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Honda Achieves Record Monthly Overseas and Worldwide Auto Production

Tokyo, Japan, Mar 24, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced automobile production, domestic sales, and export results for the month of February 2006. Honda achieved a new monthly record for overseas and worldwide production for the month of February.

Domestic auto production for the month of February declined 7.2% compared to the same month a year ago due to a decrease in production of domestic models. It is the third consecutive month, since December 2005, for a decline compared to the same month a year ago.

Overseas production in February increased 8.7% due to production increases in North America and Asia. It is the seventh consecutive month, since August 2005, for an increase over the same month a year ago.

Worldwide production in February increased 2.2% due to increased overseas production. It is the seventh consecutive month, since August 2005, for an increase over the same month a year ago. Overseas and worldwide production as well as production in North America, the U.S., Asia, and China achieved a new monthly record in February.

Japan Domestic Sales

Total domestic auto sales of 51,768 units for the month of February represents a 5.5% decline compared to the same month a year ago, due primarily to decreased sales in the mini vehicle category. It is the fourth consecutive month, since November 2005, for domestic sales to decline compared to the same month a year ago.

Despite increased sales of StepWGN and Airwave, new vehicle registrations (passenger car and light truck sales, not including mini vehicles) declined 1.0% compared to the same month a year ago - the third consecutive month for a decline. This was due primarily to stabilizing demand for key models such as Fit and Odyssey, which brought sales back to the same level as a year ago. Sales of mini vehicles also declined 13.8% for the month of February compared to the same month a year ago due to stabilizing demand for the Life and That's models. It is the fourth consecutive month, since November 2005, for sales of mini vehicles to decline compared to the same month a year ago.

Fit was Honda's best selling vehicle on sales of 8,870 units, to rank as the industry's sixth best selling car in February among new vehicle registrations (not including mini vehicles). The Life and StepWGN ranked as Honda's second and third best selling vehicles for the month. Life had sales of 8,799 units, the sixth best selling mini vehicle in the industry, while StepWGN had sales of 7,364 units, the 11th best selling car among new vehicle registrations (not including mini vehicles).

Exports

Total auto exports for the month of February totaled 46,237 units, a 4.2% decline compared to the same month a year ago, due primarily to sales declines in areas such as the Middle East and Oceania regions. It is the first time in two months, since December 2005, that exports declined from the same month a year ago.