Honda To Build Pick-Up in Alabama You'all

DETROIT, Dec 10, 2003; Michael Ellis writing for Reuters reported that Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is expected to reveal shortly its first pickup truck, a model that will be more suited to suburban shopping than working the farm, analysts said.

The pickup, which is expected to go into production at Honda's Alabama plant next year, is expected to be derived from the Honda Pilot, a full-size sport utility vehicle that is based on the Odyssey minivan, analysts said.

Unlike a traditional pickup truck, Honda's will have a short cargo bed behind a five-passenger compartment and car-like ride and handling, analysts said.

"It's not going to be your rugged, workhorse pickup," said Joseph Barker, manager of North American sales analysis with industry consultants CSM Worldwide. "It's going to be more driver friendly, it's going to cater to families."

Honda could show the pickup truck on Thursday during its annual holiday party, where it traditionally unveils some concept and production vehicles. Officials have said that a couple models will be shown again this year, and analysts expect one will be the pickup truck.

By deriving the pickup from the Pilot SUV, Honda will get a foothold in one of the largest segments of the U.S. market without making costly investments in developing V8 engines and rugged frames for a typical pickup truck.

Honda's new entries in the truck segment, in particular the Pilot, have helped boost its total U.S. sales by 9.2 percent through the first 11 months this year.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. became only the second non-U.S. automaker to enter the full-size pickup market when it launched its Titan pickup truck, built at its new plant in Mississippi, earlier this month. Toyota Motor Corp. also sells the Tundra pickup truck.

As SUV and pickup truck sales in the United States have continued to grow, the auto industry has experimented with crossovers between the two segments, with some success.

Ford Motor Co.'s Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which has a small cargo bed behind the passenger compartment, has had strong sales since it was launched in 2000. General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche pickups have short cargo beds that can be extended into the cab by folding down the rear seats and the midgate, or the back wall of the truck cab, behind the seats.

Meanwhile, pickup trucks are being made with more roomy, SUV-like interiors. The combination of comfort and convenience have made pickup trucks more popular with suburban buyers and women drivers.

"I think all of the industry is going to be watching this (Honda) product," Barker said. "If they're going to pull more families and women in with this product, then the others will likely follow."