The HondaJet will cost $4.5 million. Honda expects to begin deliveries later in 2012. Continue reading HondaJet begins FAA certification process

Ford, Honda tops in U.S. customer retention; Kia rising fast
Brand loyalty survey finds that ‘fun’ is becoming more important

Ford and Honda have vaulted past Mercedes-Benz to tie for the highest customer retention rate among automotive brands in the United States this year, according to a new study.

The two mass-market brands retained 62 percent of buyers this year, J.D. Power and Associates said in its annual Customer Retention Study released today.

Ford rose five spots from 56 percent in 2009 while Honda increased one spot from 64 percent last year. Mercedes fell five spots, from 66 percent in 2009 to 59 percent in 2010, J.D. Power said.

The firm said Ford’s higher retention rate was driven mostly by the Edge, F-Series and Fusion models. Honda’s retention was driven by the Accord, CR-V and Pilot, the firm said. Continue reading Ford, Honda tops in U.S. customer retention; Kia rising fast

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) — Workers at a factory making locks for Honda Motor Co. in China remained on strike on Sunday, two workers said, even as Honda said the matter had been resolved and operations had resumed.

Speaking from Japan, Honda spokeswoman Natsuno Asanuma said the dispute was resolved on Saturday, and production had resumed since the second shift that day at the Honda Lock factory. She could not comment on the situation on Sunday.

But two factory workers contacted by Reuters said management had yet to reach an agreement with most frontline workers and the strike remained in effect on Sunday.

Some managers had agreed to return to work after the company called workers on Saturday night and asked them to come to work on Sunday for a day of overtime, said one worker surnamed Chen. Continue reading Honda’s China lock factory workers say they are still on strike