Published on January 13, 2006

AP Honda Co Ltd has targeted sales of 1.5 million motorcycles this year on the back of yesterday’s launch of the Honda Click, which it calls the most fully featured automatic-transmission bike in the Thai market to date.

Company president Motohide Sudo said the local motorcycle market had grown consistently, with 2.1 million units of all brands sold in the Kingdom last year, a 3-per-cent increase over 2004. Honda’s bikes represented 1.42 million of those sold.

The company estimates that this year’s market will reach 2.15 million units, of which Honda will account for 1.5 million.

Sudo said Honda R&D Thailand had developed the Click in conjunction with Honda R&D Japan under the concept of “Keen and Sharp”, in an attempt to appeal to teenagers.

“Honda expects the Click to be a hot item among teens, and we’re targeting sales of 250,000 units by the end of this year,” he said.

In order to capture motorcyclists’ hearts, AP Honda is using six stars from the “Academy Fantasia 2” reality programme to serve as brand ambassadors for the Click.

They are Pitsanu “Boy” Nimsakul, Tanakrit “Waan” Panichwit, Panupol “Jo” Ekpetch, Alissa “Kukkai” Sim, Anusra “Preaw” Wantongtak, and Supanat “Off” Chalermchaijaroenkij.

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