Photo: Honda
Honda’s Accord, the mid-sized model that has celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, could return to the European market.
As some of you already know, the Accord was discontinued in Europe because of its weak sales. The company decided no to follow up with a successor, so its range now lacks a model in the D segment. Meanwhile, European brands are refreshing their lineups for that class, and they are doing it without any pressure from some Japanese brands.
In fact, the only Japanese brands that still sell mid-sized sedans in Europe are Mazda and Toyota. In the case of the latter, the Avensis model was also considered for a retirement from the Old Continent, as sales were deemed to be too weak to justify the expenses related to the development of a successor.
Toyota’s representatives in Europe revealed that they were considering this possibility for the future, but the results of the Avensis on this continent are consistent with their expectations. Mazda’s 6 is also doing well concerning sales, so this segment is not doomed forever in the face of the SUV invasion.
If Honda were to decide to bring the Accord back in Europe, the company could apply the same strategy that was applied by Ford with its Mondeo (Fusion in the USA). Instead of making a dedicated version for the European market, which would be costly, and might not meet sales expectations for whatever reason, Honda could adjust the next generation of the Accord to suit a broader audience.
We have already seen spyshots of the 2018 Honda Accord, which is currently covered up in camo. The model is expected to come to the US market in late 2017, but selling it in Europe is a possibility at this point. After all, Volkswagen’s Dieselgate has affected people’s confidence in that brand, which could mean that the D-segment might have room for the return of an appreciated model like the Accord.
In fact, the only Japanese brands that still sell mid-sized sedans in Europe are Mazda and Toyota. In the case of the latter, the Avensis model was also considered for a retirement from the Old Continent, as sales were deemed to be too weak to justify the expenses related to the development of a successor.
Toyota’s representatives in Europe revealed that they were considering this possibility for the future, but the results of the Avensis on this continent are consistent with their expectations. Mazda’s 6 is also doing well concerning sales, so this segment is not doomed forever in the face of the SUV invasion.
If Honda were to decide to bring the Accord back in Europe, the company could apply the same strategy that was applied by Ford with its Mondeo (Fusion in the USA). Instead of making a dedicated version for the European market, which would be costly, and might not meet sales expectations for whatever reason, Honda could adjust the next generation of the Accord to suit a broader audience.
We have already seen spyshots of the 2018 Honda Accord, which is currently covered up in camo. The model is expected to come to the US market in late 2017, but selling it in Europe is a possibility at this point. After all, Volkswagen’s Dieselgate has affected people’s confidence in that brand, which could mean that the D-segment might have room for the return of an appreciated model like the Accord.
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