Honda Shortages likely due to Japan Quake

Japanese automakers are still recovering from the disaster that occurred in March, and for Honda, that means that production numbers will be down. “Overall automobile production volume will remain at significantly reduced levels as we continue to operate at adjusted levels of production through the summer months,” states Honda in a press release. “Honda's goal in North America is to normalize overall production sometime around the end of the year.”

Models that are built in North America are less likely to be affected. The Detroit News reports, “Honda Motor Co.'s U.S. sales arm alerted its dealers Monday to scant availability in coming months of some models built only in Japan — the Fit subcompact, and CR-Z, Insight and Civic gas-electric hybrids.”

However, parts availability will still affect some models that were redesigned for 2012. Chief among these is the 2012 Honda CR-V, which won’t be introduced as soon as the automaker intended. “Honda Motor will delay by one month the introduction this fall of the redesigned 2012 CR-V, while extending production of the current 2011 CR-V by one month, as some of the automaker's Japanese parts suppliers continue to struggle to re-establish production in the aftermath of that country's devastating quake and tsunami,” says Edmunds.

Additionally, the automaker reports that the new 2012 Civic will be available, “at significantly reduced levels at least through the summer months.” If you’re shopping for a new Honda, these shortages may impact your ability to get a good deal on a new Honda in the coming months.