Reports circulated yesterday that up to 1,300 Honda customers in the UK were looking at delays of up to four months for the delivery of their vehicles following a computer error at the carmaker’s Swindon plant have been exaggerated, according to the company.
The error affecting Honda’s logistics system stemmed from problems encountered during the severe weather that temporarily closed the Swindon plant in January. Planned production days that were suspended were not registered because of a computer glitch, leading to Honda’s system showing 1,276 cars available for dealers that in reality had not actually been produced, said a Honda spokesperson today.
"This production has since been made up through overtime," said Honda, "but the delayed production dates caused problems with our systems, which created cars that could be ordered, but were not being built. There is also unprecedented demand on CR-V following the introduction of the updated 2010 version, including the brand new diesel auto, and also throughout the range due to customer incentives such as the scrappage scheme. This demand placed greater pressure on any stock held."
This system failure has led to some delays in delivery but, according to Honda, it only affects a small number of vehicles – with just 347 customers in the UK potentially facing a 16-week delivery – and not the 1,300 that early reports suggested. Honda added that the majority of those vehicles will now be delivered in April.
"Our logistic systems have now been upgraded to prevent delayed production dates as experienced during the unique weather conditions from happening again," Honda UK told Automotive Logistics News today. " This reinvestment was completed on 16 March and delivery date accuracy is now resolved."
