When is the last model year for the S2000, this might be a hint....
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From: Loudoun
When is the last model year for the S2000, this might be a hint....
I know what autoweek says, but while jumping around on the internet I found this site....
1999 European S2000 Impressions
I don't know if you all have seen this before, so if it's been seen, I'm sorry for the repost. But the articles are pretty cool and i noticed one quote from the site that stuck out....
Even with the autoweek news, this still fits.... Other places in the article it says that the Tochigi plant's maximum output per year is 12,000 units... That means a total (if production does go 6 years) of 72,000 S2000's around the globe. Now isn't that less than one year of what Nissan is planning for the 350Z? 
1999 European S2000 Impressions
I don't know if you all have seen this before, so if it's been seen, I'm sorry for the repost. But the articles are pretty cool and i noticed one quote from the site that stuck out....
Honda plans only one generation, which means 12,000 vehicles a year for maybe four to six years. Of those 12,000 units, 5000 will be sold through American Honda dealers.
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From: West Henrietta UPSTATE NY
I may be wrong but I really believe the plan to make it a short run model has changed and it will remain a part of the Honda lineup for a long time and go through model change cycles. It may carry this body for longer than the typical 4-year product cycle but I just don't think they will discontinue the basic S concept.
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From: Knoxville
I don't know about the length of production, but a 12,000 a year capacity seems way off to me. I would think the number is more like double that. Here is another source back in 1999. From a presentation by Hiroyuki Yoshino, President, Honda Motor Co.
1999 Automotive Management Briefing, August 4
"The plant in Japan where we produce the Acura NSX and the new S2000 sports car is a Small Born Plant - as we produce profitably, at a relatively low volume. The new S2000 will debut in the U.S. this fall -- with an advanced new engine that achieves very high performance, yet is a low emission vehicle. And the S2000 will be sold at a relatively low price. The efficient Takanezawa Plant is the key -- producing just 100 units per day on two shifts, the S2000 line is already profitable after less than six months of production. "
He says 100 units a day on two shifts. I have to think the number of days the plant will run will me more than 10 a month. I would think that 20 would be more in line, which would make a monthly capacity of 2,000. Although I am am not certain about that I am sure that the capacity is more than 12,000. Here are a few numbers I have pieced together.
Year US.......Japan....Germany...Total
1999 3,400...7,209.......159.......10,768
2000 6,797...3,422....1,478.......11,697
2001 9,682...1,617*.....701**...12,000
*10 months
**6 months
The numbers above certainly aren't complete. They don't have the full year 2001 numbers for Japan or Germany and don't include sales to the rest of Europe, Canada, or Australia. What the numbers do show is the US ouput is closer to 10,000 and the capacity of the plant is definitely greater than 12,000.
1999 Automotive Management Briefing, August 4
"The plant in Japan where we produce the Acura NSX and the new S2000 sports car is a Small Born Plant - as we produce profitably, at a relatively low volume. The new S2000 will debut in the U.S. this fall -- with an advanced new engine that achieves very high performance, yet is a low emission vehicle. And the S2000 will be sold at a relatively low price. The efficient Takanezawa Plant is the key -- producing just 100 units per day on two shifts, the S2000 line is already profitable after less than six months of production. "
He says 100 units a day on two shifts. I have to think the number of days the plant will run will me more than 10 a month. I would think that 20 would be more in line, which would make a monthly capacity of 2,000. Although I am am not certain about that I am sure that the capacity is more than 12,000. Here are a few numbers I have pieced together.
Year US.......Japan....Germany...Total
1999 3,400...7,209.......159.......10,768
2000 6,797...3,422....1,478.......11,697
2001 9,682...1,617*.....701**...12,000
*10 months
**6 months
The numbers above certainly aren't complete. They don't have the full year 2001 numbers for Japan or Germany and don't include sales to the rest of Europe, Canada, or Australia. What the numbers do show is the US ouput is closer to 10,000 and the capacity of the plant is definitely greater than 12,000.
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From: Loudoun
I'm sure the S concept will continue, but I doubt in it's current form. I would wager that the car will be discontinued in favor of a more mainstream car (the styling that Honda is famous for). It's all just speculation at this point....
As for the plant efficiency, I believe the plant shuts down for refitment and the such for a period of time each year. Maybe at the time they were talking about planned maximum output. But I know it can't be a heck of a lot more than 12,000....certainly not 24,000. (Maybe I should say I hope nowhere near 24,000....)
As for the plant efficiency, I believe the plant shuts down for refitment and the such for a period of time each year. Maybe at the time they were talking about planned maximum output. But I know it can't be a heck of a lot more than 12,000....certainly not 24,000. (Maybe I should say I hope nowhere near 24,000....)
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(In my best evangelical voice.) AH BELIEVES, SSSWEEEET JEEEEEZUSSSS, AH BELIEVES! 
NOT!
Auto journalists probably know less about this sort of thing than anybody else. Note that it's also dated Dec. 3 (What year?).
Sorry, but I'm a sceptic. I'll believe it when I go into a Honda dealership, offer money and they tell me that they won't accept it on an order for a new one.
People have been "guesstimating" this topic to death. Why shouldn't journalists be any different. It gives them an excuse to have one more article printed. That's their livelihood and readers are very gullible. Speculation always makes for good press.
NOT! Auto journalists probably know less about this sort of thing than anybody else. Note that it's also dated Dec. 3 (What year?).
Sorry, but I'm a sceptic. I'll believe it when I go into a Honda dealership, offer money and they tell me that they won't accept it on an order for a new one.
People have been "guesstimating" this topic to death. Why shouldn't journalists be any different. It gives them an excuse to have one more article printed. That's their livelihood and readers are very gullible. Speculation always makes for good press.
