Honda Expects To Export 30,000 Thai-Made City Sedans '03

BANGKOK November 29, 2002; Dow Jones reported that Honda Motor Co. said Friday it expects to export from Thailand over 30,000 units of its new Honda City sedan to Japan and other countries in 2003.

The model, launched in Japan Friday as "Fit Aria," will be the first Thai- manufactured sedan car to be exported to the quality-conscious Japanese market by any brand, the company's Bangkok-based Southeast Asian unit Asian Honda Motor Co. said in a statement.

Honda expects 80% of the Thai-made City sedan exports to go to Japan. The exports are produced by Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co.'s plant in Ayudhya province, 80 kilometers north of Bangkok.

The Honda City exports will add to Honda's Thai units' existing exports of Civic and Accord cars, motorcycles, parts and engines. Honda expects total exports by its various Thai-based units to rise to 36 billion baht ($1= THB43.408) in 2003, from THB19 billion this year.

The new sedan will be launched locally at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2002, to be held Nov. 30-Dec. 10.