American Honda Reports Record Motorcycle and ATV Sales for 2000

    TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 26 American Honda Motor Company's
Motorcycle Division reported today year-end retail sales of
174,376 motorcycles, an increase of 44,743 motorcycles over 1999.  Honda's
motorcycles sales in the US were strong enough to easily capture the number
one market share position at 26.5%.  In a year that saw motorcycle industry
sales grow 27.3%, Honda sales grew at an unprecedented rate of 34.5%.
    "We are very pleased that riders are enjoying our products in such record
numbers," said Ray Blank, motorcycle division vice president.  "'Performance
First' means that we give our customers products that inspire and excite them.
We have the most diverse lineup in the industry, with more to come.  2001 will
be another incredible year for Honda customers."
    American Honda's ATV sales also soared in 2000, ending the year at
211,152, an increase of 29.6%.  Once again Honda exceeded the ATV industry's
healthy growth rate of 18.8%, strengthening Honda's already dominant number
one market share position of 32.6%.
    As the industry's sales leader, Honda's US sales are on track to support
parent company Honda Motor's worldwide sales goal of 7M motorcycles by March
2004, a substantial increase over Honda's 2000 sales of approximately 5.16M
motorcycles.
    Honda leads the motorcycle industry on other fronts as well.  As the
world's leader in four-stroke technology, Honda is committed to producing
motorcycles, scooters and ATVs that utilize low emission, fuel efficient
four-stroke engine designs.
    Further to this pledge, American Honda announced today that beginning with
the 2002 model year, Honda would only mass-produce four-stroke powered on and
off road motorcycles, ATVs and scooters for the US market.
    "Honda is, above all, an engine company," said Blank. "Our four-stroke
engine designs will set new industry standards for quiet, efficient, power.
And four-strokes are a responsible answer to environmental issues."
    Recent Honda motorcycles are examples of Honda's 'win-win' four-stroke
engineering.  The 2000 California-version VFR800FI Interceptor was the first
production motorcycle to meet the stringent emission standard adopted by the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) for 2008.  Also, Honda's just-released
GL1800 Gold Wing, available in all 50 states, exceeds the CARB 2008 standard
while producing considerable power -- 118bhp and 125 ft/lbs. of torque -- and
excellent driveability.