Just wondered why is the Tsx made in Japan, while the TL is made in Ohio?

 

So that the TSX would be a better car.

Really, I don't know. Why does Honda make ANY cars here? I don't think we've really focused on that. From what I've gathered, I'd guess it's mainly about quotas of how many non-U.S.-built cars they can bring here.

 

I always thought it was to avoid importation tariffs/taxes (?)

 

I think you are correct.

 

The tsx is built in japan because it is the same as the JDM and Euro accords. Plus they don't sell a whole lot of TSX's in North america so it wouldn't be cost effective to build them here. The TL is sold only in North America right now so why would they bother to make them in japan and ship them here. I also think that the production capacity at the ohio plant is maxed out from the Accord and TL.

 

Indeed, what do I know?

http://money.cnn.com/2003/06/26/pf/a...ancars_whatis/

 

Tariffs, somewhat, but the CL and TL were designed and built for the American market. The TL and CL are built off Accords, which are built in OHio, thus your answer.

The TSX is sold in Japan and Europe, it was recently brought here. the TSX is not designed for the AMerican market, it filled in the niche nicely here though. That is why you have 2 Accords for different markets.

1. Euro/Japan Accord (TSX) slimmer, smaller (to fit roads, their needs and people)
2. American Accord (TL) fatter, bigger (to fit our roads, needs and people)

Toyota has the Avensis and Crown as Japanese/Euro models but they don't bring them here to be sold. The Avensis almost became the Scion Xc though.....

 

I don't think there are any US quotas on cars any more. (There remains a stiff import tariff on trucks. Not that it's needed now. http://www.cato-institute.org/dailys/07-06-03.html So very few trucks are imported.)

There were once "voluntary" import "restraints" agreed to by the Japanese to give US manufacturers "breathing room". Whether that was effective or not is arguable. Basically it screwed the consumer by tightening the supply and artifically raising the price of imported cars. One of the main reasons that Honda started building cars in Ohio in 1982 was to avoid quotas and tariffs in the first place.

To answer the OP's question, the most logical reason is because the TL is built on the same Super-Sized platform as the US Accord and the TSX is a premium version of the more athletic Rest-Of-The-World Accord with "A" badges replacing the "H" badges. So it's much more efficient to do it this way than the other way around.

Other reasons for dispersing production worldwide are the same as everyone else, cost. That's why BMW builds 325s in South Africa, Mercedes builds MLs in Alabama, VWs come from Mexico and Brazil, Toyota builds Camrys in Georgetown Kentucky, Chrysler PT Cruisers are from Mexico and the "classic" American car, the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis is built in exotic Ontario, Canada.

 

It's looking like, score one for JCG.