Honda's business jet spreads wings to Southeast Asia

So, you want a Honda vehicle that so unique, you won’t see another one that looks similar to it around the corner every other minute? Well then, you need the HondaJet, Honda Motor Company‘s first endeavor in aircraft manufacturing, as sales for it has begun in Southeast Asia. 

Honda Motor will begin selling its business jet in several Southeast Asian markets to capitalize on the region's economic growth, the Japanese automaker said. 

Honda tapped Thai Aerospace Services as its first-ever HondaJet dealer in Southeast Asia. The aircraft will be sold in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam. 

The seven-passenger HondaJet first hit the market in December 2015, and orders have topped 100. The design places the engines above the wings, granting the plane more interior space. Other selling points include speed and fuel efficiency. 

The Honda HA-420 HondaJet is the first aircraft developed by Honda Aircraft Company. The light business jet was designed in Japan and then developed and manufactured in Greensboro, North Carolina in the United States.  In 2014, the aircraft was awarded a 'Best of What's New' title by Popular Science magazine.

In its typical configuration, the aircraft can accommodate one crew member and five passengers, has a maximum cruising altitude of 43,000 feet with a maximum cruising speed of 422 knots (782 kph), and a combined stowage area of 66 cubic feet.

Honda has dealerships in North America, Latin America and Europe, and the company had delivered 41 jets as of mid-April.

The Japanese group also announced Monday that several HondaJets have been ordered by a European program that gives joint owners the opportunity to fly the aircraft. 

Source and reference :

Aviation Week

Carmudi

Hondajet.com

Asia.Nikkei.com