Honda sales down 2% on weak Civic, Fit demand
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LOS ANGELES -- American Honda sales fell 2 percent in April as big gains for the Accord and CR-V were countered by slumping demand for the Civic and Fit.
It was the second straight monthly decline for Honda. Sales advances in January and February had suggested the automaker was bouncing back from production and sales disruptions caused by last year's natural disasters in Asia.
The recently redesigned CR-V's strong launch continued, with sales up 9 percent to a monthly record. And the outgoing Accord, scheduled for a redesign this fall, surged 26 percent, helped by incentives.
But the Civic fell 9 percent from last April. And Honda's gas misers fell sharply. The Fit declined 61 percent, the Insight fell 72 percent and the CR-Z coupe dropped 82 percent.
Honda said the Civic Hybrid jumped almost six-fold, but in volume terms the gains were based on a minuscule figure from last year.
Jones said Honda has a limited supply of the Fit. "We don't have them to sell," Jones said.
The next several months for Honda likely will look more impressive, in year-over-year percentage terms, because this year's sales will be compared with the sharp falloff of summer 2011, when inventories plunged after the March 11 Japanese earthquake.
You can reach Mark Rechtin at mrechtin@crain.com. -- Follow Mark on 
