Honda On The Move
Honda has gone through a turbulent year so far. Whilst the rest of the automotive industry has been contending with one of the worst economic downturns in half a century, Honda has also been dealing with the fall out from the Japanese earthquake. The BBC reported an 88% plunge in Honda’s 1st quarter profits following the collapse of the Japanese supply chain and subsequent delay in receiving parts to build cars. Honda is not one to raise a white flag.
Just three weeks after the news of the company’s profits being so far down on the previous year Honda have announced the construction of a new £500 factory to be based in New Mexico. As the US is one of Honda’s biggest customers, it makes sense to build a factory in the North American region. Following the strength of the yen against the US dollar a factory that eliminates high shipping costs is a sound investment. So with a new factory on the way and a revised forecast of exceeding last year’s full year profit margins, what’s next for Honda?
The company have been dipping their toes into mobile broadband for quite some time now. As the internet demand has increased to a level no one would ever have thought of, the option of having broadband access in your car makes perfect sense. The Honda Civic has been equipped with the Atlas system available from Azentek. This high tech computer dashboard replaces any existing radio units and is guaranteed to please even the most impatient and irate passengers. An internal WiFi system that boasts two external antennas to help maintain connection whilst on the move is coupled with a Windows operating system and Bluetooth capacity.
So what are the benefits of having mobile broadband when on the move? For a start having access to the web whilst driving has already proven to be useful in simply checking news and traffic updates. Having roaming access can allow drivers to avoid congestion and effectively clear roads. The system is a positive Godsend when you take into account any restless passengers (e.g. Children) you may have on your journey.
There have to be some downsides though right? Well yes and no. It all depends on how you look at things. The main problem with roaming broadband has traditionally been the amount it costs to run. Data charges can munch into your finances, yet some niche ISP companies are realising this and offering customers stronger competitive rates as a result.
The future for Honda looks bright and with the kind of efficiency and determination the company is showing, you can expect them to be a permanent fixture for the future, irrespective of earthquakes.
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