World class vehicle launch timing

The launch performance and apparent launch strategies of 5 leading vehicle assembly plants in North America are investigated in the 1st of a 6-part series. The companies reviewed are Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Honda. An economic approach is a natural beginning to an investigation of vehicle launch performance. As a group, the facilities operated at about 85% of capacity before the changeover. It took 4 months from the start of production to return to that level. The month proceeding launch also included a reduction in output. Honda was the quickest among all companies to return to full volume.