Detroit debut: Second-generation Ridgeline midsize pickup
2016 pipeline: The Civic coupe and Clarity fuel cell vehicle will go on sale in the first half of 2016. The retooled Ridgeline reaches dealers by the middle of the year. Honda will also launch sales of a Civic five-door hatchback in spring, the Accord Hybrid with a new powertrain in the summer, and a redesigned Odyssey minivan toward the end of the year.
2015 share: 8.1% (Jan.-Nov.); 8.3% (Jan.-Dec. 2014)
Sales trend: Honda followed the industry in 2015 with rising light-truck sales thanks to a redesigned Pilot and all-new HR-V. Yet its sedan sales withered and Honda didn't keep up with overall industry growth in 2015. 2016 should see gains across the board as the Accord underwent a facelift in the third quarter of 2015 and the Civic is new from the ground up.
Challenges: Low gasoline prices mean Honda can't necessarily count on its bread-and-butter Civic and Accord; the company will have to keep a keen eye on light-truck capacity. A key goal is to make sure the redesigned Ridgeline echoes the recent success GM has had with its new midsize trucks.
Strategy: Go big on Civic, gasoline prices be damned. Honda is convinced there is market share to grab with the Civic, especially with the five-door hatchback. And with a revamped Odyssey and Ridgeline coming in 2016, the CR-V will be the oldest light truck Honda sells. That's a good position to be in, especially as transaction prices keep increasing on high-end versions.
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