Automotive News - February 4, 2008 - (Page 16) 16 • FEBRUARY 4, 2008 ADVERTISING STAFF What slump? Honda reports record results Hans Greimel hgreimel@crain.com TOKYO — U.S. slump? What U.S. slump? That’s the question Honda Motor Co. is asking after another quarter of record results that spurred the Japanese automaker to lift an already- gmdealergroupadvertising.com 800-992 2723 cheery profit forecast for the full year. In the October-December quarter, Honda booked all-time highs in sales, operating profit and net income, as demand surged for more fuel-efficient cars such as its Fit subcompact. Despite the softening market in North America, Honda boosted sales there 2.1 percent to 481,000 vehicles in its fiscal third quarter. And Honda did so with lower incentives than a year earlier. It all contributed to a 35 percent increase in overall operating profit over the previous year, to ¥276.2 billion ($2.51 billion). Revenues climbed 10 Small is beautiful Buoyed by sales of fuel-efficient vehicles, Honda enjoyed record global results in the quarter ending Dec. 31. 3Q, FISCAL ’08 3Q, FISCAL ’07 Circulation 313-446-0450 Advertising 313-446-6790 Classified Advertising 313-446-6065, 800-388-1800 E-mail lschlagheck@crain.com Web site www.autonews.com ADVERTISING AND SALES DETROIT 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997 313-446-6790 Fax: 313-446-8030 Larry Schlagheck, Advertising Director lschlagheck@crain.com, 313-446-6790 Rick Greer, rgreer@crain.com 313-446-6050 Kathleen C. Lightbody, klightbody@crain.com, 313-446-6037 Russ Procassini, rprocassini@crain.com 313-446-0350 Karen Rentschler, krentschler@crain.com 313-446-6058 Revenues Operating profits Source: Honda Motor Co. $27.68 billion $2.51 billion $25.16 billion $1.86 billion percent to ¥3.04 trillion ($27.68 billion). Citing strong global sales and favorable exchange rates, Honda boosted its operating-profit forecast by 4.5 percent to ¥920 billion ($8.36 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 31. That would be another record and an 8 percent improvement over the previous year. So far, the only Honda businesses hurt by the U.S. subprime loan problem are motorcycles and power products, Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo told reporters here. The Fit’s U.S. sales doubled to 56,432 vehicles last year. Sales of the CR-V crossover rose 29 percent to 219,160 units. Looking ahead, Honda sees the U.S. sales of the Honda Fit doubled last year to more than 56,000. overall U.S. market shrinking to 15.9 million units in 2008. In 2007, the U.S. market posted light-vehicle sales of 16.2 million, down 2.5 percent from 2006. But Honda’s not worried and still expects a 2 percent increase in retail sales in 2008. Honda and Acura posted 2007 U.S. sales 1.6 million units, a 2.8 percent increase over 2006.c Jerry Salame, jsalame@crain.com 313-446-0481 Regional Sales Managers Bryan Foster, Marketing Director bfoster@crain.com, 313-446-6013 Ellen Dennehy Director of Relationship Marketing edennehy@crain.com, 313-446-6039 Lance Graves, Promotion Art Director lgraves@crain.com, 313-446-0469 Marie Hingst Classified Advertising Manager mhingst@crain.com, 313-446-6065 Dolores Lanivich, Denise Hendricks Classified Advertising Sales LOS ANGELES Justus Breese jbreese@crain.com, 323-370-2446 Pacific Region Sales Manager Lauren Ford, lford@crain.com 323-370-2447 Todd Landau, tlandau@crain.com 323-370-2466 Regional Sales Managers 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048-4947 Fax: 323-655-8157 NEW YORK Scott Ghedine sghedine@crain.com, 212-210-0126 Henry Woodhouse hwoodhouse@crain.com, 212-210-0125 Regional Sales Managers 711 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017-4036 Fax: 212-210-0489 CHICAGO Jim Farnan, Regional Sales Manager jfarnan@crain.com, 312-649-5257 360 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601-3806 Fax: 312-649-5265 Hyundai: Genesis won’t repeat iDrive controversy Gary Anglebrandt autonews@crain.com SEOUL — For years, auto writers and drivers have criticized BMW’s complex iDrive, in which drivers use a knob on the console and other buttons to control the radio, fan, heater and many other functions. Despite the criticism, Hyundai is using a similar device on its new Genesis sedan, complete with large knob on the center console. Complex interfaces are necessary to control electronics that buyers de- mand. The key is simplification, and Hyundai says it has hit that mark. “It’s much simpler than iDrive,” said spokesman Jake Jang. “I was one who really criticized first (iDrive) models. After they have used it for many years, customers now understand iDrive.” Jang says that with so many functions on luxury cars nowadays, controlling systems require learning time. The knob also means drivers don’t have to look away from the road to touch a screen, he says. Harman/Becker Automotive Systems designed Hyundai’s system, as well as iDrive and Audi’s similar system. “We knew they wanted to be above market,” says Tomas Metzger, a vice president at Harman/Becker. “It feels like a BMW or Mercedes, but it’s very Hyundai.” Taking cues from Audi, Hyundai surrounded the knob with six menu buttons and one “back” button to expedite navigation. BMW’s latest version of iDrive, has a similar arrangement. The Genesis knob is about 2 inches across. It can be moved up, down, left and right, and can be spun in both directions. Pushing it makes selections. The menu buttons cover the radio, phone and other functions. But those who dislike the iDrive won’t find solace with Hyundai’s device. They still must navigate elaborate menus. They will have to learn the system’s habits and memorize paths they expect to use a lot. The Genesis, with rear drive and a V-8 or V-6, arrives in U.S. showrooms in the spring. In Korea, the base sticker is about $43,000. No decision has been made on whether the knob controller will be optional or standard in U.S. models, Hyundai says. Hyundai unveiled the Genesis last month in South Korea and at the Detroit auto show.c CONFERENCES Libby Irwin, Conference Director lirwin@crain.com, 313-446-0420 Shauna Vercher-Morrow Special Events Manager svercher-morrow@crain.com, 313-446-0485 WWW.AUTONEWS.COM John Fitzgerald, Director of Business Planning and Online Commerce jfitzgerald@crain.com, 313-446-1679 CIRCULATION subs@crain.com 888-446-1422 (U.S. & Canada) 313-446-1662 (all other locations) Fax: 313-446-6777 To subscribe via the Web www.autonews.com/subscribe.htm Patrick Sheposh, Circulation Director Lauren Cialella, Circulation Manager Jennifer Natone, Circulation Coordinator Subscriptions U.S. 1 year, $155; 2 years, $266. Canada $239 (U.S.); other countries, $395. 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