Business – Suguru Kanazawa (Honda): after land and sea, the sky! – Used HONDA

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Suguru Kanazawa (Honda): after land and sea, the sky !

Business - Suguru Kanazawa (Honda): after land and sea, the sky! - Used HONDA

During the Paris Motor Show, Site had the honor of interviewing Mr. Suguru Kanazawa on the occasion of his visit to France. The former director of the HRC is now vice-president of Honda Motor Europe: meeting with a big boss !

On the occasion of the Paris Motor Show (read our), Site had the privilege of meeting with one of Honda’s great figures: Mr. Suguru Kanazawa himself !

Both director of Honda UK Manufacturing and vice-president of Honda Motor Europe (cars and motorcycles), this big Japanese boss held until March 2007 the positions of president of the Honda Racing Corporation (the famous HRC), of the Honda Racing Developpement and MSMA (the association of motorcycle Grand Prix constructors). Just that !

The interview therefore takes place in a particularly studious atmosphere in the company of the director of Honda Motor France, Florent Lionnet, as well as a translator – because Site does not yet speak Japanese perfectly….

Site: Can you tell us what Honda’s market share is in Europe today? ?
Suguru Kanazawa : Regarding two-wheelers, it is on the decline. But we have the firm intention of increasing our market share !

M.-N.C. : What goal are you aiming for ?
S.K. : I can not give precise figures. One thing is certain: we want to progress.

M.-N.C. : Do you confirm the wish to equip all your motorcycles with the ABS system by 2010? ?
S.K. : Exactly, this is the will expressed by the president of Honda two years ago. This will apply to all motorcycles over 250cc. We aim for driver safety thanks to ABS but also thanks to the CBS (Combined Brake System), which activates the front and rear brakes simultaneously. The recently launched S-Wing is equipped with these brake assist systems which increase the safety of our customers. The latter are very sensitive to it since 70% of the models sold are equipped with ABS-CBS. We are also the only ones to offer the airbag on a motorcycle, the GoldWing..

M.-N.C. : About the airbag, do you already have positive feedback on this equipment? ?
S.K. : We are aware of a case in the United States and a case in Europe where the airbag made it possible to avoid the worst. These two customers were very satisfied with their airbag and warmly thanked us.

M.-N.C. : With its aluminum frame and engine derived from the Hornet, the CBF600 is closer to its big sister. Ain’t it dangerous ?
S.K. : Not at all. The CBF600 is an entry level, intended for women, beginners and people who want to return to motorcycling. The seat height is low and the engine is smoother than the Hornet version and much more than the one installed in the CBR600RR. It is very easy to fly! The Hornet was developed for a more sporty clientele, Supersport owners who want more comfort for the city but do not want to drive a scooter either. The appearance of the Hornet is also more aggressive than that of the CBF600. These two models are therefore very different.

M.-N.C. : BMW offers electronic suspension programming, Suzuki offers several maps on its GSX-Rs. Where is Honda ?
S.K. : These are guidelines. Honda wants to make its motorcycles better for all of its customers and we can’t predict what tomorrow will bring, but we don’t feel the need to go in that direction. We prefer to leave the customer free. To offer him too many settings, he could end up not knowing what to choose !

M.-N.C. : We talk a lot about Southeast Asia but Honda also produces in Brazil, no ?
S.K. : Exact. In fact, Honda’s policy is to produce where the demand is. This therefore includes Europe, South and North America, India, etc. The GoldWing, for example, is produced in the United States, in Marysville (Ohio). The CBR600 and 1000, the VFR800 and the Pan European are made in Japan at Hamamatsu, the Hornets, CBF600 and 1000, the Silverwing 400, PS125, SH125 and 300 in Italy at Atessa and Deauville, the Transalp and the Vardero 125 and 1000 in Spain in Barcelona … We have factories all over the place, the Innova and the CBR125 are produced in Thailand.
Florent Lionnet : It’s the "MBGH": Made By Global Honda. To take your example from Brazil, we have an 80% market share there thanks to CG. I visited the Manaus factory and it’s incredible: 1.8 million units per year, it’s a CG that comes off the chains every 16 seconds! By comparison, Honda’s most productive plant is the Hero plant in India, which produces 10,000 units per day, or 3 million units per year. In all, Honda manufactures 13 million two-wheelers per year.

M.-N.C. : Honda has also embarked on the production of an aircraft ?
S.K. : Yes, all the tests on the HondaJet have been validated and deliveries will begin in 2010. The order books are already full until 2013, so we are very happy! Honda is a "society for mobility" (quick translation, editor’s note) : for the land part we own the car and the motorbike, for the marine part we manufacture speedboats, we still have the sky! It is in this logic that we now occupy the air.

M.-N.C. : Are we to understand that the HondaJet is not limited to a single showcase, a stooge? Do you have other aeronautical projects ?
S.K. : No, it’s not a showcase but a new branch of activity! Having said that, it’s all new to us. In addition, the life of an aircraft is very long. We will therefore wait until the first jets are delivered in 2010 and after that we will see.

M.-N.C. : And how is Asimo (the humanoid robot from Honda) ?
S.K. : He is doing very well, he is continuing his tests. We will continue to develop it because our goal is to provide it with the same functions as humans..
Florent Lionnet : He’s already running !

M.-N.C. : The same functions as humans … Will we one day see Asimo piloting an RCV ?
S.K. (smile) : Asimo is especially interesting for performing tasks that are too dangerous for a human. If tomorrow we were to ride Asimo on a competitive motorcycle, then it would no longer be sport…

M.-N.C. : Maybe … However, I suspect Honda has already done it and will continue to do so! Admit it: Dani Pedrosa (158cm for 43kg) is an Asimo (130cm for 54kg)…
S.K. (laughs) : No, of course ! But it would be an idea: disguise Dani as Asimo, with a white jumpsuit … Why not !

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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