Honda's CR-V is setting sales records, but the Buyers are prefer more the Accord and Civic sedans.
Honda U.S. sales fell 6.9% in August, its result was not bad as the record sales of their competitor Toyota.
The buyers are choosing more the automakers' SUVs, that shift has been a hugely profitable advantage. But Honda, like Toyota, has long relied on sedans for the bulk of its sales in the U.S. Honda's Accord and Toyota's Camry have long been among the best-selling vehicles in America -- but sales of both are down in 2015.
The Accord has been especially hardly dropped. Sales of Honda were down almost 20% in August. The compact Civic also hasn't done well. The Civic Sales fell 6% last month.
Inspite of this bad news the compact CR-V crossover SUV has out-sold the Accord in 2015; it becomes one of America's most popular vehicles. Sales were up another 2% last month to a 34,771 units. And the smaller Fit-based HR-V crossover added another 4,567 sales to Honda's small-crossover total in August.
Crossovers are more profitable deals than the sedan, generally speaking, and the CR-V, which is mechanically related to the Civic.
Honda has huge investments in new assembly lines to boost production of the CR-V. Unless it has a new crossover model up its sleeve, it will need to find some way to get its sedan sales growing again.
New products might help. Honda does have an all-new 2016 Civic coming to the U.S. late this year, with sportier styling and turbocharged engines that should add some excitement to such a model with efficient transportation appliance.
