2012 Honda CR-V Faces Delay Due to Thailand Flooding

Just the Facts:

• The 2012 Honda CR-V, originally set to hit the market in December, faces a delay as massive flooding in Thailand hampers Honda suppliers and disrupts auto production.
• It is the second time this year that a natural disaster in Asia has affected vehicle production in North America.
• Honda on Monday announced "adjustments" at its North American plants, saying auto production will be at approximately 50 percent of the original plan through November 10.

TORRANCE, California — The 2012 Honda CR-V, originally set to hit the market in December, faces a delay as massive flooding in Thailand hampers Honda suppliers and disrupts auto production.

"The December on-sale date of the 2012 Honda CR-V could potentially be delayed by several weeks," said American Honda Motor Co. in a statement on its corporate Web site. "The on-sale date will be announced in the near future."

The automaker said "a few critical electronic parts are sourced from Thailand and other regions of the world" in explaining the impact on the CR-V's debut.

It is the second time this year that a natural disaster in Asia has affected vehicle production in North America. Global auto production took a major hit last spring following the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.

The flooding in Thailand has been described as a "slow-motion tsunami," as monsoon rains deluged about one-third of Thailand provinces in the past three months, causing the worst flooding in 50 years.

Honda on Monday also announced "adjustments" at its six North American plants due to the flooding, saying auto production will be at approximately 50 percent of the original plan through November 10. Honda said it would not build cars on November 11 as part of the slowdown.

The redesigned CR-V will debut on November 16 at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Inside Line says: You'll wait a little longer for the 2012 Honda CR-V because of yet-another natural disaster in Asia.