Dongfeng Honda to launch own-brand hatchback

Shanghai, November 5 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co. will develop a new hatchback model based on its current sedan platform instead of introducing hatchback Civic to China due to high cost, xinhua.net said today, citing Dongfeng Honda sources.

Compared to the hot-selling CR-V, Dongfeng Honda's middle-sized car Civic sedan posted flat sales, with only 7,000 sold a month.

The hatchback Civic, quite a different car from Civic sedan, is likely difficult to be accepted by Chinese consumers as the hatchback's price is 26,000 yuan ($3,800) higher than that of the sedan version in the European and American markets, Dongfeng Honda vice executive general manager Liu Yuhe said.

To fill the model gap, Dongfeng Honda has decided to build an in-house developed hatchback model, which will share the same platform with the Civic sedan. According to the carmaker's previous plan, the company would launch a self-developed model by 2010. Without giving the fixed delivery timetable of the in-house developed hatchback model, Liu Yuhe said the project is in process.

An earlier report by gasgoo.com said that thanks to CR-V continual hot sales, the automaker has raised its annul sales target by 10,000 units, bringing the total up to 160,000. "The actual figure is likely to reach 165,000 units, judging by the current market situation," Liu Yuhe disclosed.