motowebmaster

Honda's run wasn't that long, and has nothing to do with motorcycles, but represents a significant event in the Japanese Auto Market:

Honda quits Formula 1 | Herald Sun

Speedtrip

When Honda and Toyota came to F1 everyone said well here we go it's only a matter of time before these two dominate. WRONG they have spent the last few years and god knows how many millions getting crushed by Ferrari and McLaren.

The Prophet

On a positive note, Honda is as we speak opening up a new auto factory in Indiana, and hiring folks.

BTW, the hourly wage at Honda / Toyota factories in the US is $25/Hr, Vs. $28/hr for the Big three Auto Workers Uniun guys, so the pay difference is not as huge as the Big 3 CEO's are claiming.

Laslty, don't overlook Toyota's successes in Nascar. Perhaps Honda was spread too thin to focus on formula 1? Cars, Bikes, generators, lawn mowers, etc., etc. How many different technologies can you be good at?

That's a lot of ground to cover!

SidecarFlip

I'm excited....Tell me, where is Honda going to get their stampings and sub assemblies at when the companies like L&W and Lear and Tower/Masco are tits up? I want to know that. I also want to know who is going to buy the product when everyone is out of work? maybe you can tell me what product they are going to assemble? According to the WSJ, auto sales are down across the board especially Honda and Nissan.

You can build automobiles like they are going out of style....just like motorcycles. But if the market isn't there to purchase the product (like it isn't at present), what do you base you profits on? No sale, no profit. No profit, no job.

Finally, Honda and Nissan and VW don't have the legacy costs associated with employees of tenure. That's the difference and that's what makes the domestic auto makers uncompetitive but look at it this way. They will in 10-15 years and that alone, will level the playing field.

I always thought Formula 1 was a brand of baby milk.....

motowebmaster

$450 Million is a nice sum to use for acquisitions. If one of the Big Three declares bankruptcy, Honda may want to pick up the Camaro or Corvette.

Speedtrip

Looks like they are going to pull out of AMA also. This is some serious belt tightening from Honda.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...?article=35171

motowebmaster

If one of the world's top automotive manufacturers can't stay in the racing business, then who can?!

Ya'll can't tell that I'm a bit freaked out ...