Honda to consolidate divisions under new roof

HONDA Australia is planning to consolidate its various divisions under one roof by the end of 2022, although exactly where is still to be confirmed.

For the past 40 years, Honda Australia’s cars division has called Sharps Road in the northern Melbourne suburb of Tullamarine home, with the company’s first move in more than three decades leading it to share a roof with motorcycles division Honda Australia MPE.

While the headquarters will have changed locations, Honda Manufacturing Australia – lawnmower production – will continue at its facility in Somerton, as will Honda Australia Rider Training.

According to Honda Australia director Stephen Collins, now is the right time to invest in new facilities so the brand can continue catering to customers in the “decades ahead”.

“One of the things that makes the Honda brand so unique is our product diversity and we’ve been proudly delivering quality products and joy to Australian customers for more than 50 years,” he said.

“With the huge change in where and how we work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritising this next step now will also enable us to better cater for our employees and their needs with improved facilities and the latest workplace solutions.”

While the planning stage is well underway, no specific location has been singled out or publicised yet, the brand has confirmed it will be staying in the ‘northern wedge’ of Melbourne given the area has served its operations “so well for the last four decades”.

Honda Australia formally made the move to an agency model at the commencement of the new financial year, which has done away with many of its dealerships.

The Japanese brand has sold 11,593 new vehicles so far this year ending July 31, marking a 38.1 per cent sales hit compared to the same period of 2020.