Honda sees its car sales up almost double digits

TOKYO December 20, 2005; Reuters reported that Honda Motor Co. forecast on Tuesday another year of record car and motorcycle sales in 2006, with an increase almost by double digits in percentage terms in automobiles, driven mainly by brisk overseas growth.

Japan's third-biggest auto maker and the world's biggest motorcycle manufacturer said it expected its sales of motorbikes also to rise, but declined to specify a growth rate.

Along with domestic rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., Honda is grabbing a bigger share of the global auto market, particularly in the United States at the expense of locals General Motors and Ford Motor. Toyota is also scheduled to announce 2006 sales plans on Tuesday.

In addition to the new high-volume Civic sedan launched this autumn, Honda is due to beef up its passenger car line-up in the increasingly energy-conscious U.S. market with the entry-level Fit compact next spring.

Further out, Honda, renowned for its engine technology, has forecast car sales to spike to 4 million units in the business year ending in March 2008, fueled by growth in Asia and North America.

Last year, Honda was the world's eighth-biggest car brand, closely trailing Nissan, which has targeted global sales of 4.2 million vehicles in the 12 months through March 2009.