Quote Originally Posted by quickdodgeŽ View Post
Here is what I gather from this report. This doesn't coincide with Acura being established. If you'll remember, Honda introduced it's first North American auto factory in November of 1982. This factory was built to circumnavigate this restraint agreement so they will no longer be exporting Hondas to the States. They build them here in America and thus negate exportation. Acura didn't show up for another 5 years after. The reason why Acura came around because they wanted to tap into the luxury market. Since the Honda name was synonymous with cheap, gas savers, they didn't think that the public would go for a luxury car from the same company. Thus the beginning of the Acura name.

Well remember wouldn't be the right word since I was a year old at the time lol but, yes I am aware of the Accord plant being built. You're right the factory was built as a work around but, also to give Honda credibility. and that it better worked with Honda's "sell one build one" business model, the Accord being a volume unit and Honda wanting a larger American presence made a factory make sense for this reason too. There wasn't the restriction in the 70s yet they built the motorcycle plant in 79 because they also wanted to further grow and develop the American motorcycle market and they already had Honda of America manufacturing established by this point. You are right they wanted to tap into the luxury market and and different branding helped with this but, for the same reason you began to see a bigger difference in models and trim levels Acura was created to keep profits the same or better even if volume was limited. I guess what I'm getting at is what you're saying is correct and true but so is what I'm saying.

I am home now and I know I promised some additional sources but I am not finding them atm so sorry for that.