Japan’s automotive industry is experiencing a serious shake up as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Many companies including Nissan, Toyota and Mazda have halted production in their factories. Logistics is a serious issue since many roads, airports and shipping ports are still inoperable. Not to mention the fact that there are power outages. The pinch will also be felt at American dealerships since they rely on incoming inventory. A stop in production will be felt at around a month and a half for most dealers.

Honda has also been significantly affected; eight of their factories have ceased operations and will reopen on March 23, 2011. The cars which will be affected most are the fuel efficient ones; primarily the Insight and Fit. Consumers have been quickly picking them up in the States because gas is getting pricey and many people cannot afford to drive gas guzzlers anymore. Honda will review the inventory for U.S dealerships on order to distribute stock as evenly as possible. There are a few individual factories which will not be able to re-open until some time in mid May and Honda does not know when production will resume back to one hundred percent. This could potentially cause major disruptions in the automotive industry. The auto maker is still accepting orders for vehicles produced in Japan.

The 2011 Fit from Honda has been a best seller due to the fact that it’s functional, practical and very reliable. It competitors include the Toyota Corolla, Ford Fiesta and Mazda3. There are three trims available the base, sport and sport with a navigation system. Interior features include ten drink holders and generous trunk space. It is powered by a 1.5 Liter four cylinder engine with 117 hp. Mileage stands at 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the freeway. The more expensive Fit Sport model gets you get USB compatibility and the ability to enter without a key.

The availability of the Insight is also expected to be affected by the disaster. As of March 17, 2011 prices on the Insight have already risen at some dealerships. Just a few months ago consumers were able to get great deals on these cars and even buy them below sticker price thanks to nice incentives and sales by the manufacturer. Not so anymore; dealers are refusing to sell these cars at sticker due to lower supply. Most hybrids tend to be slow and boring but the Insight is a quirky car with lots of personality. Mileage is at 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the freeway. Every time you press the brakes the engine automatically gets charged. An Ecco Assist system is also in place; this function lets you know if you’re driving efficiently and encourages you to drive in a manner which conserves fuel. The base model is priced at around eighteen thousand dollars.

Even though Honda is experiencing major financial setbacks and very heavy losses they have generously donated $3.75 million dollars towards the victims of the natural disaster.

Author Bio: Written by Lexus Carrera- If you are looking for Ford cars in Los Angeles check out Los Angeles Honda and Honda Los Angeles for great deals. Honda Los Angeles offers deals on the Insight and Fit. We are proud to serve Los Angeles, Burbank and San Fernando Valley.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: honda, cars, autos, vehicles, automotive, honda fit, honda insight