New Rebranded Engines Coming

srbaum · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:51 am Post subject: New Rebranded Engines Coming

Honda is going to share their bigger engines with Tohatsu...
http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/526199-tohatsu-america-joins-with-honda-on-outboard-lineup

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 12:15 pm Post subject:

Interesting--I wonder if the motivation is for areas where there are large Tohatsu presence to give 4 stroke engines, without setting up Honda dealership? (Such as in 3rd world countries). Also avoids Tohatsu having to move directly into 4 stroke technology..

Wefings · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 1:39 pm Post subject:

Rebranded engines in the rest of the world.Not here .
Tohatsu makes lots of 4 strokes under 40 HP. They are great products . [Mercury,Johnson,Nissan]. This will not affect the US market. Honda and Tohatsu have worked together for a long time .
The motivation is pretty simple ..... sell more engines !
I wonder if they will have the Honda "premium" pricing or more affordable Tohatsu pricing. It should have no effect on US sales.
BTW US Tohatsu Nissan now has a 5 year factory warranty like Honda.
Marc

journey on · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:40 pm Post subject:

This joint effort is in the US only, according to their press release. So, I would assume that both Honda and Tohatsu hope that it'll have an effect on their sales: increase them.

What I hope is that it'll increase the availability of Honda service. I go to LA now, because the Honda dealers in my area either have Honda as a second line or don't deal with the big engines. I can only pray.

Boris

Wefings · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 3:11 pm Post subject:

I guess they will be available here .......I sit corrected.
I will now have 2 colors of the same engines and our techs are way up to speed already !
The press release from Honda that I got via snail mail was a little more vague than the trade only release .
Kurt at Tohatsu is an old friend and Ill get the scoop from him .
Marc

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:18 pm Post subject:

I suspect that Boris was seduced by the "Tohatsu America" in the announcement in Soundings Trade Only. However there are a number of other sources which state:
"Painted blue and bearing the Tohatsu logo, the motors will be available in U.S., as well as 17 other countries, according to an announcement by Tohatsu president Mitsuru Kaneko, who described Honda as "the industry's technological leader." The relationship between Honda and Tohatsu is not new. Historically, Honda Marine has a business relationship with Tohatsu in Japan."

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:43 pm Post subject:

I would love to buy some Honda motors for the Tohatsu pricing.

redbaronace · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:43 pm Post subject:

Can someone tell me what is the likely premium/discount of a Honda 90 vs Tohatsu 90 (Made by Honda).

Also, are other components of the engine going to differ between the 2 makes. Otherwise, it seems like folks would be less inclined to purchase the Honda at a higher price.

I realize that Toyota Corolla was the Geo (something back in the 90s), and the Corolla was still better than the Geo counterpart. But with the Outboard engines, it seems like the entire thing is essentially Honda.

Your thoughts....

Wefings · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:56 pm Post subject:

Dont think they will do 115 or under . Thats where the current Tohatsu lineup ends.However I have been wrong already so why stop now ?
Ill go to the horses mouth Mon.
Marc

redbaronace · Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:58 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:01 am Post subject:

"The eight new outboards — 60-, 75-, 90-, 115-, 150-, 200-, 225- and 250-hp models — are manufactured by Honda and rebranded under the Tohatsu name," From the press release.

But we have no idea of the distribution or the pricing. The rebranded could be just the same price as Honda. Wait and see what is available.

srbaum · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:10 am Post subject:

E-Tec's are a recent topic, so while checking the new stuff out, I took a look at Tohatsu and their new sales literature does show the re-branded Honda's.
http://www.tohatsu.com/

potter water · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:44 am Post subject:

No point in re branding them for Tohatsu without a significant reduction in price. That is the way Tohatsu operates. They buy the original brand motors in mass quantities keep the price below the original brand and sell to clever buyers, many of whom are Tohatsu loyalists. I've owned several Tohatsu motors and loved every one, knowing I was buying a re stickered Merc or Nissan or....for 15 to 20% less than the original brand price.

chimoii · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:54 am Post subject:

RobMcClain · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:54 am Post subject:

I hope this closer partnership will allow us to get our Honda 150 serviced locally at the Tohatsu dealer. There isn't a Honda outboard dealership anywhere in the entire Las Vegas Valley so I need to drive almost 2 hours south into Arizona to find the closest Honda dealer. The local dealers mostly sell Mercury, with some Yamaha and just one Tohatsu dealer. None will work on Honda. In fact, as we've been traveling around the South and East Coasts we've seen very few Honda dealers in general. Many (many) Yamaha, but very few Honda. Makes me think Honda isn't pushing it's outboard motors anymore. Hopefully this Tohatsu connection will benefit existing Honda owners.

Rob