IN A CLEVER MARKETING MOVE (and one that is unlikely to be repeated in Australia) UK car company Honda has launched a brand-new accessory pack for dogs. Available to buy now, marking International Dog Day, the selection of products has been designed to make your car safer for your four-legged friend.
The pack includes a dog guard, rubber mats, boot mats and a paintwork-protecting boot step protector. It’s available across most of the Honda range and can be retrofitted to some older models.
The new product launch is in-part inspired by the success of Honda’s April Fools’ Day campaign earlier this year. The “Pet Co-Pilot Front Seat” was launched on 1 April as a light-hearted jest, in which Honda suggested that it was launching a new range of front passenger seats for pets.
It received widespread love across social media, with the story making it into the press as far afield as the USA and Australia, which highlighted the nationwide demand for pet products, accelerating the manufacturers’ development of the range.
Honda’s new dog pack is intended to protect your car and keep your dog safe. Available across five different models, the contents of the accessory packs vary slightly, designed to meet the unique specifications of each vehicle type.
The packs include dog guards, rubber mats, boot mats, foldable cargo mats and boot step protectors
Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile for Honda UK, said, “Launching vehicle accessories for dogs is something that the Honda UK team has been discussing for quite a while. But it was the success of the April Fools’ Day campaign that ultimately prompted us to develop this product pack – because it became so clear that customers wanted something special for their four-legged friends”.
“For many people, including me, dogs are so much more than a pet. They’re part of the family. The dog accessory pack is designed to bring peace of mind when travelling, no matter how long or short the distance. Not only will it help to keep your dog safe and secure while on the move, but it will also reduce the likelihood of interior damage.”
The packs range in price from £420.00 ($A710).
Commenting on the importance of keeping pets safe whilst in the car, the AA’s Head of Roads Policy, Jack Cousens, said, “When travelling with pets it’s important to avoid any dangerous activity that could distract the driver and possibly cause an accident.
“Loose or unrestrained pets can easily distract a driver by moving around the vehicle and getting in the way of the steering wheel and pedals. And if you do have an accident, a pet running loose in the car is more likely to be badly injured, as well as being a danger to everyone else in the car.”
seniordriveraus has written numerous articles about travelling with pets in the car. You can read them here, here, here and here.