Live chats – Live chat with Jean-Luc Mars, DG Honda France – Used HONDA

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Live chat with Jean-Luc Mars, CEO Honda France

Live chats - Live chat with Jean-Luc Mars, DG Honda France - Used HONDA

Transcript of the chat that took place today with Jean-Luc Mars: new V4 platform, Honda Fury, marketing of the EVO6, prices, prospects for the crisis … The CEO of Honda Motos in France responded directly to your questions.

Transcript of the chat that took place today with Jean-Luc Mars: new V4 platform, Honda Fury, marketing of the EVO6, prices, prospects for the crisis … The CEO of Honda Motos in France responded directly to your questions.

Question from Jean-mi2CP: Hello. When will the new VFR arrive ??? Will it have this extra soul with an engine revised in displacement and character? Will it have modern equipment for sports riders? Sincerely, Jean-mi2CP
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Hello, I cannot give very specific details, but I can say three things:

  1. Our president announced in Milan the arrival of a new V4 platform in concessions in the first half of 2010.

  2. We have a certain number of models in the Honda range which are at the end of their career (VFR, Varadero, even XX 1100 which has never been replaced).

  3. Despite the arrival of this new platform, it is more than likely that the VFR 800 will remain in the catalog.

It’s up to you to guess the rest…

"Despite all the passion that can be brought to them, the market for two-cylinder sports cars is a very small market"

Question from moulouttes343: Hello, do you think Honda is planning to build a twin-cylinder sports car again? Being the owner of a VTR SP2 I find this machine really extraordinary. Greetings and thanks !
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Despite all the passion that can be brought to them, the market for two-cylinder sports cars is a very small market already well occupied by European and American manufacturers (see the relatively modest sales of beautiful machines like the KTM RC8 or the Buell 1125R that I know well). To date, Honda has no twin-cylinder projects.

Question from FGWCF external communication: Hello Jean-Luc, Honda and the Federation of Goldwing Clubs of France: how to get closer? How to improve our relations around this fabulous motorcycle that is the Goldwing ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : I wanted to reorganize the Honda France marketing department in October and emphasize proximity to customers. The clubs – including of course the FGWCF – are the first concerned. I hope that from the 2009 season, all Honda clubs will feel this desire.

"Concerning the price of motorcycles, it is to be feared that the general trend is upwards"

Question from stephanebrest: Why has the Honda Hornet seen three prices in barely a year? 7200 euros, 6990 euros and 6200 euros … This breaks the second-hand market for this machine. At one time we found a 2006 Hornet more expensive second-hand than the new 2007 model … This is really frowned upon by a customer who bought his Honda Hornet 7200 euros and tries to sell it for 6500 euros 6 months later … What will be my next machine? A loyal customer for 12 years.
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : To be quite frank, because the market has shown us that the Hornet at more than 7,000 euros has difficulty selling. We therefore wanted to bring its price below this symbolic bar, which explains the drop in October. Then, unfortunately, the market for this type of motorcycles collapsed … Stocks increased drastically and unfortunately, Honda like most manufacturers (cars and motorcycles) had to practice significant discounts. It is not a policy that I like to practice, but the situation was such that it was unfortunately essential … Concerning the price of motorcycles, it is to be feared that the general trend is upwards.

Question from Ze Doctor: Hello Jean-Luc. For the discerning motorcycle racing enthusiast that you are, what are the real reasons for Kawasaki’s withdrawal from MotoGP? ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : The motorcycle world is unfortunately going through an extremely severe crisis. In this context, all companies are working towards a drastic reduction in costs. Honda made the choice to quit F1 so I fully understand Kawasaki’s decision. I do not think it is necessary to seek explanations other than budgetary ones. On the other hand, I confirm the presence of the HRC in MotoGP !

"The commercialization of the EVO6 and the CB1100R will depend both on the results of the market studies that we carry out and on the evolution of manufacturing costs"

Question from VaRDaSSE: Hello, The already very advanced prototype of the EVO 6 is really original and interesting. Surely the bike that will replace the one I currently have (an MT01). What are Honda’s plans for marketing the EVO6? When would it be available and for what budget? Finally, would this model be available in France? Thank you for your responses and comments. Sincerely, GM
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Honda has recently presented two very interesting concepts: EVO6 and CB1100R. These two models are currently under study. No final marketing decision has yet been taken. Their marketing will depend both on the results of the market studies that we carry out and on the evolution of manufacturing costs. But neither will be available in the short term.

Question from Curious: Now that you are at Honda, how do you see the takeover of MV by Harley? Is this an additional threat for Honda in the sense that a reputable brand will benefit from an important distribution network? ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Regarding the takeover of MV Agusta, I do not think that this is a threat for Honda insofar as MV touches a very specific market segment. On the other hand, integrating MV into the Harley machine will take time and it certainly won’t be easy. Nevertheless the adventure is interesting and we will observe the development of these two brands.

"I don’t think Harley’s takeover of MV Agusta is a threat to Honda"

Question from Even more curious: The Chinese are paying for Benelli, does Honda have similar plans to reach another audience? Voxan, an Italian brand, or other…
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : The interest of buying a brand is to have access to a clientele or a territory that you cannot reach otherwise. The advantage of buying a company is often to have access to a production tool quickly in a strategic region. Neither scenario applies to Honda in the short term. There is therefore no particular interest in considering it.

