Five million Dutch people saw Max Verstappen write sports history in his Formula 1 car with Honda engine. And now? Is the Netherlands going to buy a new Civic en masse? No, it remains dead silent in the showroom, the sales figures are worse than ever …
Oh, what a denouement it was on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen’s overtaking action on the very last lap, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff who, with a heavy ‘Allo ‘Allo accent’That was so not right’ through Lewis Hamilton’s on-board radio, the Dutch flags in the stands.
Honda supplied the engine for the car that allowed Max to triumph. As a car brand, you don’t get such a gift quickly. Is the Netherlands not only in love with Max, but also with Honda? well no.
Oh, the CRX…
We look at Honda’s sales figures over the years. 1986 was Honda’s best year in the Netherlands. The brand sold 14,834 cars in the Netherlands. Like Honda invariably sold over 10,000 cars a year in the 1980s. The Accord and Civic were popular, but the sporty CR-X also managed to attract enthusiasts to the showroom.
Bestseller Civic
In the 1990s, Honda became less popular: the brand never exceeded 10,000 cars per year. After the turn of the millennium, things really didn’t get any better. The Civic Hybrid caused a revival in 2009 due to addition benefit.
And now look. In 2016 1725 people bought a Honda, in 2017 there were 1191. The years 2018 and 2019 were not much better with 1276 and 1460 Hondas sold. Last year it was once again a matter of thumbs for the dealers: 1255 cars in one year. There you are with your polished shoes and a machine full of fresh coffee beans …
2021 worst year ever for Honda in the Netherlands
But it could always be worse, because 2021 is heading for an all-time low. Honda sold only 739 cars through November. There is a very good chance that they will finish below 1000 for the first time… The Civic illustrates the misery. With 131,866 cars sold since 1983, it is the best-selling Honda. But in 2021 only sixty Dutch people drove out of the showroom in a Civic. The electric Honda E also does not know how to break pots, with 134 registrations.
Max Verstappen sells his Honda Civic Type R
Maybe Honda will sell one more car this year. Max Verstappen is selling his 2018 Honda Civic Type R, which he always drove to the circuits, for 33,333 euros. That amount refers to his starting number 33. The proceeds go to charity. And the mileage? It is not 33,333, but 58,048.