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Honda's said it has nothing to do with Brexit and they don't have any reason to lie about that.
They have every reason to soften the truth about it.
First of all Honda is a Japanese company. Don't know how much you're a Japan nerd but it's a culture where face is very important. They're not the sort of culture where they'd openly say HEY YOU GUYS SHIT THE BED AND NOW WE'RE OFF THANKS FOR THE MONEY THOUGH, they'll do it politely.
Second, Brexit is an emotive issue, and a significant number of their customers will be RABIDLY in favour of it. Any ref to Brexit when they leave and you're talking boycotts. FOREIGN BASTARDS FUCK OFF AND LEAVE US IN THE SCHTUCK, BLAME BREXIT ON WAY OUT, SHITBAGS type biz. It's bad business to reference Brexit.
Third, they don't owe us anything - they don't owe us the truth, and they don't owe us an intervention. It's much simpler and much easier and much less drama to say 'oh it's nothign to do with Brexit, you boys head on with yourselves, we're off with all the other car places that just so happen to be shutting down for matters unrelated to Brexit, fucks sake'.
ReekBlefs-
Those are all good points. I guess my (perhaps slightly amended, especially in light of that chart on the last page) point is that the industry was already in systemic decline in the UK, then dieselgate and emissions stuff came along, then Brexit. So kind of a triple whammy.
Oh yes and LOVE Japan. Went for the first time last spring. So good. But in terms of face see Hunt and Fox's latest fumble.
Fox
Unlikely. The British motor industry has been in terminal decline for a long time, this is just following a well established trajectory.
Honda's said it has nothing to do with Brexit and they don't have any reason to lie about that. The timing sucks though of course.