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This is the first time a Japanese carmaker has imported from China and sold it to the Japanese market. Honda plans to import the MPV Odyssey from a Chinese joint venture plant and sell it in Japan in 2023, which will be changed to a right rudder when imported, Nikkei reported. In response to the above news, Guangzhou Auto Honda responded that there is no news yet.

In October 1994, Honda launched its first MPV model, the Odyssey, in order to expand the segment of multi-purpose vehicles. As a global strategic model, it is sold in Japan, North America, Europe and other markets, co-produced with the fifth generation Honda Accord sharing platform, and uses the same powertrain. In December 1999, Honda officially launched the second generation Odyssey in the Japanese market. The overall styling of the new generation of models basically follows the design of the original models, only in the details of the front and rear, so it is more like an upgraded version of the original models.

In April 2002, GAC Honda took the Japanese version of the second-generation Odyssey as the prototype to improve and upgrade in response to the needs of Chinese consumers. Considering the international popularity and recognition of Odyssey, GAC Honda decided to adopt the "Odyssey" from English transliteration in the Chinese market.

In October 2003, Honda released the third-generation Odyssey, which is the first time that it has adopted a new styling design since it was born in 1994. In March 2005, Guangzhou Auto Honda took the Japanese version of the third-generation Odyssey as the prototype, the power system was equipped with 2.4L i-VTEC engine, matched with a five-speed automatic transmission, and the price started from 246800 yuan. Since then, GAC Honda mainly adjusts and upgrades the configuration to meet the personalized needs of different users.

In October 2008, the fourth generation of Odyssey was released in Japan. This generation model uses the front face of Honda FCX concept car, chrome plating in the net has become a necessary element of the new generation of Honda model, the visual impact is very strong. In terms of size, the length, width and height of the new car are 4800/1800/1545mm, wheelbase 2830mm, with a seven-seat layout. In September 2009, the fourth-generation Odyssey of Guangzhou Automobile Honda officially launched, the new car continues to be based on the Japanese version of Odyssey as the prototype, the power continues to carry 2.4L i-VTEC engine, matching five-speed automatic transmission, the price range is 22.98-282800 yuan.

In November 2013, the fifth generation Odyssey was officially launched in Japan. The new generation of Odyssey gives people a refreshing feeling both in appearance and body size, and a more important change is to change the opening mode of the second row door to the design of large opening electric side sliding door. In terms of size, the fifth generation Odyssey completely surpasses the previous generation, and its length, width and height are 4830/1800/1695mm and wheelbase 2900mm respectively. In August 2014, the new Odyssey of Guangzhou Auto Honda was officially launched, with a price range of 22.98-299800 yuan. The forward air isolators of the new Odyssey are decorated with a large number of chrome panels, the headlights are slender and sharp, the front bumper is more athletic, and the fog lights are circular. In terms of power, it is equipped with the same 2.4L naturally aspirated engine as the ninth generation Accord, which matches the CVT gearbox.

In October 2017, Honda officially released a medium-term revamped Odyssey model, mainly for appearance, interior and safety configuration upgrades. In July 2018, Guangzhou Auto Honda changed its mid-term Odyssey to be officially listed, with a price range of 22.98-299800 yuan. In November 2020, Honda made two medium-term changes to the Odyssey, and in November 2021, Guangzhou Auto Honda launched a new Odyssey.

According to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA), six of Japan's top 15 best-selling models in 2021 are MPV, including Roomy, Elfa, Voxy, Freed, serena and Sienta, four of which are from Toyota, one each from Honda and Nissan, and the lowest-ranked Sienta is 57800. Squeezed by these competitions, Odyssey did not make the list. Odyssey sold only 10524 vehicles in Japan in the first half of 2021, ranking 34th, according to JADA.

Honda plans to import the Odyssey from China in the hope of improving its product line. According to the report, Honda stopped production of the Odyssey in Japan as early as the end of 2021, and the Shirayama plant in Saitama Prefecture, which is responsible for producing the model, has been closed, as well as the car Legend, as Honda wants to improve the profitability of its car business. According to Honda's Japanese website, the Odyssey has disappeared from its products. Although Honda has not yet confirmed the authenticity of this news, we can basically judge the conclusion based on the above inference.

In the domestic MPV market, the Odyssey is a good model. According to the Federation of passengers, the cumulative retail sales of the Odyssey in the first 11 months of 2022 were 38100, of which 2250 in November, a month-on-month decline in May, ranking eighth in the monthly sales of MPV models.

At present, the domestic MPV market as a whole is in a stage of strong competition, and many car brands have released MPV models during the year, such as extreme Krypton 009, Teng Teng D9, Buick Century, and then the Lantu Dreamer launched in May, focusing on high-end or new energy alternatives. With these models landing on the market one after another, old players in the MPV field will inevitably be hit, including the Odyssey. In this context, increasing export channels to expand sales is a way to save the Odyssey.

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