Honda Malaysia won't sell a pick-up truck


PETALING JAYA: Toyota has its Hilux and Nissan has its Navara, which leaves Honda as the odd one out among the major Japanese automakers in not selling a pick-up truck in Malaysia.

It intends to keep it that way.

There simply isn't enough volume to justify selling a pick-up truck locally, said Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Sarly Adle Sarkum.

Although Honda does sell a truck - the Ridgeline - in the United States, converting it for a right-hand drive market would incur additional costs, Sarly said in an interview on BFM business radio station on Tuesday.

The Ridgeline interior.
The Ridgeline interior.

It's also not feasible to make Malaysia a regional hub to build pick-up trucks to sell to Thailand, a major regional market for such vehicles, he added.

Sarly also spoke about the upcoming new City, describing it as a "game-changer" and said the model would help pull it well ahead of the competition. He also said it would be priced a little more than the outgoing model but with much-improved specifications.

The all-new B-segment Nissan Almera is poised for launch in October, pitching itself against the City.

 
Tags
Autos Honda