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32 May 2018 | AutoData FACTORIES » HONDA Ford, 9.5%, Volkswagen, 12.5%, Fiat, 13.4% %, and General Motors, 18%. In 2016 the scenario was similar, with Sumaré again responding to numbers that match the factory capacity: 120.5 thousand units of national models were registered in that year, being about 56 thousand HR-V, 28,5 thousand Fit, 21 thousand Civic and 15 thousand City - theWR-Vwas launched in March 2017. The result was the same as in 2017: ei- ghth position and 6% participation. In 2015 the theoretical limit was largely overcome, with more than 150 thousand units of national Honda models issued, being 51 thousand HR-V, 42 thousand Fit, 31 thousand Civic and 26 thousand City. Despite this, the brand raised the same 6% share of automobiles and light com- mercials and the same eighth position in sales. That is: Honda has been parked in market terms for the last three years. For 2018 the forecast, according to Takeuchi, is to increase by 5% the sales in 2017, or something around 136,5 thousand units of national models. WITH NO PADLOCK Despite the unprecedented situation in the country the case of Itirapina was not exactly to lock the gate with a chain and a padlock andwait for the market to react. Takeuchi confirms: although the serial operation never took place in Itirapina, the- re was a strong process of maintenance of machinery there. “Even in the case of newequipment, this periodic maintenance process is necessary to ensure its perfect functioning when the operations start”. According to Honda, thirty employees have been allocated to Itirapina since the factory was ready to take care of the ma- chines and the buildings - that is, therewas a cost to keep the factory closed. From nowon, external works of access and infrastructurewill be carried out to pre- pare the beginning of the factory activities, whichwill have as its first effective step the transfer of the tools of Fit form Sumaré. Itirapina is a complete factory including, beyond the assembly line, stamping and welding operations, as well as test track with 1.5 kilometer. In total, there are 8 kilo- meters of internal streets. The paint booth, according to Honda, “presents gains in sustainability with the water-based paint process which, with the use of less quan- tity of paint, is less polluting, ensuring the same quality in the finish”. One that anxiously awaits the start of production in Itirapina is the City Hall. According to calculations by the munici- pality when the factory is in full activity, revenue should double only because of the ICMS generated by Honda, going from R$ 60 million to R$ 120 million, numbers of 2016. Many other developments are also ex- pected to happen in the city, particularly residential and industrial condominiums that naturally stopped when factory ope- rationswere suspended. Local commerce, of course, waits anxiously. But as employees will be transferred there is a new regret, this time from Su- maré, which will surely lose part of their revenue because of the movements pro- moted by Honda. HONDA ITIRAPINA Factory completion 2015 Beginning of production 2019, with Fit Capacity 120 thousand/year Models produced until 2021 City, Civic, Fit, HR-V and WR-V HONDA SUMARÉ Factory Completion 1997 Start of production 1997, with Civic Capacity 120 thousand/year Models produced until 2021 None