Question from President FGWCF: The economic crisis which is affecting us does not promise rosy days in 2009. With this new situation, what are Honda’s objectives for 2009 in terms of market share and positioning? Do you think that the motorcycle market, in general, will be very affected by this crisis? ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Unfortunately, I think that the motorcycle market in France will suffer a sharp drop in 2009 and perhaps in 2010 … In this context, the priority is to preserve businesses and jobs. Honda’s business objective will be to improve its market share, while limiting the decline in sales. Fortunately, the arrival of some important new features (CBF125, SWT400, CB1000R …) will help us in this period and we will do everything to continue to ride and keep smiling. !

"Unfortunately I think that the motorcycle market in France will suffer a sharp drop in 2009 and perhaps in 2010"

Question from Phil: Which manufacturer will offer a simple and really inexpensive machine, like the Logan in a car? As for the specifications, we all already have a little idea. Honda by its position could it be n ° 1 in this niche ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : This type of product is not currently being studied at Honda, except in the 125 niche where there is a demand. The result of this request is the launch this winter of the CBF 125. In large displacement, all the studies carried out to date show that the biker prefers a sexy second-hand motorcycle to a new low-cost motorcycle. But as everything is changing very quickly at the moment, it is not impossible that the situation will change very soon….

"I love the Fury and fell in love with it when I first saw it!"

Question from Mister no socks: JLM, what is your take on your new Fury? Do you think this model can compete with a well-known segment brand other than the price ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : I love the Fury and I fell for it when I saw it for the first time! I think it is the first Japanese Custom that can really make an image in the very particular world of radical Custom. From there to compete with the brand you mention … Its launch in France is currently being studied and I am doing everything to have it, just to play a little !

Question from President FGWCF: Hello, the new regulation on the 125 imposes hours of driving for all new drivers. Do you think that this regulation is likely to thwart the development of sales in this sector? ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Opinions are divided. I personally think that these 3 hours of training can on the contrary encourage the hesitant to take the plunge.

"No price reduction is envisaged for the DN-01"

Question from mao: Hello. Don’t you think the high price of DN01 penalizes sales. Moreover, and even if I have no figures, I have never seen one roll. Can we hope for a price readjustment in the coming months, and if so, how much ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Sales of DN-01 are indeed disappointing. The price is largely justified by the technology and the number of unique parts on this bike. No price reduction is envisaged. We can imagine that the proliferation of certain elements to other machines will reduce costs, but this will be in the medium term.

Question from Laurent lesmotards.com: Hello, We see the net developing among importers, the latest being the Triumph configurator. Do you think that this tool will remain on the “functional and promotional catalog” side or that we will eventually end up selling VN directly on an importing e-commerce site? How do you see the development of mobile internet, especially in the used vehicle? ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : To date, we do not plan to distribute our new motorcycles other than through a network of dealers. The relationship with the dealer and his services seems to me to be at the heart of the act of buying a motorcycle. On the other hand, it is obvious that the passage to the dealership is now following a long search on the net. The role of the dealer has therefore changed, since people now come to his home to validate a decision often taken in front of the computer. Real testing of the machine at the dealership therefore becomes an important tactic that we want to develop. Improving the internet tools available to our future customers is another priority. The internet has also completely revolutionized the used motorcycle market..

"Today, the objective is not to be number 1 but to build solid fundamentals for the future!"

Question from VIVEMENTDEMAIN: Hello Mr. Mars, do you think that Honda’s policy of always wanting to be authoritative on everything and everyone is not responsible for the erosion of market share! (Around 21% since 1996) A multibrand salesman recently told me that he had to sell his Honda or even "give them away" and that, on the contrary, his customers were buying other brands from him, wanting too much to be the No. 1 Honda wouldn’t he be to die of indigestion while others are hungry, the former Boss wanted to become N ° 1 again, as announced at the show in Paris! And you Mr. Mars ?
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : Honda does not want to be authoritative over everyone as you say. But it is true that a certain arrogance was able to show through at certain times. Since my arrival at Honda, I urge my team to show humility, availability and proximity. Today, the objective is not to be number 1 but to build solid fundamentals for the future! Honda remains one of the major players in the market and we will do everything to regain the lost market share.

Question from Robertson: What is the real Honda strategy for the next 3 years??
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : I would gladly answer this question if I was sure our friends at Yamaha weren‘t reading Moto-Net !

"We must not hang up the leather !!! Whatever the administrative constraints, we will continue to have fun on motorcycles and I think that this pleasure will be more and more essential in the years to come!"

Question from jojo la moto: Mr. Mars, the repression further increased for 2009 … The imminent arrival of license plates at the front, etc., will all this not help to break the market of motorcycle ? The authorities are really doing everything to make our life impossible. Not having a circuit in the region, I wonder if we should not hang up the leather … A lot of frustration in perspective for bikers. Thank you for your opinion. Biker greetings.
Response from Jean-Luc Mars : It is important not to hang up the leather !!! On the one hand, the progress of motorized two-wheelers in recent years makes attacks really more and more difficult. On the other hand, the pleasure of riding a motorcycle cannot easily be taken away from us. I am very optimistic, because I think that whatever the administrative constraints, we will continue to have fun on motorcycles and I think that this pleasure will be more and more essential in the years to come. !

Thank you all for your questions, sincerely sorry for those I could not answer for lack of time, and see you soon on the roads !

Collected live by Site readers

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