When Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) launched the City Hatchback last April 2021, the Jazz got axed from its model lineup. The Jazz’s curtain call in the local market is due to HCPI’s plan to stay more competitive in the local market.
Honda Mobilio
Now, it seems that HCPI is not yet done revamping its local lineup as the Mobilio is the latest vehicle to get cut from its fleet. The car brand’s official website doesn’t include the Mobilio in the list of vehicles it offers in the market.
The Mobilio is a seven-seater MPV that was first introduced in the Philippines last 2015 as HCPI’s challenger to models like the Toyota Avaza, Suzuki Ertiga, and Chevrolet Spin. It is powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine that delivers 120 hp and 145 Nm of torque.
Then, in 2017, HCPI launched the refreshed Mobilio that features a better-looking front end and a new interior layout. It is still powered by the same gasoline engine that can be connected to either a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Of note, the RS Navi gets fitted with paddle shifters.
So, what happened to the Mobilio? HCPI said that it is focusing on other growing segments where the car brand can better cater to its customer needs. The company also said that the changes in market demand forced them to call it quits on the Mobilio.
“We mainly considered the changes in market demand. By focusing on other growing segments, we can better cater to our customer needs,” said HCPI.
Honda BR-V
HCPI’s car sales last 2020 could give us a hint as to why the Mobilo got axed. Last year, the total unit sales of the Mobilio is 169, which is lightyears away from HCPI’s other seven-seater vehicle that goes by the initials of BR-V. The Honda BR-V managed to yield 2,041 units sold last 2020.
In fact, the Mobilio sold fewer units as compared to the more expensive HR-V that posted 452 units sold last year. As such, the Mobilio’s low unit sales can be considered as one of HCPI’s deciding factors in dropping it from its model lineup.
As of this writing, HCPI said that the Mobilio is still available until supplies last. Afterwhich, the seven-seater vehicles that HCPI will be offering are the BR-V and the diesel-powered CR-V. There’s no word yet if HCPI will be replacing the Mobilio with a new vehicle.
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