Honda's miniscule Fit is presently built for our market in Japan, but thanks to a weakened dollar, the Japanese automaker is considering building the subcompact in North America.
"Considering the foreign exchange, such a structural reform might be called for," Honda president Takanobu Ito told Automotive News.
The subcompact Fit has maintained somewhat steady sales through the slumping market. Total Fit sales declined 12 percent compared to the rest of the Honda lineup, which has suffered a 25-percent decline through the first nine months of the year. Even so, the dollar has dropped 8 percent against the Japanese yen, meaning Honda's profit margins continue to dwindle.
Currently, 80 percent of all Hondas sold in the U.S. are also built in the U.S. Even if the Fit joins their ranks, Honda seeks to keep that ratio intact, meaning some models currently built here would eventually be imported.
Source: Automotive News