Taiwan celebrated assembling its 100,000th vehicle. In 2009, Honda Taiwan employed 740 people.
Honda products for the Taiwanese market had been assembled and distributed by local motorcycle manufacturer Sanyang Industrial Co.
SYM Motors
SYM Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd. was founded in Taipei in 1954 by Huang Ji-Jun. The company's headquarters is established in Hsinchu, Taiwan and SYM's three major production bases are in Taiwan, China and Vietnam. The company manufactures and sells scooters, motorcycles and ATVs under the SYM brand...
for 41 years when the announcement was made. Taiwan was where the first overseas Honda automobiles were built, when the N600
Honda N360
The Honda N360 is a kei car, designed and built by Honda and produced from March 1967 through 1970, while its larger N600 brother lasted three more years. After a January 1970 facelift, the N360 became the NIII360 and continued in production until 1972...
and TN360 began assembly in 1969. Honda moved to create its own subsidiary in order to "increase competitiveness" and to "reduce production costs." The fact that Sanyang (under the SYM
SYM Motors
SYM Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd. was founded in Taipei in 1954 by Huang Ji-Jun. The company's headquarters is established in Hsinchu, Taiwan and SYM's three major production bases are in Taiwan, China and Vietnam. The company manufactures and sells scooters, motorcycles and ATVs under the SYM brand...
label) had become a successful motorcycle producer in its own right, often competing directly with Honda products, may also have had something to do with the decision. In 2001, their last full year with Sanyang as a distributor, Honda held only a 1.5% market share in Taiwan. In 2007, Honda passed Ford Lio Ho
Ford Lio Ho
Ford Lio Ho is an automaker based in Taiwan. It is 70% owned by Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford Motor Company. Its current passenger car range includes the Fiesta , the Focus, and the Mondeo , as well as the i-MAX and the Escape. Its commercial vehicle range consists of the Ranger and the...
to gain fourth place in the Taiwanese automobile market and for the first six months of 2010, Honda's market share had gone up to 8.3% with the fourth place consolidated.