At a corporate level year on year, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. revenues fell -6.03% from 15.89tn yen to 14.93tn yen (for year ended March 31st, 2020). Along with an increase in the cost of goods sold, this contributed to a reduction in net income from 610.32bn yen in 2018/2019 to 455.75bn in 2019/2020, a -25.33% decrease.
Operating profit fell by -12.8% to 633.6bn yen. Earnings Per Share (EPS) were 260.13 yen, a decrease of 85.86 yen from the previous year. The COVID-19 impact in Q4 (March mostly) pushed Honda corporately into an operating loss for the fourth quarter of its 2019/2020 full year.
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| Takahiro Hachigo, President and Representative Director for Honda Motor Co., Ltd.: "Whether it be on the medical front line, or supporting our daily lives through various services, many people are giving their all in these difficult times." |
Total sales revenue from its motorcycle business was broadly flat compared to year ended March 2019 at 2,059,335m yen for 2019/2020 for a segment profit of 285,668m yen.
In unit sales terms, Honda sold 205,000 units in Japan in 2019/2020 (-2k); 239,000 units in Europe (-10k); 330,000 in North America (+29k) and 17.2 million in Asia (-962k) for a worldwide total of 19.340 million
(- 898k/-4.4%).
Referencing the health emergency, Takahiro Hachigo, President and Representative Director for Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is quoted as saying: "Honda would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and families of COVID-19 all around the world and the sincere hope for the earliest possible recovery for all those who are now fighting infection.
"Whether it be on the medical front line, or supporting our daily lives through various services, many people are giving their all in these difficult times.
"Honda too, by way of our products, technologies and people, will undertake everything that we can do by globally uniting our associates from all over the world while staying close to our local communities.
"We hope to continue striving with even more effort, knowledge and courage so as to bring the earliest possible end to this challenging time and open up a bright future. Let us overcome this crisis together."
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| Honda scooped a 'Red Dot 2020' award in the 'Smart Product' category for the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade S. For all the anticipation for the new Fireblade to hit showroom floors, con rod issues have forced an early-stage recall and, in the US, "supply chain problems" have delayed the launch until at least mid-September. |
In other news, Honda has announced that Android Auto will be integrated with the current-model Gold Wing, with a software update due for release in June.
The company has also scooped a 'Red Dot 2020' award in the 'Smart Product' category for the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP - the latest machine to carry the Fireblade nameplate, which was first introduced in 1992. "It has always set the benchmark for how a litre-class super sports machine should handle on public roads, but for the new 2020 model - developed under the tagline of 'Born to Race' - an unwavering focus on circuit performance came hand in hand with a radical new design and the most powerful inline-four cylinder engine Honda has ever made."
Satoshi Kawawa, General Manager Motorcycle Design Division, said: "The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP was developed to win races in any category - from club racing to international competition. Its design and styling are led by that philosophy - with every part and every detail designed with speed, performance and aerodynamic efficiency in mind. We're honoured that it has been recognised with such a prestigious award."
Honda has been running several online features to keep fans engaged.
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| The Honda Collection Hall |
The twelve CB1000R custom builds that were seen at last year's Wheels & Waves at Biarritz, France, to mark 50 years of inline-fours are online with customers invited to rank all twelve on a new multi-language 'Honda Customs' webpage and share their choice via social channels, with a free wallpaper download of their top bike for desktop or mobile.
"The Honda CB1000R, flagship of the Neo Sports Café range, has proven itself to be the perfect canvas for custom builders across Europe. Among the twelve CB1000Rs are the Africa Twin-inspired 'CRF1000 Africa Four', the Monkey bike homage 'Monkey Kong' and the 'Alfredo' tribute to classic Freddie Spencer CBs of yesteryear.
Honda also has a 360 degree virtual tour of the three level Honda Collection Hall (HCH) at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan available online - the HCH hosts the largest collection of products developed by the company, with over 300 models on show.
Opened in 1998 to commemorate Honda's 50th anniversary, motorcycle highlights on display include the CB750 - the world's first mass-produced four-cylinder motorcycle - the oval-pistoned NR, and the six-cylinder RC166 ridden to Isle of Man TT victories by Mike Hailwood.
Also online is a 'Honda Origins, History and Values' presentation in animated manga comic format that retraces the life of company founder Soichiro Honda through an animated series combining Japanese-style manga cartoon drawings, audio and historic photographs. The audio-visual journey from the beginnings of Honda through to its achievements and legacy has six episodes, each lasting between 10 and 20 minutes.
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| The twelve CB1000R custom builds from last year's Wheels & Waves at Biarritz, France, can be seen at hondacustoms.com |
