New year sees Honda Marine building on a successful 2017
Honda Marine caught the wave of success in 2017, establishing a solid foundation to continue growing its business in 2018.
In 2017, Honda Marine delivered 12 consecutive month-over-month sales increases; its third consecutive year of year-over-year sales growth; introduced 15 new or refreshed products in the last 24 months; agreed to a new in-store and internet sales retail partnership with Overton’s; and signed 10 new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) boat builder agreements, bringing the total to almost 200 OEMs offering boaters Honda Marine outboard motors.
“Our strategy of focusing on the heart of the outboard motor market, from 2.3 to 250 horsepower motors, is paying off and Honda Marine is proud to be a part of driving industry growth and making boating accessible to new customers by providing reliable, durable, and highly efficient, portable to large outboard motors,” said William Walton III, assistant vice president – Honda Marine.
For the 13thconsecutive year, Honda Marine earned the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) award. The Marine Industry CSI Awards honor boat and engine manufacturers who actively measure customer satisfaction and pursue continuous improvement to better serve their customers.
Award recipients achieved an independently measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over the past program year, based on information provided by customers purchasing a new boat or engine during the period between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2016.
During the last 24 months, Honda Marine introduced 15 refreshed or all-new outboard motors, representing half of the company’s outboard lineup.
Those models include the BF4, BF5, BF6, BF40, BF50, BF75, BF90, BF100, 40 Jet, 65 Jet, 105 Jet, along with the Grand Prix White BF150 (February 2018 availability), BF200, BF225 and BF250.
In addition, based on customer demand, Honda Marine offered expanded availability for its Intelligent Shift & Throttle (iST) system. Introduced in 2014 on the BF250 outboard motor, Honda Marine’s Intelligent Shift & Throttle system is also now available on the BF200 and BF225 outboard motors.
iST is a plug and play system that doesn’t require programming on single and twin engine application or special tools to install. With a compact, under the cowl design for up to four engine installations, and a binnacle control box, iST delivers near effortless shifting under all conditions.
Honda Marine also broke new ground in 2017 with the debut of its Design Concept Engine at the Miami International Boat Show. With inspiration from across Honda’s lineup—including automotive, marine and aeronautical—the Design Concept Engine is a blue-sky vision for what future marine engines could look like.
Honda Marine posted month-over-month sales increases each month of 2017, which led to a 16 percent year-over-year sales increase for the 2017 calendar year, the third consecutive year of year-over-year sales increases.
In 2017, Honda Marine added to its nearly 200 OEM agreements by adding Crevalle Boats, BassCat, Grand Inflatable, Direct Boats, T-Craft, Ankona, Solid Kraft, Calabria, Beebe Boatworks, and Eastern.
Honda Marine is the exclusive outboard motor supplier for Coach Pontoons, Walker Bay Boats, Eastern’s Rosborough and Pilot boats lines, Brig U.S. and Bimini Bay Boats.
“There is nothing like being at the helm of a boat on the water—the rush of excitement, the exhilaration and freedom, the feeling that hits you immediately with the boat at full throttle and the water and air around you,” added Walton. “With a dedication to getting more people to experience the joy that boating brings and an unwavering focus on our Marine business, Honda is excited for 2018.”
