No supply issues for all-new Honda BR-V, but HR-V delays still unresolved -- Honda Cars PH

If you’re eyeing the all-new Honda BR-V, which was officially launched on Nov. 21, 2022, you should have no troubles getting one.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) said in a press conference that there are complete stocks of the BR-V, which is manufactured in Indonesia.

This came after the carmaker showed off on November 2022 a photo of hundreds of BR-Vs waiting for new owners.

However, the carmaker noted that delivery issues with the HR-V crossover have not yet been fully addressed.

“We cannot give a definite answer on the HR-V in light of the global parts supply issue,” said HCPI assistant vice president Misa Abe.

HR-V deliveries delayed indefinitely

HCPI announced on Sept. 24, 2022 that the deliveries of the HR-V were pushed back indefinitely because of the shortage of semiconductors worldwide.

The statement came after Honda Cars in Japan announced a production cutback of up to 40 percent at its assembly plants in Japan starting in early October 2022.

This is the second major output reduction for the Japanese carmaker this year in light of long-standing supply issues of semiconductors, which are used in a wide range of car components.

These include chips for engine computers, infotainment systems, and safety systems, such as the Honda SENSING system that is standard on all local HR-Vs.

Even though the Philippine-market HR-V is assembled in Thailand, HCPI said the model is likewise affected by the global shortage.

Issues with automotive semiconductors began in early 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when global car production was forced to wind down because of economic and health restrictions.

As car production started to rebound in the following years, carmakers were faced with insufficient supply, competing with other major semiconductor-dependent industries like PC and smartphone manufacturers.

Would you get the all-new BR-V instead of an HR-V or wait it out for Honda Cars’ smallest five-seater crossover?