Clubjazz - Honda Jazz & HR-V Forums
Honda Jazz Forums => Honda Jazz Mk4 2020 - => Topic started by: RuthieB on May 28, 2026, 10:52:41 AM
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Interesting comments from Honda CEO in the BBC business news today (28 May ‘26)……don’t Honda have factories in China?
We have no chance against this," Honda chief executive Toshihiro Mibe told Japanese media after visiting a highly automated factory in Shanghai.
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Yes, we used to think Japanese cars were poor imitations of our wonderful British Leyland products! If you can’t beat them, you have to join them.
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Its an honest and realistic assessment. China still has millions of rural labourers earning less per year than even Chinese urban factory workers earn in a month. And much less they would have to be paid in more advanced economies. With communities happy for a huge factory to spring up on farm land (or required by the Government to allow it)
Japan,or 'advanced' western economies, cannot hope to compete with this. At present they can get their own branded products and components parts made more cheaply in China, (or india etc etc|) and then sell them more competatively under their own name and reputation.
But increasingly China are developing their own car brands, and improving them to the point where they can cut out the expensive 'middleman' ie Japan ..Or, quite often they buy the rights to a once respected western Brands such as Volvo (and MG ;) and sell the cars they developed themselves under that name. Unashamedly claiming the many years of history of that original brand. Maybe these new Chinese cars are deserving of their own good reputation (In the same way that Japanese cars eventually earned their own good reputation) But I dont like products that claim past history of the original (failed) manufacturer.
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I think we should expect the Chinese to gain and secure their place in the automotive market, just as the Japanese and Koreans did in the past.
When I see how brands like BYD, MG, Omoda, and JAECOO are growing like weeds here in Poland and are opening new dealerships everywhere, while there isn't a single Honda dealer to be found in our area anymore...
Furthermore, it appears they are very good at anticipating market demand. For example: in Europe, BYD was all about EV, EV, and only EV.
Now, suddenly, they have various models with plug-in hybrids, even small(er) models like the Atto 2 DM-i and, soon, the Dolphin G DM-i.
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China has many car manufacturers who are making little or no profit. Will some disappear as quickly as they have appeared leaving their products without long-term support? Are there some lurking problems similar to Honda's brake simulator problem? Perhaps longer-term considerations don't trouble people who are on 3? year PCP deals which could leave dealers with vehicles which are difficult to sell. What will one of the JAECOO Range Rover look-alikes be worth in 2029?