A famous Japanese automotive manufacturer boasts in its advertising that ‘the car in front is a Toyota’. In Cayman, however, the car in front, to the side or behind is most likely a Honda Fit.
The proliferation of budget vehicle imports from Japan is highlighted in a report by advisory firm Deloitte on the state of Cayman’s public transport system.
As well as recommendations about the reform of the public bus system, the in-depth report includes some interesting data points about life on Cayman’s roads.
There are 5,916 Honda Fits licensed – around 10% of the total number of vehicles. That’s by far the most popular vehicle.
Honda’s dominate the ‘top 5’, with 2,612 Honda CRVs, 2,074 Accords and 1,139 Civics.
Those four brands alone account for almost a quarter of vehicles on the roads – and the majority of them are more than 10 years old.
The report notes that the vehicles are well known for their durability and reliability.
“Their numbers and quality are reflected in the number of vehicles on the Cayman roads. The price point for these vehicles also makes them attractive to people that are in need low-cost reliable transportation. “
Converting Honda Fit owners to bus users
The Honda Fit owner is highlighted as the target market for an enhanced public bus system.
The report states, “88% of licensed Honda Fits are older than 10 years of age but were imported onto the island within the last five years. This is indicative of the trend to import low-cost vehicles onto the island.”
It notes that a large cohort of work permit holders, particularly those in the hospitality industry, have indicated they would use public transport if it were more reliable and widespread. Those same people are the current market for cheap imported vehicles, it states.
Citing an October 2022 survey of 1,007 hotel employees, sponsored by the Ritz-Carlton, it states that more than 90% said they would use public transportation if they could.
Around 60% had access to private vehicles – presumably because they felt they could not rely on the transport system.
A comparative cost-analysis by Deloitte showed the first year costs to a Honda Fit owner, purchasing a 10-year-old vehicle at an estimated price of $7,000, would be around 40% of the average salary for a hospitality worker.
Using the bus every day would cost them around $2,000 at current prices.
Highlighting the potential for rapid increase in utilisation of bus services – the report indicates that the current system is not meeting the needs of the demographic and socio-economic sector that needs it most – people earning less than $3,000-a-month working shifts.
New routes and an expansion of the times that buses run could prevent those people from needing a car, save them money and take a lot of Honda Fits off the road, the report suggests.
Stats that stood out from the report include:
- One in 10 cars on Cayman’s roads is a Honda Fit
- 90% of hotel workers in a recent survey said they would use public transport if they could
- 68% of students attending schools across Grand Cayman travel by car
- 14% of students in Cayman use school buses
- There are 25% more bus seats heading to West Bay than Bodden Town, East End and North Side.
- 31% of the George Town and West Bay workforce travel into town from the Eastern Districts.
- Almost half of the North Side and East End workforce travel from outside the districts.
- Based on the 2021 Census, on average, there are an estimated 1.4 motor vehicles owned per household.
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