Update, February 2: Honda has confirmed in a press release issued after the publication of our story that it is responding to the implementation of the free trade agreement with Japan by cutting the price of the Odyssey.
"Honda Australia is committed to providing our customers with the very best value for money," said Honda Australia Director, Stephen Collins. "This is why we will reposition the price of our Honda Odyssey range in-line with the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and Japan."
Honda has dropped the price of both variants in the Odyssey people-mover range with effect from yesterday.
A $1380 reduction brings the Odyssey VTi down to a new price of $37,610 – equating to a 3.5 per cent drop. At the new price of $46,040, the Odyssey VTi-L flagship is now $1580 more affordable, representing a 3.3 per cent mark down.
Previously, Honda had informed motoring.com.au that only two vehicles in the local range – Odyssey and Accord Euro – were imported from Japan and therefore subject to a lower landed cost as a consequence of the new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan.
Honda is expected to issue a statement today, but until then there's no corroborating evidence that the Odyssey pricing has been adjusted to reflect the new landed cost, although that does seem the more likely case.
Sales of the people-mover (2552 for the full year 2014) have improved considerably over sales results of the superseded model for the three years prior – 1001 in 2013, 1554 in 2012 and 1178 in 2011.